How to build a public Housecall Pro integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Housecall Pro integrations? Today, we're going to walk through building a rock-solid authorization flow for your user-facing integration. Buckle up, because we're about to make API magic happen!

Introduction

Housecall Pro's API is a powerhouse for field service management, and we're going to tap into that power. But first things first: we need to nail the authorization flow. It's the gatekeeper of our integration, so let's make it bulletproof!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• A Housecall Pro developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• A solid grasp on OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)
• Node.js and Express.js ready to roll

Setting up the project

Let's get our hands dirty:

mkdir housecall-pro-integration
cd housecall-pro-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Configuring OAuth 2.0 credentials

Head over to your Housecall Pro developer dashboard and snag your client ID and secret. Keep these safe – they're the keys to the kingdom!

Set up your redirect URI (e.g., http://localhost:3000/callback) in the dashboard. This is where Housecall Pro will send your users after they authorize your app.

Implementing the authorization flow

Now for the fun part! Let's break it down:

Creating the authorization URL

const authUrl = `https://api.housecallpro.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${REDIRECT_URI}&response_type=code`;

Handling the authorization request

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Implementing the callback route

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // Exchange code for token (we'll do this next)
});

Exchanging the authorization code for access token

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.housecallpro.com/oauth/token', {
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code,
  client_id: CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
  redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;

Token management

Store these tokens securely. In a real-world app, you'd want to encrypt them and store them in a database. For now, let's keep it simple:

let accessToken = access_token;
let refreshToken = refresh_token;

Implement a refresh mechanism to keep your access token fresh:

async function refreshAccessToken() {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.housecallpro.com/oauth/token', {
    grant_type: 'refresh_token',
    refresh_token: refreshToken,
    client_id: CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET
  });
  
  accessToken = response.data.access_token;
  refreshToken = response.data.refresh_token;
}

Making authenticated API requests

Now you're ready to rock and roll with API requests:

const response = await axios.get('https://api.housecallpro.com/v1/jobs', {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
});

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared for the unexpected:

try {
  // Make API request
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    await refreshAccessToken();
    // Retry the request
  } else {
    // Handle other errors
  }
}

Security considerations

Keep that client secret under lock and key! Never expose it in client-side code.

For an extra layer of security, implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange). It's like a secret handshake between your app and Housecall Pro.

Testing the integration

Set up a test environment and simulate the auth flow. Try to break it – it's the best way to make it unbreakable!

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! You've just built a robust authorization flow for your Housecall Pro integration. Remember, this is just the beginning. From here, you can expand your integration to do all sorts of cool stuff with the Housecall Pro API.

Keep coding, keep learning, and most importantly, keep having fun with it! If you hit any snags, the Housecall Pro developer community has your back. Now go forth and integrate!