Step by Step Guide to Building a Housecall Pro API Integration in Python

Aug 14, 2024 • 6 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Housecall Pro API integration? You're in for a treat. This guide will walk you through the process of building a robust integration using Python. Housecall Pro's API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into their field service management platform, opening up a world of possibilities for your projects.

Prerequisites

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

A Python environment (3.6+ recommended)
requests library installed (pip install requests)
Your Housecall Pro API credentials (if you don't have them, head over to their developer portal)

Authentication

First things first, let's get you authenticated:

import requests

API_KEY = 'your_api_key_here'
headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {API_KEY}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

Pro tip: Never hardcode your API key. Use environment variables or a secure config file.

Making API Requests

Now, let's make your first request:

BASE_URL = 'https://api.housecallpro.com/v1'

response = requests.get(f'{BASE_URL}/customers', headers=headers)
if response.status_code == 200:
    customers = response.json()
    print(customers)
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

Core API Endpoints

Housecall Pro's API offers several key endpoints. Here's a quick rundown:

Customers: /customers
Jobs: /jobs
Invoices: /invoices
Payments: /payments

Each of these follows a similar request structure. Experiment with them!

Data Manipulation

Got your data? Great! Now let's do something with it:

def create_customer(name, email):
    data = {
        'name': name,
        'email': email
    }
    response = requests.post(f'{BASE_URL}/customers', json=data, headers=headers)
    return response.json()

new_customer = create_customer('John Doe', '[email protected]')
print(new_customer)

Error Handling

Always expect the unexpected. Here's a simple way to handle errors:

try:
    response = requests.get(f'{BASE_URL}/customers', headers=headers)
    response.raise_for_status()
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

Rate Limiting

Housecall Pro has rate limits. Be a good API citizen and respect them:

import time

def rate_limited_request(url):
    while True:
        response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
        if response.status_code != 429:
            return response
        time.sleep(60)  # Wait for a minute if rate limited

Don't forget about pagination! Here's a simple way to handle it:

def get_all_customers():
    url = f'{BASE_URL}/customers'
    all_customers = []
    while url:
        response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
        data = response.json()
        all_customers.extend(data['customers'])
        url = data.get('next_page_url')
    return all_customers

Best Practices

Keep your code modular and well-documented
Use a .env file or environment variables for sensitive data
Implement proper logging for easier debugging

Testing

Don't forget to test your integration! Here's a simple unit test example:

import unittest
from unittest.mock import patch

class TestHousecallProAPI(unittest.TestCase):
    @patch('requests.get')
    def test_get_customers(self, mock_get):
        mock_get.return_value.status_code = 200
        mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {'customers': []}
        customers = get_all_customers()
        self.assertIsInstance(customers, list)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to build a solid Housecall Pro API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning. There's so much more you can do with this API, so don't be afraid to explore and experiment.

Additional Resources

Happy coding, and may your API calls always return 200 OK!