How to build a public Interact integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 14, 2024 • 5 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript wizards! Ready to dive into the exciting world of Interact integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make auth flows a breeze!

Prerequisites

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

Node.js installed
A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0
Coffee (optional, but highly recommended)

Setting up the project

Let's kick things off by setting up our project:

mkdir interact-integration && cd interact-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Designing the auth flow

We'll be using the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow. It's like the VIP pass of auth flows – secure and perfect for server-side apps.

Implementing the auth flow

Creating the authorization request

First, let's craft that authorization URL:

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

Pro tip: Don't forget to add some state for extra security!

Handling the callback

When the user comes back from their auth adventure, grab that code:

app.get('/callback', (req, res) => {
  const { code, state } = req.query;
  // Verify state here
  // Then, exchange the code for tokens
});

Token exchange

Time to swap that code for some shiny tokens:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.interact.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;

Storing and refreshing tokens

Store those tokens securely (please, not in plain text!), and set up a refresh mechanism:

function refreshToken(refresh_token) {
  // Implement token refresh logic here
}

Error handling and edge cases

Auth flows can be tricky beasts. Always be prepared for errors and implement retry logic where it makes sense.

Testing the auth flow

Test, test, and test again! Unit test your components and integration test the entire flow. Your future self will thank you.

Security considerations

Remember the golden rules:

Always use HTTPS
Store tokens securely (consider encryption)
Implement CSRF protection

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid auth flow for your Interact integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've earned it!

Additional resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Now go forth and integrate with confidence! You've got this! 🚀