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

Aug 13, 2024 • 6 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Jobber integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial parts of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration dreams a reality!

Prerequisites

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

Node.js installed
Your favorite code editor
Jobber API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to Jobber's developer portal and grab 'em)

Understanding OAuth 2.0 for Jobber

Jobber uses OAuth 2.0 for authorization. If you're familiar with OAuth, you're already halfway there! If not, don't sweat it – think of it as a secure way for users to grant your app access to their Jobber data without sharing their passwords.

Jobber's OAuth endpoints are:

Authorization: https://api.getjobber.com/api/oauth/authorize
Token: https://api.getjobber.com/api/oauth/token

Setting up the project

Let's get our project off the ground:

mkdir jobber-integration
cd jobber-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Creating the authorization URL

First things first, let's create a route that'll redirect users to Jobber's authorization page:

const express = require('express');
const crypto = require('crypto');
require('dotenv').config();

const app = express();

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const state = crypto.randomBytes(16).toString('hex');
  const authUrl = `https://api.getjobber.com/api/oauth/authorize?client_id=${process.env.CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(process.env.REDIRECT_URI)}&response_type=code&state=${state}`;
  
  // Store state in session or database
  
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Implementing the redirect handler

Now, let's handle that redirect and grab that sweet, sweet authorization code:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code, state } = req.query;
  
  // Validate state (compare with stored state)
  
  // If state is valid, exchange code for token
  try {
    const tokenResponse = await exchangeCodeForToken(code);
    // Store token securely
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).send('Error during authorization');
  }
});

Exchanging the code for access token

Let's create that exchangeCodeForToken function:

const axios = require('axios');

async function exchangeCodeForToken(code) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.getjobber.com/api/oauth/token', {
    client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET,
    code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    redirect_uri: process.env.REDIRECT_URI
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

Refreshing the access token

Don't forget to implement token refreshing – your future self will thank you:

async function refreshToken(refreshToken) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.getjobber.com/api/oauth/token', {
    client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET,
    refresh_token: refreshToken,
    grant_type: 'refresh_token'
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always be prepared for things to go sideways. Handle errors gracefully and inform your users when something goes wrong. For expired tokens, implement automatic refreshing before making API calls.

Security Considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Always use HTTPS in production and store tokens securely. Consider using encryption at rest for added security.

Testing the Auth Flow

Give your flow a test drive! Try authorizing, revoking access, and re-authorizing. If you're feeling fancy, write some automated tests to catch any future regressions.

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! You've just built the authorization flow for your Jobber integration. Pat yourself on the back – you're well on your way to creating something awesome.

Next up, start exploring Jobber's API endpoints and build out the rest of your integration. The sky's the limit!

Additional Resources

Happy coding, and may your integration be ever successful!