How to Build a Public Knack Integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 15, 2024 • 5 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Knack integrations? Today, we're going to walk through building a rock-solid authorization flow for your user-facing Knack integration. Let's get started!

Introduction

Knack is a powerful no-code platform, and integrating it securely into your applications can open up a world of possibilities. In this guide, we'll focus on creating a robust auth flow that'll make your users feel safe and your integration smooth as butter.

Prerequisites

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

A Knack account with API credentials
Node.js installed on your machine
A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll cover the essentials)

Setting Up the Project

First things first, let's get our project off the ground:

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

Great! Now we've got the basics in place.

Implementing the Authorization Flow

This is where the magic happens. Let's break it down step by step:

Create authorization URL

const authUrl = `https://api.knack.com/v1/oauth2/auth?client_id=${CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${REDIRECT_URI}&response_type=code`;

Set up redirect URI endpoint

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // Handle the code...
});

Exchange code for access token

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.knack.com/v1/oauth2/token', {
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code,
  client_id: CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
  redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI
});

Store and manage tokens

// Use a secure method to store tokens, like encrypted cookies or a database
storeTokens(tokenResponse.data);

Building the User Interface

Keep it simple, folks:

<button onclick="login()">Login with Knack</button>
<button onclick="logout()">Logout</button>

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that we're authorized, let's make some API calls:

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

Don't forget to handle token expiration and refresh!

Error Handling and Security Considerations

Always expect the unexpected:

try {
  // Your API call here
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    // Handle token expiration
  }
  // Handle other errors
}

And remember, HTTPS is your friend. Always use it in production!

Testing the Integration

Manual testing is great, but automated tests are even better. Consider using Jest for your test suite:

test('should exchange code for token', async () => {
  // Your test here
});

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure, user-friendly auth flow for your Knack integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've earned it!

Remember, this is just the beginning. There's always room to improve and expand your integration. Keep exploring, keep coding, and most importantly, keep having fun!

Additional Resources

Happy coding, and may your integrations always be secure and your coffee always be strong! 🚀☕️