Step by Step Guide to Building a LionDesk API Integration in Ruby

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of LionDesk API integration? You're in for a treat. LionDesk's API is a powerhouse for real estate CRM functionality, and we're about to harness that power in our Ruby project. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ (because we're not living in the stone age)
• Bundler (for managing our gem dependencies like a boss)
• LionDesk API credentials (can't storm the castle without the keys, right?)

Setting up the project

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

mkdir liondesk_integration
cd liondesk_integration
bundle init

Now, let's add some gems to our Gemfile:

gem 'faraday'
gem 'dotenv'

Run bundle install, and we're off to the races!

Authentication

LionDesk uses OAuth 2.0, so let's tackle that beast:

require 'faraday'
require 'dotenv/load'

class LionDeskAuth
  TOKEN_URL = 'https://api-v2.liondesk.com/oauth2/token'

  def self.get_token
    response = Faraday.post(TOKEN_URL, {
      grant_type: 'client_credentials',
      client_id: ENV['LIONDESK_CLIENT_ID'],
      client_secret: ENV['LIONDESK_CLIENT_SECRET']
    })

    JSON.parse(response.body)['access_token']
  end
end

Pro tip: Keep those credentials in a .env file and out of version control. Safety first!

Making API requests

Let's create a base client to handle our API calls:

class LionDeskClient
  BASE_URL = 'https://api-v2.liondesk.com'

  def initialize
    @token = LionDeskAuth.get_token
  end

  def get(endpoint)
    response = Faraday.get("#{BASE_URL}#{endpoint}", nil, headers)
    handle_response(response)
  end

  private

  def headers
    {
      'Authorization' => "Bearer #{@token}",
      'Content-Type' => 'application/json'
    }
  end

  def handle_response(response)
    case response.status
    when 200..299
      JSON.parse(response.body)
    when 429
      raise 'Rate limit exceeded. Take a breather!'
    else
      raise "API error: #{response.status} - #{response.body}"
    end
  end
end

Implementing key LionDesk features

Now for the fun part! Let's implement some core features:

class LionDeskIntegration < LionDeskClient
  def get_contacts
    get('/contacts')
  end

  def create_task(data)
    post('/tasks', data)
  end

  def start_campaign(campaign_id, contact_ids)
    post("/campaigns/#{campaign_id}/start", { contact_ids: contact_ids })
  end
end

Data synchronization

Webhooks are your friend for real-time updates. Set up an endpoint in your app to receive LionDesk notifications:

post '/liondesk_webhook' do
  payload = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  # Handle the webhook payload
  # Update your local database, trigger actions, etc.
  status 200
end

Error handling and logging

Don't let those pesky errors catch you off guard:

begin
  result = lion_desk.get_contacts
rescue StandardError => e
  logger.error "Failed to fetch contacts: #{e.message}"
  # Handle the error gracefully
end

Testing the integration

Test, test, and test again! Here's a quick RSpec example to get you started:

RSpec.describe LionDeskIntegration do
  let(:integration) { LionDeskIntegration.new }

  it 'fetches contacts successfully' do
    VCR.use_cassette('get_contacts') do
      contacts = integration.get_contacts
      expect(contacts).to be_an(Array)
      expect(contacts.first).to have_key('id')
    end
  end
end

Deployment considerations

When deploying, remember:

• Use environment variables for API credentials
• Implement proper error handling and retry mechanisms
• Consider using a job queue for long-running tasks

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your LionDesk API integration in Ruby. Remember, the API is your oyster – there's so much more you can do with it. Keep exploring, keep coding, and most importantly, have fun with it!

For more details, check out the LionDesk API docs. Now go forth and conquer that CRM data!