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

Aug 2, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of LiveChat 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 your integration secure and user-friendly in no time!

Introduction

LiveChat integrations are a fantastic way to extend the platform's functionality, but they're only as good as their security. That's where a rock-solid auth flow comes in. We'll be focusing on building a user-facing integration that's both secure and smooth. Trust me, your users will thank you for it!

Prerequisites

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

A LiveChat Developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll cover the essentials)
Node.js and Express.js set up and ready to go

Got all that? Great! Let's get this show on the road.

Setting up the LiveChat App

First things first, let's get your app set up in the LiveChat Developer Console:

Head over to the LiveChat Developer Console and create a new app.
In the OAuth settings, set your redirect URI (we'll use http://localhost:3000/callback for this guide).
Jot down your client ID and secret – you'll need these soon!

Implementing the Auth Flow

Now for the fun part – let's build that auth flow!

Initiating the OAuth process

We'll start by constructing the authorization URL and redirecting the user:

const authUrl = `https://accounts.livechat.com/oauth/authorize?response_type=code&client_id=${CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${REDIRECT_URI}`;
res.redirect(authUrl);

Handling the callback

Once the user logs in, LiveChat will redirect them back to your app with an authorization code. Let's exchange that for some shiny tokens:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  const response = await axios.post('https://accounts.livechat.com/token', {
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    client_id: CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
    code,
    redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI
  });
  
  const { access_token, refresh_token } = response.data;
  // Store these tokens securely!
});

Token Management

Remember, access tokens don't last forever. Let's set up a refresh mechanism:

async function refreshAccessToken(refresh_token) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://accounts.livechat.com/token', {
    grant_type: 'refresh_token',
    client_id: CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
    refresh_token
  });
  
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that we've got our tokens, let's put them to use:

async function makeApiCall(endpoint, access_token) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(`https://api.livechatinc.com/v3.3/${endpoint}`, {
      headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${access_token}` }
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
      // Time to refresh that token!
    }
  }
}

Security Considerations

Security isn't just a feature, it's a necessity. Here are some quick tips:

Always use HTTPS in production
Store tokens securely (consider encryption at rest)
Implement CSRF protection for your endpoints

Testing the Auth Flow

Before you ship it, test it! Here's a quick manual test:

Start your app and navigate to the auth URL
Log in with LiveChat credentials
Verify you receive and can use the access token

Consider setting up automated tests for ongoing reliability.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure auth flow for your LiveChat integration. Pretty cool, right? Remember, this is just the beginning. Keep exploring the LiveChat API, and you'll be building amazing integrations in no time.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out these resources:

Now go forth and integrate! Your users are waiting for the awesome features you're about to build. Happy coding!