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

Aug 15, 2024 • 6 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Livestorm 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 Livestorm integration dreams a reality!

Prerequisites

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

A solid grasp of JavaScript (but you knew that already, right?)
Node.js installed on your machine
A Livestorm account (obviously)
Your favorite code editor at the ready

Understanding Livestorm's OAuth 2.0 Flow

Alright, let's start with the basics. Livestorm uses OAuth 2.0 for authorization, which is pretty standard these days. If you've worked with other APIs, you'll feel right at home. Livestorm's implementation is straightforward, following the typical authorization code flow.

Setting Up Your Application

First things first, you need to register your app with Livestorm:

Head over to the Livestorm Developer Portal
Create a new application
Grab your client ID and secret (keep these safe!)

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Now for the fun part! Let's break down the auth flow step by step:

Initiating the auth request

const authUrl = `https://app.livestorm.co/oauth/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}&response_type=code&scope=${scope}`;

Redirect your users to this URL to start the auth process.

Handling the redirect and callback

Set up a route to handle the callback:

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

Exchanging the authorization code for access token

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://app.livestorm.co/oauth/token', {
  client_id: clientId,
  client_secret: clientSecret,
  code,
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  redirect_uri: redirectUri
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;

Storing and managing tokens securely

Store these tokens securely! Consider using environment variables or a secure database.

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that you've got your access token, you can start making requests to Livestorm's API:

const response = await axios.get('https://api.livestorm.co/v1/me', {
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}`
  }
});

Don't forget to handle token expiration and refresh when needed!

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always expect the unexpected! Handle common errors gracefully:

Invalid tokens
Network issues
Rate limiting

A little error handling goes a long way in creating a robust integration.

Testing Your Integration

Test, test, and test again! Use tools like Postman to simulate different scenarios. And don't be afraid to break things – it's better to find issues now than when your users do!

Security Considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Keep user data safe:

Never expose tokens in client-side code
Use HTTPS everywhere
Regularly rotate your client secret

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now armed with the knowledge to build a rock-solid auth flow for your Livestorm integration. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't get discouraged if you hit a few bumps along the way.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Now go forth and build some awesome integrations! 🚀