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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of vacation rental management with Lodgify? Great! We're about to embark on a journey to build a slick API integration using Ruby. Lodgify's API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into property management, bookings, and availability data. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

Before we start coding, make sure you've got:

• Ruby 2.7+ installed (come on, live a little on the edge!)
• A bundle of gems we'll discuss soon
• Your shiny Lodgify API credentials (if you don't have 'em, go grab 'em!)

Setting up the project

First things first, let's set up our Ruby project:

mkdir lodgify_integration
cd lodgify_integration
bundle init

Now, crack open that Gemfile and add these gems:

gem 'httparty'
gem 'dotenv'

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

Authentication

Alright, authentication time! Create a .env file in your project root:

LODGIFY_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Now, let's set up our base API class:

require 'httparty'
require 'dotenv/load'

class LodgifyAPI
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.lodgify.com/v2'
  headers 'X-ApiKey' => ENV['LODGIFY_API_KEY']
end

Look at that! We're authenticated and ready to roll.

Making API requests

Let's make our first API call:

response = LodgifyAPI.get('/properties')
puts response.parsed_response

Easy peasy, right? This'll fetch all your properties.

Core API functionalities

Now for the fun part! Let's add some methods to our LodgifyAPI class:

class LodgifyAPI
  # ... previous code ...

  def self.get_property(id)
    get("/properties/#{id}")
  end

  def self.create_booking(property_id, booking_data)
    post("/properties/#{property_id}/bookings", body: booking_data.to_json)
  end

  def self.update_availability(property_id, availability_data)
    put("/properties/#{property_id}/availability", body: availability_data.to_json)
  end
end

Now you're cooking with gas! These methods will let you fetch property details, create bookings, and update availability.

Error handling

Let's add some error handling to keep things smooth:

class LodgifyAPI
  # ... previous code ...

  def self.handle_response(response)
    case response.code
    when 200..299
      response.parsed_response
    when 401
      raise "Unauthorized: Check your API key"
    when 404
      raise "Not found: The requested resource doesn't exist"
    else
      raise "API error: #{response.code} - #{response.message}"
    end
  end
end

Wrap your API calls with this method, and you'll catch those pesky errors like a pro!

Rate limiting and optimization

Lodgify's got rate limits, so let's play nice:

class LodgifyAPI
  # ... previous code ...

  @@last_request_time = Time.now
  @@request_interval = 1.0 / 5 # 5 requests per second

  def self.throttled_request(method, path, options = {})
    sleep_time = @@request_interval - (Time.now - @@last_request_time)
    sleep(sleep_time) if sleep_time > 0

    response = send(method, path, options)
    @@last_request_time = Time.now

    handle_response(response)
  end
end

Now use throttled_request instead of direct HTTP methods. Your API won't break a sweat!

Testing the integration

Time to put on your testing hat:

require 'minitest/autorun'
require 'webmock/minitest'

class TestLodgifyAPI < Minitest::Test
  def setup
    WebMock.disable_net_connect!
  end

  def test_get_property
    stub_request(:get, "https://api.lodgify.com/v2/properties/123")
      .to_return(status: 200, body: '{"id": 123, "name": "Beach House"}')

    response = LodgifyAPI.get_property(123)
    assert_equal 123, response['id']
    assert_equal "Beach House", response['name']
  end
end

Run these tests and watch 'em pass!

Deployment considerations

When you're ready to deploy, remember:

• Use environment variables for your API key
• Keep that API key secret, keep it safe!
• Consider using a key management service for extra security

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a robust Lodgify API integration in Ruby. You're now armed with the power to manage properties, bookings, and availability like a boss. Remember, the API documentation is your friend, so don't be shy to explore more endpoints and features.

Keep coding, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun with it! Who knows, maybe your next project will revolutionize the vacation rental industry. Dream big, code bigger!