Lucidchart API Essential Guide

Aug 7, 2024 • 6 minute read

What type of API does Lucidchart provide?

Based on the search results, Lucidchart has a REST API. Here are the key points:

Type of API

Lucidchart has a REST API.

Key Details

The Lucid API is described as a "REST API" on the official Lucid developer documentation.
The API allows retrieving document lists and contents using OAuth 2.0 authentication.
It focuses on document manipulation and data retrieval, but does not directly expose shape library details.

API Capabilities

The API can be used to:
- Retrieve document lists and contents
- Get document contents in JSON format
- Perform document manipulation operations
It does not currently have direct capabilities for:
- Exporting to CSV format (though this can be done by processing the JSON output)
- Directly accessing shape library details

Additional Considerations

For more complex integrations, Lucid offers an Extension API that allows building custom extensions.
While the API doesn't directly support converting to formats like BPMN, developers can potentially map the JSON output to other formats programmatically.

In summary, Lucidchart provides a REST API for interacting with documents and data, with OAuth 2.0 authentication. While it has some limitations, it offers flexibility for various integration scenarios.

Does the Lucidchart API have webhooks?

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding webhooks in the official Lucidchart API:

Lack of Direct Webhook Information

The search results do not contain any direct information about webhooks in the official Lucidchart API. There is no explicit mention of webhook support or specific events that can be subscribed to.

While webhooks are not directly mentioned, there are some related features and concepts in the Lucidchart API that are worth noting:

Data Connectors: The API includes functionality for data connectors, which can be used to fetch and manage external data. Data connectors can implement specific endpoints for:
- Propagating changes made in Lucid's editors back to the data source
- Automatically fetching changes to data made in data sources
- Setting up and managing webhook relationships with data sources to track data changes made outside of Lucid
Data Actions: When Lucid makes a request to a data connector, it comes in the form of a "data action". These actions can be triggered explicitly by code in an extension or automatically based on user interactions with Lucid documents.
Document Content: The API provides mechanisms for reading and writing the content of the current document through proxy classes. This allows for saving and loading data onto the document for use between sessions.

Conclusion

Based on the available information, it appears that the official Lucidchart API does not have direct webhook support in the traditional sense. However, it does offer related functionality through data connectors and data actions that can be used to achieve similar results in terms of real-time data synchronization and event-driven updates.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on webhook support or similar functionality, it would be best to consult the official Lucidchart API documentation or contact their developer support directly.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding the API Rate Limits of the Lucidchart API:

Rate Limits

There is a rate limit of 100 requests per minute for the Lucidchart SCIM API.
The HAProxy burst limits are currently set at 5 requests per second.

Error Handling

When the rate limit is reached, the API returns a 429 status code.

Key Considerations

The rate limit information is specifically mentioned for the SCIM API, which is used for user provisioning and group management.
The SCIM API is available for admins on an Enterprise account.
There is no explicit mention of rate limits for other Lucidchart APIs in the provided search results.

Best Practices

When implementing API calls, it's advisable to handle the 429 status code and implement a retry mechanism with a backoff strategy.
Consider spreading out API requests over time to avoid hitting the rate limits, especially for bulk operations.

It's important to note that the information provided is specific to the SCIM API. For other Lucidchart APIs, such as the REST API or Extension API, the rate limits may differ. If you need more detailed information about rate limits for other Lucidchart APIs, it would be best to consult the official Lucidchart API documentation or contact their support team directly.

Latest API Version

Unfortunately, I don't have specific information about the most recent version of the Lucidchart API based on the search results provided. The search results don't contain any details about API versions or recent updates to the Lucidchart API.

Here are some key points to consider:

Lucidchart offers multiple APIs for developers, including:
- A REST API for programmatically interacting with documents and folders
- An Extension API for adding functionality to Lucid editors
- A SCIM API for user provisioning and group management (for Enterprise accounts)
Lucid provides developer tools to create, test, and distribute apps built on their APIs:
- The developer portal for creating new apps and managing OAuth 2.0 credentials
- The developer menu for testing Extension API apps
Lucid regularly updates their products with new features and integrations, as evidenced by the 2023 highlights mentioned in the search results.
To get the most up-to-date information on the Lucidchart API versions, you would likely need to:
- Check the official Lucidchart developer documentation
- Look for any recent announcements or release notes on their developer portal
- Contact Lucidchart developer support directly

If you need specific version information or details about recent API updates, I recommend checking the official Lucidchart developer resources or contacting their support team directly.

How to get a Lucidchart developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for Lucidchart to create an API integration, you'll need to follow these steps:

If you don't already have one, sign up for a Lucidchart account at lucidchart.com. You may need a paid plan to access API features.

2. Apply for API access

Lucidchart doesn't offer public API access. You'll need to apply for API access by contacting their sales or support team. This typically involves:

Explaining your use case and integration plans
Agreeing to their API terms of service
Potentially going through an approval process

3. Obtain API credentials

Once approved, Lucidchart will provide you with:

A client ID
A client secret
Access to their API documentation

These credentials are necessary for authenticating your API requests.

4. Set up OAuth 2.0

Lucidchart uses OAuth 2.0 for API authentication. You'll need to:

Configure your OAuth redirect URI
Implement the OAuth flow to obtain access tokens

5. Start developing

With your credentials and OAuth set up, you can begin developing your integration using the Lucid API.

What can you do with the Lucidchart API?

Based on the search results provided, here is a list of data models that can be interacted with using the Lucidchart API, along with what is possible for each:

Documents and Folders

Create, search, read contents of, and trash documents and folders
Embed documents in other websites
Add/remove collaborators
Transfer content between users

Shapes and Lines

Add, read, and modify shapes and lines on the canvas
Apply imported fill colors to shapes
Add data to existing shapes

Data Linking

Import data from external sources like Google Sheets and CSV files
Automatically update properties of Lucid elements (shapes, lines, groups, pages) based on external data
Push updates made in Lucidchart back to external data sources
Link multiple datasets to a diagram

Lucid Cards

Create and track tasks visually
Assign stakeholders and set deadlines
Customize content and arrangement of card shapes
Configure fields visible in the card detail view

Custom Shape Libraries

Create and distribute custom shape libraries
Publish shape libraries through Lucid's extension marketplace

Users and Groups (SCIM API)

User provisioning
Group management

Extensions

Add functionality to Lucid editors
Import data
Define new shape libraries

AI Features

Generate summaries of working sessions
Experiment with large language models using AI Prompt Flow
Automatically generate diagrams based on prompts (using Lucid Custom GPT)

Visual Activities

Create interactive activities for team input
Aggregate and analyze team responses

This list covers the main data models and interactions possible with the Lucidchart API based on the provided search results. The API allows for extensive manipulation of Lucidchart documents, data integration, and extension of the platform's functionality.