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

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Lucidchart integrations? Today, we're going to walk through building a robust authorization flow for your user-facing integration. Don't worry, I'll keep things concise and to the point – I know you've got code to write!

Introduction

Lucidchart integrations can be a game-changer for your app, but let's face it: without a solid auth flow, you're not going anywhere. We're going to tackle this head-on and get you up and running in no time.

Prerequisites

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

• A Lucidchart Developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (but don't sweat it if you're a bit rusty)

Setting up the project

First things first:

1. Head over to the Lucidchart Developer Portal and create a new application.
2. Snag your client ID and client secret – you'll need these bad boys later.

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Initiating the OAuth 2.0 flow

Let's kick things off by constructing the authorization URL:

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

Now, redirect your user to this URL. They'll land on Lucidchart's authorization page – fancy, right?

Handling the callback

Set up an endpoint to handle the redirect URI. When the user comes back, you'll get a shiny authorization code:

app.get('/callback', (req, res) => {
  const authCode = req.query.code;
  // Time to exchange this for an access token!
});

Exchanging the code for access token

Now for the good stuff. Let's swap that code for an access token:

const response = await fetch('https://api.lucid.co/oauth/token', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
  body: new URLSearchParams({
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    code: authCode,
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    redirect_uri: redirectUri
  })
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = await response.json();

Refreshing the access token

Don't forget to implement token refresh logic. Here's a quick example:

async function refreshToken(refresh_token) {
  // Similar to the token exchange, but use 'refresh_token' as the grant_type
}

Securing the Integration

Security first, folks!

• Store tokens securely (please, for the love of code, not in localStorage)
• Implement PKCE for added security – your future self will thank you

Testing the Auth Flow

Time to put on your QA hat:

1. Run through the user authorization process
2. Verify you're getting and refreshing tokens correctly

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Don't let errors catch you off guard:

• Handle authorization failures gracefully
• Account for users who might cancel mid-flow (they're a fickle bunch)

if (req.query.error) {
  console.error('Authorization failed:', req.query.error);
  // Handle the error appropriately
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid auth flow for your Lucidchart integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've earned it.

Next up: start building out the rest of your integration. The sky's the limit now that you've got authentication sorted.

Remember, the best integrations are built one step at a time. You've taken a big one today. Keep coding, keep learning, and most importantly, keep being awesome!