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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to supercharge your email marketing game? Let's dive into building a MailerLite API integration. MailerLite's API is a powerhouse for managing subscribers, campaigns, and automations. By the end of this guide, you'll be wielding this tool like a pro.

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ (because we're not living in the stone age)
• Your favorite HTTP client gem (I'm partial to faraday)
• A MailerLite API key (grab one from your account settings)

Setting Up the Project

Let's get this show on the road:

mkdir mailerlite_integration
cd mailerlite_integration
bundle init

Now, crack open that Gemfile and add:

gem 'faraday'
gem 'json'

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

Configuring the MailerLite API Client

Time to create our API client:

require 'faraday'
require 'json'

class MailerLiteClient
  BASE_URL = 'https://api.mailerlite.com/api/v2'

  def initialize(api_key)
    @conn = Faraday.new(url: BASE_URL) do |faraday|
      faraday.headers['X-MailerLite-ApiKey'] = api_key
      faraday.headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
      faraday.adapter Faraday.default_adapter
    end
  end

  # We'll add more methods here soon!
end

Basic API Operations

Let's add some meat to our client:

class MailerLiteClient
  # ... previous code ...

  def get_groups
    response = @conn.get('groups')
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end

  def create_subscriber(email, name, groups = [])
    payload = { email: email, name: name, groups: groups }
    response = @conn.post('subscribers', payload.to_json)
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end

  def update_subscriber(email, fields)
    response = @conn.put("subscribers/#{email}", fields.to_json)
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end
end

Advanced Operations

Ready to level up? Let's add campaign and automation management:

class MailerLiteClient
  # ... previous code ...

  def create_campaign(name, subject, content, groups)
    payload = {
      name: name,
      subject: subject,
      content: content,
      groups: groups
    }
    response = @conn.post('campaigns', payload.to_json)
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end

  def trigger_automation(workflow_id, subscriber_email)
    payload = { email: subscriber_email }
    response = @conn.post("automation/#{workflow_id}/trigger", payload.to_json)
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end
end

Error Handling and Rate Limiting

Let's not be those developers who ignore errors. Add this to your client:

class MailerLiteClient
  # ... previous code ...

  private

  def handle_response(response)
    case response.status
    when 429
      sleep(60)  # Respect the rate limit
      retry
    when 400..499
      raise "Client error: #{response.body}"
    when 500..599
      raise "Server error: #{response.body}"
    end
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  end
end

Now wrap your API calls with this method. Your future self will thank you.

Testing the Integration

Testing is not just for the paranoid. It's for the professionals. Here's a quick test setup:

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

class TestMailerLiteClient < Minitest::Test
  def setup
    @client = MailerLiteClient.new('fake_api_key')
  end

  def test_get_groups
    stub_request(:get, "#{MailerLiteClient::BASE_URL}/groups")
      .to_return(status: 200, body: '[{"id": 1, "name": "Test Group"}]')

    groups = @client.get_groups
    assert_equal 1, groups.first['id']
    assert_equal 'Test Group', groups.first['name']
  end

  # Add more tests for other methods
end

Best Practices and Optimization

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Here are some pro tips:

1. Cache frequently accessed data to reduce API calls.
2. Use batch operations when possible to minimize requests.
3. Implement exponential backoff for retries.
4. Keep your API key safe. Use environment variables!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a robust MailerLite API integration in Ruby. You're now armed with the power to manage subscribers, create campaigns, and automate your email marketing like a boss.

Remember, the API is your oyster. Explore the MailerLite API docs for more endpoints and features. Now go forth and conquer those email campaigns!

Happy coding, Rubyist! 🚀