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

Aug 18, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Mautic integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Don't worry, it's not as daunting as it sounds. Let's break it down step by step and get you on your way to creating a seamless user experience.

Introduction

Mautic is a powerful open-source marketing automation platform, and integrating it with your application can open up a world of possibilities. The key to a smooth integration lies in a well-implemented authorization flow. It's like the secret handshake between your app and Mautic – get it right, and you're in business!

Prerequisites

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

Mautic API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to your Mautic admin panel and create them)
A Node.js environment set up with Express.js

Got those? Great! Let's get cracking.

OAuth 2.0 Flow Overview

We'll be using the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Grant flow. It's like a dance between your app, the user, and Mautic. Here's the gist:

Your app asks Mautic for permission
The user says "yes" (hopefully)
Mautic gives your app a special code
Your app exchanges this code for an access token
You use this token to make API requests

Simple, right? Let's break it down further.

Setting up the Authorization Request

First things first, we need to construct the authorization URL. It'll look something like this:

const authUrl = `https://your-mautic-instance.com/oauth/v2/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}`;

When a user wants to connect their Mautic account, you'll redirect them to this URL. They'll see Mautic's authorization page and can choose to grant your app access.

Handling the Callback

Once the user approves, Mautic will redirect them back to your redirect_uri with a special code. You'll need to set up a route to handle this:

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

Token Exchange

Time to trade in that code for an access token! Here's how:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://your-mautic-instance.com/oauth/v2/token', {
  client_id: clientId,
  client_secret: clientSecret,
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code: authCode,
  redirect_uri: redirectUri
});

const accessToken = tokenResponse.data.access_token;

Boom! You've got your access token. Make sure to store it securely – it's your golden ticket to the Mautic API.

Refreshing the Access Token

Access tokens don't last forever. When they expire, you'll need to refresh them:

const refreshTokenResponse = await axios.post('https://your-mautic-instance.com/oauth/v2/token', {
  client_id: clientId,
  client_secret: clientSecret,
  grant_type: 'refresh_token',
  refresh_token: storedRefreshToken
});

const newAccessToken = refreshTokenResponse.data.access_token;

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that you have your access token, you can make authenticated requests to the Mautic API:

const response = await axios.get('https://your-mautic-instance.com/api/contacts', {
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}`
  }
});

If you get a 401 Unauthorized error, it might be time to refresh that token!

Security Considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Keep these in mind:

Always use HTTPS
Store tokens securely (not in local storage!)
Implement CSRF protection on your callback route

Testing the Auth Flow

Before you ship it, test it! Try the flow manually, and consider setting up some automated tests. You'll thank yourself later.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've successfully implemented the authorization flow for your Mautic integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've just leveled up your integration game.

Next steps? Start exploring the Mautic API and build out the rest of your integration. The sky's the limit!

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Happy coding, and may your integrations be ever smooth and your tokens always fresh!