Step by Step Guide to Building a Microsoft OneDrive API Integration in Ruby

Aug 7, 2024 • 5 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby developer! Ready to supercharge your app with cloud storage capabilities? Let's dive into integrating the Microsoft OneDrive API using the nifty one_drive gem. This powerhouse combo will let you manage files, folders, and sharing like a pro.

Prerequisites

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

A Ruby environment up and running
A Microsoft Azure account (if you don't have one, now's the time to grab it!)
An app registered in the Azure portal (trust me, it's easier than it sounds)

Installation and Setup

First things first, let's get that gem installed:

gem install one_drive

Now, configure your OAuth 2.0 credentials. You'll need your client ID and secret from the Azure portal. Don't worry, I'll wait while you fetch those.

Authentication

Time to get that access token! Here's a quick snippet to get you started:

require 'one_drive'

client = OneDrive::Client.new(
  client_id: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
  client_secret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
  redirect_uri: 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI'
)

auth_url = client.auth_code.authorize_url(scope: 'files.readwrite.all')
# Redirect your user to auth_url and get the code

token = client.auth_code.get_token(code)

Pro tip: Don't forget to handle token refresh. Your future self will thank you!

Basic Operations

Now for the fun part! Let's play with some files:

Listing files and folders

client.drive.items.list

Uploading files

client.drive.items.upload_file('/path/to/local/file.txt', '/remote/path/file.txt')

Downloading files

client.drive.items.download('/remote/path/file.txt', '/local/destination/file.txt')

Creating folders

client.drive.items.create_folder('New Folder', '/parent/path')

Advanced Operations

Ready to level up? Let's tackle some advanced stuff:

Searching for files

results = client.drive.items.search('query')

link = client.drive.items.create_link('/path/to/file.txt', 'view')

Handling large file uploads

For those hefty files, use resumable sessions:

session = client.drive.items.create_upload_session('/remote/path/large_file.zip')
# Use the session to upload in chunks

Error Handling and Best Practices

Nobody's perfect, and neither are APIs. Keep an eye out for common errors like 401 Unauthorized or 404 Not Found. And remember, respect those rate limits – they're there for a reason!

Testing and Debugging

Stuck? The OneDrive API Explorer is your new best friend. And don't be shy about using good ol' puts for debugging. Sometimes the simplest tools are the best!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now armed and ready to integrate OneDrive into your Ruby app like a boss. Remember, the official docs are your friend if you need more details.

Happy coding, and may your uploads be swift and your downloads be plentiful!

Sample Code Repository

Want to see it all in action? Check out our GitHub repo for complete examples and more tips and tricks.