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

Aug 12, 2024 • 5 minute read

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your Ruby projects with Netlify's awesome API? Let's dive right in and build something cool together.

Introduction

Netlify's API is a powerhouse, letting you automate deployments, manage sites, and do all sorts of magic. We'll be using the netlify gem to make our lives easier. Trust me, it's going to be a breeze!

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you've got:

Ruby (2.5 or later)
A Netlify account with an API token (grab one from your account settings)
Your favorite code editor

Setting up the project

Let's get our project off the ground:

mkdir netlify_integration && cd netlify_integration
bundle init
bundle add netlify dotenv

Create a .env file and add your Netlify token:

NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN=your_token_here

Authenticating with Netlify API

Time to make our first connection:

require 'netlify'
require 'dotenv/load'

client = Netlify::Client.new(access_token: ENV['NETLIFY_AUTH_TOKEN'])

begin
  user = client.current_user
  puts "Connected as #{user.email}"
rescue Netlify::Error => e
  puts "Oops! Authentication failed: #{e.message}"
end

If you see your email printed, you're in business!

Basic API operations

Let's flex those API muscles:

# List your sites
sites = client.sites
puts "You have #{sites.count} sites"

# Create a new site
new_site = client.create_site(name: 'my-awesome-site')
puts "Created site: #{new_site.url}"

# Deploy a site (assuming you have a _site directory)
deploy = client.create_site_deploy(site_id: new_site.id, dir: './_site')
puts "Deployed! Check it out: #{deploy.deploy_url}"

Advanced API usage

Ready for some pro moves?

# Manage deploy keys
key = client.create_deploy_key
puts "New deploy key: #{key.public_key}"

# Set up a build hook
hook = client.create_site_build_hook(site_id: new_site.id)
puts "Build hook URL: #{hook.url}"

# Handle form submissions
submissions = client.list_form_submissions(site_id: new_site.id)
submissions.each { |sub| puts sub.data }

Error handling and best practices

Always be prepared:

def with_retry(max_attempts = 3)
  attempts = 0
  begin
    yield
  rescue Netlify::RateLimitError => e
    attempts += 1
    if attempts < max_attempts
      sleep(e.retry_after)
      retry
    else
      raise
    end
  end
end

with_retry do
  client.create_site_deploy(site_id: 'some-id', dir: './build')
end

Testing the integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick RSpec example:

RSpec.describe NetlifyIntegration do
  it "lists sites" do
    VCR.use_cassette("list_sites") do
      sites = subject.list_sites
      expect(sites).to be_an(Array)
      expect(sites.first).to respond_to(:name)
    end
  end
end

Deployment considerations

When deploying, keep that token safe! Use environment variables in your CI/CD pipeline, and never commit secrets to your repo.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to harness the full power of Netlify's API in your Ruby projects. Remember, this is just the beginning – there's so much more you can do. Check out the Netlify API docs for more ideas, and happy coding!

Got questions? Hit me up in the comments. Now go build something awesome! 🚀