How to build a public New Relic integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of New Relic integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly in no time!

Why bother with a secure auth flow?

Before we jump in, let's quickly touch on why this matters. A solid auth flow is like the bouncer at an exclusive club – it ensures only the right people get in and keeps your users' data safe. Plus, it's the gateway to all the cool New Relic data you want to play with. So, let's get it right!

Prerequisites

Alright, before we start coding, make sure you've got:

• A New Relic account with API access (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• Node.js set up on your machine (you're a JS dev, so I'm sure you've got this covered)

Setting up your project

Let's get the boring stuff out of the way:

mkdir new-relic-integration
cd new-relic-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Great! Now you've got a blank canvas to work with.

Configuring New Relic API credentials

Head over to your New Relic account and create an API key. Once you've got it, let's keep it safe:

1. Create a .env file in your project root
2. Add your credentials:

NEW_RELIC_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
NEW_RELIC_ACCOUNT_ID=your_account_id_here

Remember, never commit this file to version control. Your future self will thank you!

Implementing the OAuth 2.0 flow

Now for the main event! We're going to implement the OAuth 2.0 authorization code grant. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds.

First, let's set up our Express server:

require('dotenv').config();
const express = require('express');
const axios = require('axios');

const app = express();
const port = 3000;

app.listen(port, () => console.log(`Server running on port ${port}`));

Step 1: The authorization request

Let's create a route to start the auth process:

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://api.newrelic.com/v2/oauth/authorize?response_type=code&client_id=${process.env.NEW_RELIC_CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent('http://localhost:3000/callback')}`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

This will send your users to New Relic's authorization page. Cool, right?

Step 2: Handling the callback

Now, let's catch that callback:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://api.newrelic.com/v2/oauth/token', {
      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
      code,
      redirect_uri: 'http://localhost:3000/callback',
      client_id: process.env.NEW_RELIC_CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.NEW_RELIC_CLIENT_SECRET
    });

    const { access_token, refresh_token } = response.data;
    // Store these tokens securely!
    
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error exchanging code for token:', error);
    res.status(500).send('Authorization failed');
  }
});

Boom! You've just exchanged the code for an access token. Remember to store these tokens securely – they're your golden tickets to the New Relic API.

Creating API wrapper functions

Now that we've got our tokens, let's put them to use:

async function makeNewRelicRequest(endpoint, method = 'GET', data = null) {
  try {
    const response = await axios({
      method,
      url: `https://api.newrelic.com/v2/${endpoint}`,
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${access_token}`,
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      },
      data
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
      // Time to refresh that token!
      await refreshToken();
      return makeNewRelicRequest(endpoint, method, data);
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

This function will handle your API requests and even refresh the token if it expires. Pretty nifty, huh?

Error handling and security considerations

Always expect the unexpected! Make sure you're handling errors gracefully and keeping your users' data safe. Here are a few tips:

• Implement proper error logging
• Use HTTPS for all requests
• Implement CSRF protection
• Never expose tokens or sensitive data to the client-side

Testing your auth flow

Before you pop the champagne, give your auth flow a thorough test. Try the happy path, but also throw some curveballs at it. What happens if the token expires? What if the user denies access? Better to catch these edge cases now than when your integration is live!

Wrapping up

And there you have it! You've just built a secure auth flow for your New Relic integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've taken a big step towards creating a robust, user-friendly integration.

Remember, this is just the beginning. Keep exploring the New Relic API, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries of what your integration can do. The sky's the limit!

Happy coding, and may your metrics always be insightful! 🚀📊

Additional resources

• New Relic API documentation
• OAuth 2.0 best practices

Now go forth and integrate with confidence!