Step by Step Guide to Building a Nutshell API Integration in Go

Aug 18, 2024 • 6 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your CRM game with Nutshell? Let's dive into building a slick API integration using Go. Nutshell's API is a powerhouse for managing contacts, leads, and more. We'll get you up and running in no time!

Prerequisites

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

Go installed (you're a pro, so I'm sure you do)
Nutshell API credentials (grab 'em from your account)
Your favorite code editor ready to rock

Setting up the project

Let's kick things off:

mkdir nutshell-integration
cd nutshell-integration
go mod init github.com/yourusername/nutshell-integration

Now, let's grab the essentials:

go get github.com/go-resty/resty/v2

Authentication

Time to get cozy with Nutshell. We'll create a reusable client:

package main

import (
    "github.com/go-resty/resty/v2"
)

type NutshellClient struct {
    client *resty.Client
    apiKey string
}

func NewNutshellClient(apiKey string) *NutshellClient {
    return &NutshellClient{
        client: resty.New(),
        apiKey: apiKey,
    }
}

Basic API requests

Let's fetch some contacts, shall we?

func (nc *NutshellClient) GetContacts() ([]Contact, error) {
    var result struct {
        Contacts []Contact `json:"contacts"`
    }
    
    _, err := nc.client.R().
        SetHeader("Authorization", "Basic "+nc.apiKey).
        SetResult(&result).
        Get("https://app.nutshell.com/api/v1/contacts")
    
    return result.Contacts, err
}

Creating a lead? Easy peasy:

func (nc *NutshellClient) CreateLead(lead Lead) (Lead, error) {
    var result struct {
        Lead Lead `json:"lead"`
    }
    
    _, err := nc.client.R().
        SetHeader("Authorization", "Basic "+nc.apiKey).
        SetBody(lead).
        SetResult(&result).
        Post("https://app.nutshell.com/api/v1/leads")
    
    return result.Lead, err
}

Handling responses

Go's got your back with built-in JSON parsing:

type Contact struct {
    ID   int    `json:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
    // Add more fields as needed
}

Don't forget to check for errors:

contacts, err := client.GetContacts()
if err != nil {
    log.Fatalf("Error fetching contacts: %v", err)
}

Advanced features

Pagination? We've got you covered:

func (nc *NutshellClient) GetContactsPaginated(page, limit int) ([]Contact, error) {
    // Implementation here
}

Building a simple CLI tool

Let's wrap it all up in a neat CLI package:

package main

import (
    "flag"
    "fmt"
    "log"
)

func main() {
    apiKey := flag.String("api-key", "", "Nutshell API key")
    flag.Parse()

    if *apiKey == "" {
        log.Fatal("API key is required")
    }

    client := NewNutshellClient(*apiKey)
    
    contacts, err := client.GetContacts()
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Error fetching contacts: %v", err)
    }

    for _, contact := range contacts {
        fmt.Printf("Contact: %s (ID: %d)\n", contact.Name, contact.ID)
    }
}

Best practices

Respect rate limits (Nutshell will thank you)
Cache frequently accessed data
Log errors for easier debugging

Testing

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

func TestGetContacts(t *testing.T) {
    // Mock the API response
    // Test the GetContacts function
    // Assert the results
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your Nutshell API integration in Go. The sky's the limit from here – add more endpoints, build a full-fledged application, or integrate it into your existing systems.

Resources

Now go forth and conquer the world of CRM integrations! Happy coding!