How to build a public Odoo ERP integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Odoo ERP integrations? Today, we're going to walk through building a robust authorization flow for your user-facing integration. Buckle up, because we're about to make your Odoo integration dreams come true!

Introduction

Odoo ERP is a powerhouse when it comes to business management, but its true potential shines when integrated with other systems. That's where you come in! By creating a public integration, you're opening up a world of possibilities for users. But first things first – we need to nail that authorization flow. It's the gatekeeper of your integration, so let's make it rock-solid!

Prerequisites

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

• An Odoo instance up and running
• A cozy Node.js environment
• A good grasp on OAuth 2.0 (but don't worry, we'll refresh your memory as we go)

Setting up the project

Let's get our hands dirty! Fire up your terminal and let's create our project:

mkdir odoo-integration && cd odoo-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios

Great! We've got our basic setup ready to roll.

Configuring Odoo for OAuth

Time to give Odoo a heads-up about our integration:

1. Log into your Odoo instance as an admin
2. Navigate to Settings > General Settings > Integrations
3. Enable OAuth
4. Create a new OAuth application
5. Jot down that client ID and secret – we'll need them soon!

Implementing the authorization flow

Initiating the OAuth request

Let's kick things off by creating a route to start the auth process:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://your-odoo-instance.com/oauth2/auth?
    client_id=${CLIENT_ID}&
    response_type=code&
    redirect_uri=${REDIRECT_URI}`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Handling the callback

Now, let's set up our callback route to catch that sweet, sweet authorization code:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // We'll use this code in the next step!
});

Exchanging code for access token

Time to trade in that code for an access token:

const axios = require('axios');

// ... inside your callback route
const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://your-odoo-instance.com/oauth2/token', {
  client_id: CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
  code,
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
// Store these tokens securely!

Refreshing the access token

Don't forget to keep that token fresh:

async function refreshToken(refresh_token) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://your-odoo-instance.com/oauth2/token', {
    client_id: CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
    refresh_token,
    grant_type: 'refresh_token'
  });
  
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Securing the integration

Safety first! Let's add a state parameter to prevent those pesky CSRF attacks:

const crypto = require('crypto');

function generateState() {
  return crypto.randomBytes(16).toString('hex');
}

// Use this when initiating the OAuth request
const state = generateState();
// Add &state=${state} to your authUrl

Don't forget to verify the state in your callback!

Making authenticated requests to Odoo API

Now for the fun part – using your shiny new access token:

async function getOdooData(access_token) {
  const response = await axios.get('https://your-odoo-instance.com/api/some_endpoint', {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}` }
  });
  return response.data;
}

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared! Here's a quick error handler to get you started:

function handleOAuthError(error) {
  console.error('OAuth Error:', error.response.data);
  // Implement your error handling logic here
}

Testing the integration

Time to put your creation to the test! Here's a quick checklist:

1. Start the auth flow
2. Verify the callback works
3. Check if you can make API calls
4. Try refreshing the token

Consider setting up some automated tests to keep things running smoothly as you expand your integration.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid authorization flow for your Odoo ERP integration. Pat yourself on the back – you've taken a big step towards creating a powerful, user-facing integration.

Remember, this is just the beginning. As you expand your integration, keep security at the forefront, and don't be afraid to explore more of Odoo's API capabilities. The sky's the limit!

Now go forth and integrate with confidence! Happy coding! 🚀