Step by Step Guide to Building a OneSignal API Integration in Python

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your app with push notifications? Let's dive into integrating OneSignal's API using Python. We'll be using the onesignal-sdk package, which makes our lives a whole lot easier. Buckle up!

Prerequisites

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

• A Python environment set up (I know you've got this!)
• A OneSignal account with an app created (if not, hop over to OneSignal and set one up real quick)

Installation

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

pip install onesignal-sdk

Easy peasy, right?

Authentication

Now, let's get you authenticated:

1. Grab your API key and app ID from your OneSignal dashboard.
2. Initialize the client like this:

from onesignal_sdk.client import Client

client = Client(app_id="YOUR_APP_ID", rest_api_key="YOUR_REST_API_KEY")

Basic Operations

Let's send some notifications!

Sending to All Subscribers

notification_body = {
    'contents': {'en': 'Hello, World!'},
    'included_segments': ['All']
}
response = client.send_notification(notification_body)

Sending to Specific Devices

notification_body = {
    'contents': {'en': 'Hey, you!'},
    'include_player_ids': ['PLAYER_ID_1', 'PLAYER_ID_2']
}
response = client.send_notification(notification_body)

Advanced Features

Ready to level up? Let's explore some cool features:

Scheduling Notifications

from datetime import datetime, timedelta

send_after = datetime.now() + timedelta(hours=1)
notification_body = {
    'contents': {'en': 'This is from the future!'},
    'included_segments': ['All'],
    'send_after': send_after.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S GMT-0000')
}
response = client.send_notification(notification_body)

Using Templates

notification_body = {
    'template_id': 'YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID',
    'included_segments': ['All']
}
response = client.send_notification(notification_body)

Best Practices

• Keep an eye on those rate limits! OneSignal has some restrictions to keep things running smoothly.
• Always handle errors gracefully. Your future self will thank you!

try:
    response = client.send_notification(notification_body)
except OneSignalHTTPError as e:
    print(f"Oops! Error: {e}")

Testing

Before going live, test your integration:

1. Use test devices to verify notifications.
2. Check the OneSignal dashboard to confirm delivery.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to send notifications like a pro. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility – use your newfound notification skills wisely!

Need more info? Check out the OneSignal API docs for all the nitty-gritty details.

Now go forth and notify! 🚀