How to build a public Redtail CRM integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 15, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Redtail CRM integration? Today, we're focusing on the crucial part of any integration: the authorization flow. Let's get your users securely connected to Redtail CRM with a smooth, user-friendly auth process.

Introduction

Redtail CRM is a powerhouse for managing client relationships, but its real magic shines when integrated into your own applications. The key to unlocking this potential? A rock-solid authorization flow. We'll walk through building one that's secure, efficient, and user-friendly.

Prerequisites

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

Redtail CRM API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to their developer portal)
A Node.js and Express.js setup ready to go
A good grasp on OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory as we go)

Setting up the Authorization Flow

Let's kick things off by setting up our OAuth 2.0 client. First, install the oauth package:

npm install oauth

Now, let's create our OAuth 2.0 client:

const OAuth2 = require('oauth').OAuth2;
const client = new OAuth2(
  CLIENT_ID,
  CLIENT_SECRET,
  'https://redtailtechnology.com',
  '/oauth/authorize',
  '/oauth/token'
);

Next, we'll create our authorization URL:

const authUrl = client.getAuthorizeUrl({
  redirect_uri: 'http://localhost:3000/callback',
  scope: 'read write',
  response_type: 'code'
});

Set up a route to handle the redirect:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  // We'll fill this in soon!
});

Implementing the Authorization Code Grant

When the user approves your app, Redtail will redirect them back with an authorization code. Let's exchange that for an access token:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  
  client.getOAuthAccessToken(
    code,
    { grant_type: 'authorization_code', redirect_uri: 'http://localhost:3000/callback' },
    (err, accessToken, refreshToken, results) => {
      if (err) {
        // Handle error
        return res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to get access token' });
      }
      
      // Store tokens securely (more on this later)
      // For now, let's just send them back to the client
      res.json({ accessToken, refreshToken });
    }
  );
});

Refreshing Access Tokens

Access tokens don't last forever. Let's implement a refresh mechanism:

function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    client.getOAuthAccessToken(
      refreshToken,
      { grant_type: 'refresh_token' },
      (err, accessToken, refreshToken, results) => {
        if (err) {
          reject(err);
        } else {
          resolve({ accessToken, refreshToken });
        }
      }
    );
  });
}

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always be prepared for things to go sideways. Here's a basic error handler:

function handleAuthError(err, res) {
  if (err.statusCode === 401) {
    // Token might be expired, try refreshing
    return refreshAccessToken(/* stored refresh token */);
  } else {
    // Handle other errors
    res.status(err.statusCode || 500).json({ error: err.message });
  }
}

Testing the Auth Flow

Time to put our flow to the test! Set up a simple frontend that initiates the auth flow:

<a href="/auth">Connect to Redtail CRM</a>

And the corresponding route:

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Best Practices and Security Considerations

Remember, security is paramount! Here are some quick tips:

Always use HTTPS in production
Implement PKCE for added security
Never expose your client secret
Store tokens securely (consider encryption at rest)

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure, efficient authorization flow for your Redtail CRM integration. With this foundation, you're all set to start making API calls and building out the rest of your integration.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out these resources:

Happy coding, and may your integrations be ever smooth and secure!