Step by Step Guide to Building a Sage Business Cloud API Integration in Python

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Sage Business Cloud API integration? You're in for a treat. This guide will walk you through creating a robust Python integration that'll have you pulling data and pushing updates like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• Python 3.7+ installed (you're a dev, so I'm sure you've got this)
• Your favorite IDE or text editor
• requests library (pip install requests)
• A Sage Business Cloud account with API access (if you don't have this, go bug your admin!)

Authentication

First things first, let's get you authenticated:

import requests

def get_oauth_token(client_id, client_secret, username, password):
    url = "https://oauth.accounting.sage.com/token"
    data = {
        "grant_type": "password",
        "client_id": client_id,
        "client_secret": client_secret,
        "username": username,
        "password": password
    }
    response = requests.post(url, data=data)
    return response.json()["access_token"]

Pro tip: Implement token refresh to keep your integration running smoothly!

Setting up the API Client

Let's create a base client to handle our API calls:

class SageClient:
    def __init__(self, access_token):
        self.base_url = "https://api.accounting.sage.com/v3.1"
        self.headers = {
            "Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}",
            "Content-Type": "application/json"
        }

    def get(self, endpoint):
        return requests.get(f"{self.base_url}/{endpoint}", headers=self.headers)

    def post(self, endpoint, data):
        return requests.post(f"{self.base_url}/{endpoint}", headers=self.headers, json=data)

    # Implement put and delete methods similarly

Implementing Core API Functions

Now, let's put our client to work:

def get_customers(client):
    response = client.get("contacts")
    return response.json()["$items"]

def create_invoice(client, invoice_data):
    return client.post("sales_invoices", invoice_data)

Error Handling and Logging

Don't forget to catch those pesky errors:

import logging

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

try:
    # Your API call here
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    logger.error(f"API request failed: {e}")

Data Processing and Transformation

Here's a quick example of how to process API data:

def process_customer_data(customers):
    return [{"name": customer["name"], "email": customer["email"]} for customer in customers]

Building Specific Integrations

Let's put it all together:

token = get_oauth_token(client_id, client_secret, username, password)
client = SageClient(token)

customers = get_customers(client)
processed_customers = process_customer_data(customers)

new_invoice = {
    "contact_id": processed_customers[0]["id"],
    "date": "2023-05-15",
    "due_date": "2023-06-15",
    "line_items": [
        {
            "description": "Consulting services",
            "quantity": 1,
            "unit_price": 1000
        }
    ]
}

create_invoice(client, new_invoice)

Testing the Integration

Don't skip testing! Here's a simple unit test to get you started:

import unittest
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch

class TestSageIntegration(unittest.TestCase):
    @patch('requests.get')
    def test_get_customers(self, mock_get):
        mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {"$items": [{"name": "Test Corp"}]}
        client = SageClient("fake_token")
        customers = get_customers(client)
        self.assertEqual(len(customers), 1)
        self.assertEqual(customers[0]["name"], "Test Corp")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

Best Practices and Optimization

• Respect rate limits: Implement exponential backoff for retries.
• Cache frequently accessed data to reduce API calls.
• Use asynchronous requests for better performance when dealing with multiple API calls.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your Sage Business Cloud API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning. Keep exploring the API docs, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries of what you can do with this integration.

Happy coding, and may your API calls always return 200 OK!