Reading and Writing Data Using the Salesmate API

Hey there, fellow JavaScript devs! Ready to dive into the world of Salesmate API integration? Let's get our hands dirty with some data syncing goodness for user-facing integrations. Buckle up!

The Salesmate API: Your New Best Friend

Salesmate's API is a powerful tool that lets you seamlessly integrate their CRM functionality into your apps. When it comes to user-facing integrations, syncing data is crucial. It's all about keeping everything up-to-date and in harmony. Trust me, your users will thank you for it!

Authentication: Getting Past the Bouncer

First things first, let's get you authenticated. You'll need to grab your API credentials from the Salesmate dashboard. If you're implementing OAuth 2.0 (and you probably should), here's a quick snippet to get you started:

const axios = require('axios');

async function getAccessToken(clientId, clientSecret, code) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.salesmate.io/oauth/token', {
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    code: code,
    redirect_uri: 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI'
  });
  
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Reading Data: Time to Fetch!

Now that we're in, let's grab some data. Here's how you might fetch contacts:

async function getContacts(accessToken, page = 1, limit = 100) {
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.salesmate.io/v3/contacts', {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` },
    params: { page, limit }
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

Pro tip: Always handle pagination and respect those rate limits. Your API won't ghost you if you play nice!

Writing Data: Let's Create Some Magic

Creating and updating records is just as easy. Check this out:

async function createContact(accessToken, contactData) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.salesmate.io/v3/contacts', contactData, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

async function updateContact(accessToken, contactId, updateData) {
  const response = await axios.put(`https://api.salesmate.io/v3/contacts/${contactId}`, updateData, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

Syncing Strategies: Keep It Smooth

When it comes to syncing, you've got options. Incremental sync is great for keeping things speedy, but sometimes you need a full sync to ensure everything's in order. Here's a quick incremental sync example:

async function incrementalSync(accessToken, lastSyncTimestamp) {
  const updatedContacts = await getContacts(accessToken, 1, 100, lastSyncTimestamp);
  // Process and update local data with updatedContacts
  return new Date().toISOString(); // Return new timestamp for next sync
}

And don't forget about webhooks for real-time updates. They're like having a personal assistant for your data!

Error Handling: When Things Go Sideways

APIs can be moody sometimes. Here's a simple retry mechanism with exponential backoff:

async function retryRequest(requestFn, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
    try {
      return await requestFn();
    } catch (error) {
      if (i === maxRetries - 1) throw error;
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 2 ** i * 1000));
    }
  }
}

Performance Optimization: Speed It Up!

Batch operations are your friend. Instead of updating contacts one by one, do it in bulk:

async function updateContactsBatch(accessToken, contactUpdates) {
  const response = await axios.put('https://api.salesmate.io/v3/contacts/batch', contactUpdates, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  
  return response.data;
}

Security: Lock It Down

Never, ever hardcode your API keys. Use environment variables or a secure key management system. Your future self will high-five you for this.

Testing and Debugging: Squash Those Bugs

Unit testing your API interactions is crucial. Here's a quick Jest example:

test('getContacts returns data', async () => {
  const mockResponse = { data: [{ id: 1, name: 'John Doe' }] };
  axios.get.mockResolvedValue(mockResponse);
  
  const result = await getContacts('fake_token');
  expect(result).toEqual(mockResponse.data);
});

And remember, Postman is your best friend for API debugging. Use it liberally!

Wrapping Up

There you have it, folks! You're now armed with the knowledge to build some killer Salesmate integrations. Remember to keep your code clean, your errors handled, and your data synced. Now go forth and integrate like a boss!

For more details, check out the Salesmate API docs. Happy coding!