Step by Step Guide to Building a Salesmsg API Integration in Ruby

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to supercharge your messaging game with Salesmsg? Let's dive right in and build an awesome integration that'll have you sending messages like a pro in no time.

Introduction

Salesmsg's API is a powerhouse for programmatically managing your SMS communications. Whether you're looking to automate customer outreach or streamline your support workflow, this integration will be your new best friend.

Prerequisites

Before we get our hands dirty, make sure you've got:

• Ruby 2.7+ installed
• The httparty gem (we'll use this for API requests)
• A Salesmsg API key (if you don't have one, hop over to their website and grab it)

Setting Up the Project

Let's kick things off by creating a new Ruby project:

mkdir salesmsg_integration
cd salesmsg_integration
bundle init

Now, open up your Gemfile and add:

gem 'httparty'

Run bundle install, and we're off to the races!

Authentication

Alright, let's get you authenticated and ready to roll. Create a new file called salesmsg_client.rb:

require 'httparty'

class SalesmsgClient
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.salesmsg.com/v1'

  def initialize(api_key)
    @options = { headers: { 'Authorization' => "Bearer #{api_key}" } }
  end

  # We'll add more methods here soon!
end

Basic API Operations

Now for the fun part – let's start interacting with the API!

Sending a Message

Add this method to your SalesmsgClient class:

def send_message(to, body)
  self.class.post('/messages', @options.merge(body: { to: to, body: body }))
end

Retrieving Conversations

Let's fetch those conversations:

def get_conversations(page = 1, per_page = 20)
  self.class.get('/conversations', @options.merge(query: { page: page, per_page: per_page }))
end

Handling Webhooks

Webhooks are crucial for real-time updates. Here's a basic Sinatra app to handle them:

require 'sinatra'
require 'json'

post '/webhook' do
  payload = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  # Process the webhook payload
  puts "Received webhook: #{payload}"
  status 200
end

Advanced Features

Ready to level up? Let's tackle some advanced features.

Implementing Pagination

Pagination is key for handling large datasets. Here's a method to fetch all conversations:

def get_all_conversations
  page = 1
  all_conversations = []
  loop do
    response = get_conversations(page)
    break if response['data'].empty?
    all_conversations += response['data']
    page += 1
  end
  all_conversations
end

Error Handling and Retries

Let's add some resilience to our client:

def send_message_with_retry(to, body, max_retries = 3)
  retries = 0
  begin
    send_message(to, body)
  rescue => e
    retries += 1
    if retries <= max_retries
      sleep(2 ** retries)
      retry
    else
      raise e
    end
  end
end

Testing

Testing is not just important, it's essential! Here's a quick RSpec example:

require 'rspec'
require_relative 'salesmsg_client'

RSpec.describe SalesmsgClient do
  let(:client) { SalesmsgClient.new('your_api_key') }

  it 'sends a message successfully' do
    VCR.use_cassette('send_message') do
      response = client.send_message('+1234567890', 'Hello, World!')
      expect(response.code).to eq(200)
    end
  end
end

Best Practices

Remember, keep your API key safe! Use environment variables:

api_key = ENV['SALESMSG_API_KEY']
client = SalesmsgClient.new(api_key)

And don't forget to implement proper logging and monitoring. Your future self will thank you!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a robust Salesmsg API integration in Ruby. From basic operations to advanced features, you're now equipped to take your messaging to the next level.

Remember, the API documentation is your friend. Don't be afraid to explore and experiment with different endpoints and features.

Happy coding, and may your messages always reach their destination!

Code Repository

For the complete code example, check out our GitHub repository: Salesmsg Ruby Integration

Now go forth and build something awesome!