Step by Step Guide to Building a SamCart API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of SamCart API integration? You're in for a treat. We'll be walking through the process of building a robust integration that'll have you manipulating products, orders, and customers like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• A SamCart account with API credentials (you savvy business owner, you)
• Node.js and npm installed on your machine
• A solid grasp of JavaScript and REST APIs (but you knew that already, right?)

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project off the ground:

mkdir samcart-integration && cd samcart-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Authentication

Security first! Let's keep those API credentials under wraps:

1. Create a .env file in your project root:

SAMCART_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

2. In your main JS file:

require('dotenv').config();
const axios = require('axios');

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.samcart.com/v1',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.SAMCART_API_KEY}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

Making API requests

Now, let's make our first API call:

async function getProducts() {
  try {
    const response = await api.get('/products');
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching products:', error.response.data);
  }
}

Core API endpoints

SamCart's API is your oyster. Here are the main endpoints you'll be working with:

• /products
• /orders
• /customers
• /subscriptions

Implementing key functionalities

Let's implement some core functions:

async function createOrder(orderData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.post('/orders', orderData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating order:', error.response.data);
  }
}

async function getCustomer(customerId) {
  try {
    const response = await api.get(`/customers/${customerId}`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching customer:', error.response.data);
  }
}

Error handling and rate limiting

Let's add some resilience to our code:

async function makeApiCall(method, endpoint, data = null) {
  const maxRetries = 3;
  let retries = 0;

  while (retries < maxRetries) {
    try {
      const response = await api[method](endpoint, data);
      return response.data;
    } catch (error) {
      if (error.response && error.response.status === 429) {
        retries++;
        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000 * retries));
      } else {
        throw error;
      }
    }
  }
  throw new Error('Max retries reached');
}

Testing the integration

Time to put our code through its paces:

const assert = require('assert');

async function testProductFetch() {
  const products = await getProducts();
  assert(Array.isArray(products), 'Products should be an array');
  console.log('Product fetch test passed!');
}

testProductFetch();

Best practices and optimization

To keep your integration running smoothly:

1. Implement caching for frequently accessed data.
2. Use webhooks for real-time updates instead of constant polling.

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  // Handle the event
  console.log('Received webhook:', event);
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Webhook server running on port 3000'));

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid SamCart API integration. Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more you can do with the SamCart API, so don't be afraid to explore and experiment.

For more in-depth information, check out the SamCart API documentation. Now go forth and integrate with confidence!