Reading and Writing Data Using the SendFox API

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of SendFox API integration? Let's roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with some code. We'll focus on syncing data for a user-facing integration, so buckle up!

Authentication: Your Key to the Kingdom

First things first, you'll need an API key. Head over to your SendFox account settings and grab that key. It's your golden ticket to the API wonderland.

Once you've got it, let's set up our requests:

const axios = require('axios');

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.sendfox.com/v1',
  headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${YOUR_API_KEY}` }
});

Reading Data: Fetching the Goods

Now, let's fetch some data. We'll start with getting contact lists:

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

Need to grab individual contacts? No sweat:

async function getContact(id) {
  try {
    const response = await api.get(`/contacts/${id}`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error fetching contact ${id}:`, error);
  }
}

Writing Data: Time to Create and Update

Let's add a new contact to the mix:

async function createContact(contactData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.post('/contacts', contactData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating contact:', error);
  }
}

Updating? Just as easy:

async function updateContact(id, updateData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.patch(`/contacts/${id}`, updateData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error updating contact ${id}:`, error);
  }
}

Syncing Data: Keeping Everything in Harmony

When it comes to syncing, you'll want to implement a strategy that works for your use case. Here's a simple example:

async function syncContacts(localContacts) {
  for (const contact of localContacts) {
    try {
      const remoteContact = await getContact(contact.id);
      if (remoteContact) {
        if (contact.updatedAt > remoteContact.updatedAt) {
          await updateContact(contact.id, contact);
        }
      } else {
        await createContact(contact);
      }
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Error syncing contact ${contact.id}:`, error);
    }
  }
}

Error Handling and Rate Limiting: Playing Nice with the API

Always be prepared for errors and respect those rate limits:

async function makeApiCall(fn, ...args) {
  const maxRetries = 3;
  let retries = 0;

  while (retries < maxRetries) {
    try {
      return await fn(...args);
    } catch (error) {
      if (error.response && error.response.status === 429) {
        const delay = parseInt(error.response.headers['retry-after']) * 1000;
        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));
        retries++;
      } else {
        throw error;
      }
    }
  }

  throw new Error('Max retries reached');
}

Testing and Debugging: Keeping Your Code in Check

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick example using Jest:

jest.mock('axios');

test('getContactLists fetches data correctly', async () => {
  const mockData = [{ id: 1, name: 'Test List' }];
  axios.get.mockResolvedValue({ data: mockData });

  const result = await getContactLists();
  expect(result).toEqual(mockData);
});

Best Practices: The Cherry on Top

1. Always validate data before sending it to the API.
2. Use environment variables for your API key.
3. Implement proper error logging and monitoring.
4. Batch operations when possible to reduce API calls.

Wrapping Up

There you have it, folks! You're now armed with the knowledge to read and write data like a pro using the SendFox API. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of what you can do.

Happy coding, and may your integrations be ever smooth and your data always in sync!