How to build a public Shopee integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 11, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript aficionados! Ready to dive into the world of Shopee integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public Shopee integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure, robust, and user-friendly.

The Lowdown on Shopee's API

Before we jump in, let's quickly touch on Shopee's API. It's powerful, feature-rich, and perfect for creating seamless integrations. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility – and in this case, that means implementing a rock-solid auth flow.

What You'll Need

A Shopee Partner API account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
Node.js installed on your machine
Your favorite code editor
A passion for building awesome integrations (which I know you have!)

OAuth 2.0: Shopee Style

Shopee uses OAuth 2.0 with the authorization code grant type. If that sounds like a mouthful, don't worry – it's simpler than it sounds. Here's what you need to know:

You'll need a client ID and client secret (get these from your Shopee Partner account)
You'll set up a redirect URI where Shopee will send the auth code
We'll exchange that code for an access token

Setting Up Shop

Let's get our project ready:

mkdir shopee-integration
cd shopee-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios

The Authorization Request

First things first, let's build the URL that'll send users to Shopee's auth page:

const authUrl = `https://partner.shopeemobile.com/api/v2/shop/auth_partner?partner_id=${partnerId}&redirect=${redirectUri}`;

Set up a route in your Express app to redirect users to this URL when they want to connect their Shopee account.

Handling the Callback

Shopee will redirect back to your app with an auth code. Let's catch it:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // We'll use this code in the next step
});

Token Time: Exchanging the Code

Now for the fun part – let's swap that code for an access token:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://partner.shopeemobile.com/api/v2/auth/token/get', {
  code,
  partner_id: partnerId,
  shop_id: shopId
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;

Keeping It Fresh: Token Refreshing

Access tokens don't last forever. Let's implement a refresh mechanism:

const refreshToken = async (refreshToken) => {
  const response = await axios.post('https://partner.shopeemobile.com/api/v2/auth/access_token/get', {
    refresh_token: refreshToken,
    partner_id: partnerId,
    shop_id: shopId
  });
  return response.data.access_token;
};

Locking It Down: Security Best Practices

Remember, tokens are like keys to the kingdom. Keep them safe:

Never store tokens in plain text
Use environment variables for sensitive data
Implement PKCE for added security (I'll leave this as a challenge for you!)

Taking It for a Spin: Testing

Set up a simple test route to make sure everything's working:

app.get('/test', async (req, res) => {
  // Use your access token to make a test API call
  const response = await axios.get('https://partner.shopeemobile.com/api/v2/shop/get_shop_info', {
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  res.json(response.data);
});

When Things Go Sideways: Error Handling

Always be prepared for the unexpected:

try {
  // Your API calls here
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    // Time to refresh that token!
  } else {
    // Handle other errors gracefully
  }
}

Wrapping Up

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your Shopee integration. With this auth flow in place, you're ready to start making API calls and building out the rest of your integration.

Remember, the key to a great integration is attention to detail and always putting security first. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep coding!

Want to Learn More?

Check out these resources to take your Shopee integration to the next level:

Now go forth and build something awesome! 🚀