Step by Step Guide to Building a SimplyBook.me API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of SimplyBook.me API integration? You're in for a treat. This powerful API allows you to seamlessly incorporate booking functionality into your applications. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• A SimplyBook.me account (duh!)
• API credentials (you'll find these in your account settings)
• Node.js installed on your machine

Got all that? Great! Let's move on.

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project set up:

mkdir simplybook-integration
cd simplybook-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Create a .env file to store your API credentials:

SIMPLYBOOK_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
SIMPLYBOOK_USER_TOKEN=your_user_token_here

Authentication

Now, let's tackle authentication. SimplyBook.me uses OAuth 2.0, so we'll need to get an access token:

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

async function getAccessToken() {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://user-api.simplybook.me/login', {
      apiKey: process.env.SIMPLYBOOK_API_KEY,
      userToken: process.env.SIMPLYBOOK_USER_TOKEN
    });
    return response.data.token;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Authentication failed:', error);
  }
}

Pro tip: Store this token and refresh it when it expires. Your future self will thank you!

Making API requests

With our token in hand, let's set up a basic request structure:

async function makeApiRequest(endpoint, method = 'GET', data = null) {
  const token = await getAccessToken();
  try {
    const response = await axios({
      method,
      url: `https://user-api.simplybook.me${endpoint}`,
      headers: { 'X-Company-Login': 'your_company_login', 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` },
      data
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('API request failed:', error);
  }
}

Core API functionalities

Let's implement some core features:

// Get service list
async function getServices() {
  return await makeApiRequest('/admin/services');
}

// Check availability
async function checkAvailability(serviceId, date) {
  return await makeApiRequest(`/admin/schedule/free_slots/${serviceId}/${date}`);
}

// Create a booking
async function createBooking(data) {
  return await makeApiRequest('/admin/bookings', 'POST', data);
}

Advanced features

Want to level up? Let's handle webhooks and real-time updates:

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

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

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

Error handling and best practices

Always expect the unexpected! Handle errors gracefully and respect rate limits:

function handleApiError(error) {
  if (error.response) {
    console.error('API Error:', error.response.status, error.response.data);
    // Implement retry logic for 429 (Too Many Requests) errors
  } else {
    console.error('Network Error:', error.message);
  }
}

Testing and debugging

Don't forget to test your integration thoroughly:

const assert = require('assert');

async function testGetServices() {
  const services = await getServices();
  assert(Array.isArray(services), 'Services should be an array');
  console.log('getServices test passed');
}

testGetServices();

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid SimplyBook.me API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning. Explore the API docs for more features, and don't be afraid to experiment.

Happy coding, and may your bookings always be on time! 🚀