Reading and Writing Data Using the SurveyMonkey API

Hey there, fellow JavaScript devs! Ready to dive into the world of SurveyMonkey API integration? Let's get our hands dirty with some code and explore how to sync data for a user-facing integration. Buckle up!

Introduction

SurveyMonkey's API is a powerful tool that lets us tap into a wealth of survey data. Whether you're building a dashboard, automating survey creation, or syncing responses in real-time, this API has got you covered. Let's explore how to make it dance to our JavaScript tune.

Authentication: Your Backstage Pass

First things first – we need to get past the bouncer. SurveyMonkey uses OAuth 2.0, so let's quickly set that up:

const axios = require('axios');

async function getAccessToken(clientId, clientSecret, code) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.surveymonkey.com/oauth/token', {
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    code: code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code'
  });
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Remember to keep that access token safe – it's your golden ticket!

Reading Survey Data: Mining for Gold

Now that we're in, let's grab some data. Here's how to fetch recent responses:

async function getRecentResponses(accessToken, surveyId) {
  const response = await axios.get(`https://api.surveymonkey.com/v3/surveys/${surveyId}/responses`, {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` },
    params: { per_page: 100, sort_order: 'DESC' }
  });
  return response.data.data;
}

Pro tip: Use the sort_order parameter to get the freshest data first.

Writing Survey Data: Leaving Your Mark

Creating surveys programmatically? You bet! Check this out:

async function createSurvey(accessToken, title, questions) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.surveymonkey.com/v3/surveys', {
    title: title,
    pages: [{
      questions: questions
    }]
  }, {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  return response.data;
}

Syncing Data: Real-Time Magic

Want to know the moment a new response comes in? Webhooks are your friend:

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

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  const newResponse = req.body;
  console.log('New response received:', newResponse);
  // Do something awesome with the data
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Webhook listener ready'));

Set this up, and SurveyMonkey will ping you whenever there's fresh data.

Error Handling: Expect the Unexpected

APIs can be moody. Let's handle those tantrums gracefully:

async function apiCall(fn) {
  try {
    return await fn();
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 429) {
      console.log('Rate limited. Retrying in 5 seconds...');
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
      return apiCall(fn);
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

Wrap your API calls with this, and you'll handle rate limits like a pro.

Performance Optimization: Speed Demon

When dealing with lots of data, batch operations are your best friend:

async function getBulkResponses(accessToken, surveyId, pageSize = 100) {
  let allResponses = [];
  let page = 1;
  let hasMore = true;

  while (hasMore) {
    const response = await axios.get(`https://api.surveymonkey.com/v3/surveys/${surveyId}/responses/bulk`, {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` },
      params: { per_page: pageSize, page: page }
    });
    allResponses = allResponses.concat(response.data.data);
    hasMore = response.data.links.next !== undefined;
    page++;
  }

  return allResponses;
}

This bad boy will fetch all responses efficiently, no matter how many there are.

Security Considerations: Lock It Down

Never, ever expose your access tokens on the client side. Always use a backend to handle API calls and token storage. Your future self will thank you.

Testing and Debugging: Trust, but Verify

The SurveyMonkey API Console is your playground. Use it to test endpoints before implementing them. And don't forget to mock API responses in your unit tests:

jest.mock('axios');

test('getRecentResponses fetches data correctly', async () => {
  axios.get.mockResolvedValue({ data: { data: [{ id: '123', answers: [] }] } });
  const responses = await getRecentResponses('fake-token', 'survey-id');
  expect(responses).toHaveLength(1);
  expect(responses[0].id).toBe('123');
});

Wrapping Up

There you have it, folks! You're now armed with the knowledge to create some seriously cool integrations with the SurveyMonkey API. Remember, the key to a great integration is thinking about your users – make it smooth, make it fast, and make it reliable.

Keep experimenting, keep coding, and most importantly, keep asking questions. After all, that's what surveys are all about, right? Happy coding!