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

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Teamwork integrations? Let's roll up our sleeves and build an auth flow that'll make your integration shine. We'll keep things concise and focused, so you can get up and running in no time.

Introduction

Teamwork's API is a powerhouse for collaboration tools, and building a public integration opens up a world of possibilities. The key to a rock-solid integration? A secure authorization flow. That's what we're tackling today.

Prerequisites

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

• A Teamwork developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• A solid grasp on OAuth 2.0 (it's our bread and butter here)
• Node.js and Express.js set up and ready to go

Setting up the project

First things first:

1. Create a new Teamwork app in your developer account.
2. Snag that client ID and secret – you'll need 'em soon.

Implementing OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow

Initiating the auth flow

Let's kick things off by constructing the authorization URL:

const authUrl = `https://www.teamwork.com/launchpad/login?client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}&response_type=code`;

Now, redirect your user to this URL. They'll log in to Teamwork and grant your app permissions.

Handling the callback

Once the user gives the thumbs up, Teamwork will redirect them back to your redirect_uri with an authorization code. Time to exchange that for some tokens:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://www.teamwork.com/launchpad/v1/token', {
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code'
  });
  
  const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
  // Store these tokens securely
});

Token management

Now that you've got your tokens, treat them like gold. Store them securely (please, not in plain text!), and set up a system to refresh that access token when it expires:

async function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://www.teamwork.com/launchpad/v1/token', {
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    refresh_token: refreshToken,
    grant_type: 'refresh_token'
  });
  
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Making authenticated requests

With your shiny new access token, you're ready to make API calls:

const response = await axios.get('https://yourcompany.teamwork.com/projects.json', {
  headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
});

If you get a 401, it's time to refresh that token!

Best practices

Want to level up your security game? Implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) and use the state parameter to prevent CSRF attacks. Your future self will thank you.

Testing the integration

Set up a test environment and simulate the auth flow. Try to break it – seriously! The more edge cases you catch now, the smoother your integration will run in the wild.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure auth flow for your Teamwork integration. Pretty cool, right? From here, the sky's the limit. Start exploring Teamwork's API endpoints and see what awesome features you can add to your integration.

Remember, the auth flow is the foundation of your integration. Get this right, and you're setting yourself up for success. Now go forth and build something amazing!