Step by Step Guide to Building a Thryv API Integration in Ruby

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Thryv API integration? You're in for a treat. Thryv's API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into a wealth of business management features. In this guide, we'll walk through building a solid integration in Ruby. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ installed
• Bundler gem
• Your Thryv API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to Thryv's developer portal)

Setting Up the Project

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

mkdir thryv_integration
cd thryv_integration
bundle init

Now, open up your Gemfile and add these gems:

gem 'httparty'
gem 'dotenv'

Run bundle install, and you're good to go!

Authentication

Alright, time to get authenticated. Thryv uses OAuth 2.0, so we'll need to grab an access token:

require 'httparty'
require 'dotenv/load'

class ThryvAuth
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.thryv.com'

  def self.get_token
    response = post('/oauth/token', 
      body: {
        grant_type: 'client_credentials',
        client_id: ENV['THRYV_CLIENT_ID'],
        client_secret: ENV['THRYV_CLIENT_SECRET']
      }
    )
    response.parsed_response['access_token']
  end
end

Pro tip: Store your credentials in a .env file and use the dotenv gem to load them. Keep those secrets secret!

Making API Requests

Now that we're authenticated, let's make some requests:

class ThryvAPI
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.thryv.com/v1'

  def initialize
    @token = ThryvAuth.get_token
    @options = { headers: { 'Authorization' => "Bearer #{@token}" } }
  end

  def get_customers
    self.class.get('/customers', @options)
  end

  # Add more methods for other endpoints
end

Implementing Key Thryv API Features

Let's add some methods to work with core Thryv features:

class ThryvAPI
  # ... previous code ...

  def create_appointment(customer_id, start_time, end_time)
    body = {
      customerId: customer_id,
      startDateTime: start_time,
      endDateTime: end_time
    }
    self.class.post('/appointments', @options.merge(body: body.to_json))
  end

  def process_payment(customer_id, amount)
    body = {
      customerId: customer_id,
      amount: amount
    }
    self.class.post('/payments', @options.merge(body: body.to_json))
  end
end

Error Handling and Logging

Don't forget to handle those pesky errors:

def api_request
  yield
rescue HTTParty::Error => e
  puts "HTTP Error: #{e.message}"
  # Log error, retry, or handle as needed
rescue StandardError => e
  puts "General Error: #{e.message}"
  # Log error or handle as needed
end

Wrap your API calls with this method for better error handling.

Testing the Integration

Time to make sure everything's working smoothly:

require 'minitest/autorun'

class ThryvAPITest < Minitest::Test
  def setup
    @api = ThryvAPI.new
  end

  def test_get_customers
    response = @api.get_customers
    assert_equal 200, response.code
    # Add more assertions
  end

  # Add more tests
end

Best Practices and Optimization

Remember to respect rate limits and implement caching where it makes sense. Your future self (and Thryv's servers) will thank you!

def get_customers
  Rails.cache.fetch('customers', expires_in: 1.hour) do
    self.class.get('/customers', @options)
  end
end

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid Thryv API integration in Ruby. You're now equipped to manage customers, appointments, and payments programmatically. How cool is that?

Remember, this is just the beginning. There's a whole world of Thryv API features to explore. So go forth, experiment, and build something awesome!

Need more info? Check out Thryv's API docs for the full scoop. Happy coding!