Reading and Writing Data Using the Todoist API

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Todoist API integration? Let's roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with some code.

Authentication: Your Golden Ticket

First things first, we need to get that all-important access token. Todoist uses OAuth 2.0, so let's set up a quick flow:

const authUrl = 'https://todoist.com/oauth/authorize';
const clientId = 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID';
const redirectUri = 'YOUR_REDIRECT_URI';

const authLink = `${authUrl}?client_id=${clientId}&scope=data:read_write&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}`;

Once you've got your access token, store it securely. You'll need it for all your API calls.

Reading Data: What's on the To-Do List?

Time to fetch those tasks! Here's a quick snippet to get you started:

const fetchTasks = async (token) => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.todoist.com/rest/v2/tasks', {
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
    }
  });
  return response.json();
};

Don't forget about pagination! The API returns tasks in chunks, so you might need to make multiple requests for a complete sync.

Writing Data: Adding to the List

Creating a new task is just as easy:

const createTask = async (token, taskData) => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.todoist.com/rest/v2/tasks', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify(taskData)
  });
  return response.json();
};

Syncing Strategy: Keeping It All Together

Todoist uses a sync token approach. Here's how you can implement it:

let syncToken = null;

const sync = async (token) => {
  const response = await fetch(`https://api.todoist.com/sync/v9/sync`, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ sync_token: syncToken, resource_types: ['items'] })
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  syncToken = data.sync_token;
  return data;
};

This way, you'll only get the changes since your last sync. Neat, right?

Error Handling and Rate Limiting: Play Nice

Always wrap your API calls in try/catch blocks. And remember, Todoist has rate limits. Be a good API citizen and respect them:

const delay = (ms) => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));

const apiCall = async (fn, ...args) => {
  try {
    return await fn(...args);
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.status === 429) {
      await delay(2000);
      return apiCall(fn, ...args);
    }
    throw error;
  }
};

Optimizing Performance: Speed It Up!

Batch those requests when you can. Instead of updating tasks one by one, use the sync API to update multiple items at once:

const batchUpdate = async (token, commands) => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.todoist.com/sync/v9/sync', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ commands })
  });
  return response.json();
};

Best Practices: Stay Sharp

1. Always use HTTPS for API calls.
2. Never expose your access token in client-side code.
3. Implement proper error handling and retries.
4. Keep your local data in sync with regular API calls.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it! You're now equipped to build a robust Todoist integration. Remember, the key to a great integration is keeping things in sync and handling errors gracefully.

Happy coding, and may your to-do lists always be manageable!