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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to supercharge your forms with Typeform's API? You're in for a treat. We'll be using the nifty typeform gem to make our lives easier. Let's dive in and create some magic!

Prerequisites

Before we get our hands dirty, make sure you've got:

• Ruby (2.5 or later)
• A Typeform account with an API key
• The typeform gem installed (gem install typeform)

Got all that? Great! Let's roll.

Setting up the Typeform Client

First things first, let's get that client set up:

require 'typeform'

client = Typeform::Client.new(api_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE')

Easy peasy, right? Now we're ready to rock and roll with Typeform's API.

Fetching Form Data

Want to see what forms you've got? No problem:

forms = client.forms.list
forms.each { |form| puts form.title }

Need the nitty-gritty on a specific form? We've got you covered:

form = client.forms.get(form_id: 'YOUR_FORM_ID')
puts form.title
puts form.fields.map(&:title)

Working with Responses

Let's grab those valuable responses:

responses = client.responses.list(form_id: 'YOUR_FORM_ID')
responses.items.each do |response|
  puts response.submitted_at
  puts response.answers
end

Need to filter or paginate? Just add some params:

responses = client.responses.list(
  form_id: 'YOUR_FORM_ID',
  page_size: 20,
  since: '2023-01-01T00:00:00Z'
)

Creating and Updating Forms

Feeling creative? Let's build a form from scratch:

new_form = client.forms.create(
  title: 'My Awesome Form',
  fields: [
    { type: 'short_text', title: 'What's your name?' },
    { type: 'email', title: 'Your email, please!' }
  ]
)
puts "Created form with ID: #{new_form.id}"

Need to tweak an existing form? No sweat:

client.forms.update(
  form_id: 'EXISTING_FORM_ID',
  title: 'My Even More Awesome Form',
  fields: [{ type: 'multiple_choice', title: 'Pick your favorite color', choices: ['Red', 'Blue', 'Green'] }]
)

Webhooks Integration

Want real-time updates? Webhooks to the rescue:

webhook = client.webhooks.create(
  form_id: 'YOUR_FORM_ID',
  url: 'https://your-app.com/webhook',
  enabled: true
)
puts "Webhook created with ID: #{webhook.id}"

Handling the payload is up to you, but here's a taste:

post '/webhook' do
  payload = JSON.parse(request.body.read)
  # Do something awesome with the payload
  status 200
end

Error Handling and Best Practices

Always be prepared for the unexpected:

begin
  client.forms.get(form_id: 'NON_EXISTENT_ID')
rescue Typeform::Errors::NotFoundError
  puts "Oops! That form doesn't exist."
rescue Typeform::Errors::RateLimitError
  puts "Whoa there, speedster! Slow down a bit."
end

And remember, respect those rate limits. Your API key will thank you.

Advanced Usage

Need something off the beaten path? Custom requests are your friend:

response = client.request.get('forms/YOUR_FORM_ID/responses', query: { completed: true })

Got a bunch of operations? Batch 'em up:

results = client.request.batch do |batch|
  batch.get('forms/FORM_ID_1')
  batch.get('forms/FORM_ID_2')
  batch.post('forms', body: { title: 'New Form' })
end

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now armed and dangerous with Typeform API knowledge. Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more you can do, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries.

Happy coding, and may your forms be ever awesome! 🚀