How to build a public UKG Pro Workforce Management integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of UKG Pro Workforce Management integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly!

Introduction

UKG Pro Workforce Management is a powerhouse when it comes to managing your workforce. But to truly unlock its potential, we need to integrate it with our own applications. And that's where the authorization flow comes in. It's like the bouncer at an exclusive club – making sure only the right people get in.

Prerequisites

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

• A UKG Pro developer account (if you don't have one, go get it!)
• An application registered in the UKG Pro Developer Portal
• Node.js installed and ready to roll
• Your favorite JavaScript libraries (we'll be using Express and axios)

Got all that? Great! Let's get this party started.

Understanding UKG Pro's OAuth 2.0 Flow

UKG Pro uses OAuth 2.0 for authorization, specifically the Authorization Code Grant Type. It's like a secret handshake between your app and UKG Pro. You'll need three key things:

1. Client ID (your app's unique identifier)
2. Client Secret (shh, it's a secret!)
3. Redirect URI (where UKG Pro will send the user after they log in)

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Setting up the server

First things first, let's set up our Express server:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

app.listen(port, () => console.log(`Server running on port ${port}`));

Creating the authorization request

Now, let's create a route that will redirect users to UKG Pro's login page:

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://ukg.pro/auth?client_id=${CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${REDIRECT_URI}&response_type=code`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Handling the callback

After the user logs in, UKG Pro will redirect them back to your app with an authorization code. Let's handle that:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  
  try {
    const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://ukg.pro/token', {
      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
      client_id: CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: CLIENT_SECRET,
      code,
      redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI
    });
    
    const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
    
    // Store these tokens securely!
    
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error exchanging code for tokens:', error);
    res.status(500).send('Authorization failed');
  }
});

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that we have our access token, we can make authenticated requests to UKG Pro's API:

const makeApiRequest = async (endpoint) => {
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(`https://ukg.pro/api/${endpoint}`, {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}` }
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
      // Time to refresh that token!
      await refreshAccessToken();
      return makeApiRequest(endpoint);
    }
    throw error;
  }
};

Best Practices

1. Keep it secret, keep it safe: Store your client secret and tokens securely. Never expose them in client-side code.
2. PKCE is your friend: Implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) for added security, especially for mobile or single-page applications.
3. Handle errors gracefully: Always have a plan for when things go wrong. Log errors and provide helpful messages to users.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built the authorization flow for your UKG Pro Workforce Management integration. You're now ready to start making authenticated requests and building out the rest of your integration.

Remember, authorization is the foundation of a secure integration. Take the time to get it right, and your future self (and your users) will thank you.

Resources

• UKG Pro API Documentation
• OAuth 2.0 Specification
• Express.js
• Axios

Now go forth and integrate with confidence! Happy coding!