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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of VideoAsk API integration? You're in for a treat. VideoAsk's API is a powerful tool that lets you programmatically create and manage video-based surveys and interactions. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of building a robust integration that'll have you manipulating videoasks like a pro in no time.

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ installed (come on, you know you want those sweet new features)
• A VideoAsk account with API credentials (if you don't have one, go grab it – I'll wait)
• Your favorite code editor at the ready

Setting Up the Project

Let's kick things off by setting up our project:

mkdir videoask_integration
cd videoask_integration
bundle init

Now, crack open that Gemfile and add these gems:

gem 'httparty'
gem 'dotenv'

Run bundle install, and we're off to the races!

Authentication

First things first – let's get you authenticated:

require 'httparty'
require 'dotenv/load'

class VideoAskClient
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.videoask.com/v1'

  def initialize
    @headers = {
      'Authorization' => "Bearer #{ENV['VIDEOASK_API_KEY']}",
      'Content-Type' => 'application/json'
    }
  end
end

Pro tip: Use a .env file to keep your API key safe and sound.

Making API Requests

Now that we're all set up, let's make our first request:

def get_videoasks
  self.class.get('/videoasks', headers: @headers)
end

Easy peasy, right? This method will fetch all your videoasks.

Core VideoAsk API Operations

Let's add some more meat to our VideoAskClient:

def create_videoask(data)
  self.class.post('/videoasks', headers: @headers, body: data.to_json)
end

def update_videoask(id, data)
  self.class.patch("/videoasks/#{id}", headers: @headers, body: data.to_json)
end

def delete_videoask(id)
  self.class.delete("/videoasks/#{id}", headers: @headers)
end

Now you're cooking with gas! Create, update, and delete videoasks to your heart's content.

Working with Responses

Let's handle those responses like a boss:

def parse_response(response)
  case response.code
  when 200..299
    JSON.parse(response.body)
  else
    raise "API Error: #{response.code} - #{response.message}"
  end
end

Slap this method onto your API calls, and you'll be parsing JSON and handling errors like a champ.

Advanced Features

Want to level up? Let's tackle pagination and filtering:

def get_videoasks(page: 1, per_page: 10, sort: 'created_at')
  query = { page: page, per_page: per_page, sort: sort }
  self.class.get('/videoasks', headers: @headers, query: query)
end

Now you're in control of your result set. Boom!

Implementing Webhooks

Ready for some real-time action? Set up a webhook endpoint:

require 'sinatra'

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

Just like that, you're processing VideoAsk events in real-time. How cool is that?

Best Practices

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility:

• Keep an eye on those rate limits
• Cache responses when it makes sense
• Use background jobs for heavy lifting

Testing the Integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick example using RSpec:

RSpec.describe VideoAskClient do
  let(:client) { VideoAskClient.new }

  it 'fetches videoasks' do
    VCR.use_cassette('videoasks') do
      response = client.get_videoasks
      expect(response).to be_success
      expect(response.body).to include('videoasks')
    end
  end
end

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid VideoAsk API integration in Ruby. From authentication to webhooks, you're now equipped to create some seriously cool video-based interactions.

Remember, the API is your oyster – so get out there and build something awesome! If you need more info, the VideoAsk API docs are your new best friend.

Now go forth and code, you Ruby rockstar!