How to build a public Wave integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Wave integrations? Let's roll up our sleeves and build an auth flow that'll make your users feel like they're riding a smooth... well, wave. 😎

Introduction

Wave's API is a powerhouse for financial data, but before we can tap into that goldmine, we need to nail the authorization process. It's like the bouncer at an exclusive club – get past it, and you're in for a great time.

Prerequisites

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

• A Wave Developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• Node.js and npm installed on your machine
• A solid grasp of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project off the ground:

mkdir wave-integration && cd wave-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Configuring Wave API credentials

Head over to your Wave Developer dashboard and snag your client ID and client secret. These are your VIP passes, so keep 'em safe!

Create a .env file in your project root:

WAVE_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id
WAVE_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret
WAVE_REDIRECT_URI=http://localhost:3000/callback

Implementing the authorization flow

Now for the fun part! Let's break down the auth flow:

1. Create an authorization URL
2. Handle the redirect and exchange the code for tokens
3. Store and refresh those precious access tokens

Here's a taste of what that looks like:

const express = require('express');
const axios = require('axios');
require('dotenv').config();

const app = express();

const authorizationUrl = `https://api.waveapps.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=${process.env.WAVE_CLIENT_ID}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${process.env.WAVE_REDIRECT_URI}`;

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  res.redirect(authorizationUrl);
});

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://api.waveapps.com/oauth2/token', {
      client_id: process.env.WAVE_CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.WAVE_CLIENT_SECRET,
      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
      code,
      redirect_uri: process.env.WAVE_REDIRECT_URI
    });

    const { access_token, refresh_token } = response.data;
    // Store these tokens securely!
    
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).send('Authorization failed');
  }
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Securing the integration

Security isn't just a buzzword – it's our bread and butter. Let's add some extra layers:

const crypto = require('crypto');

// Generate a random state parameter
const state = crypto.randomBytes(16).toString('hex');

// Update your authorization URL
const authorizationUrl = `https://api.waveapps.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=${process.env.WAVE_CLIENT_ID}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${process.env.WAVE_REDIRECT_URI}&state=${state}`;

// In your callback route, verify the state
app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code, state: returnedState } = req.query;
  
  if (state !== returnedState) {
    return res.status(400).send('State mismatch. Possible CSRF attack.');
  }
  
  // Proceed with token exchange...
});

Testing the auth flow

Fire up your server with node index.js and navigate to http://localhost:3000/auth. If all goes well, you'll be redirected to Wave, asked to authorize your app, and then sent back to your callback URL with a shiny new access token.

Best practices

• Handle errors gracefully. Users appreciate knowing what went wrong.
• Store tokens securely. Consider encryption for added protection.
• Implement token refresh logic to keep your access fresh.
• Respect Wave's rate limits. Nobody likes a party crasher!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid auth flow for your Wave integration. From here, the world of financial data is your oyster. Go forth and build something awesome!

Remember, this is just the beginning. Keep exploring the Wave API docs, stay curious, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries. Happy coding, and may your integrations be ever smooth and your tokens always fresh! 🌊🚀