Step by Step Guide to Building a Wave API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow dev! Ready to ride the Wave? No, not the ocean kind—we're talking about the Wave API. If you're looking to supercharge your financial management tools, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through integrating the Wave API into your JavaScript project. Buckle up!

Prerequisites

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

• Node.js and npm (you're probably nodding already)
• Wave API credentials (if you don't have 'em, go grab 'em)
• Your favorite code editor

Setting up the project

Let's get this show on the road:

mkdir wave-api-integration
cd wave-api-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Create a .env file for your secrets:

WAVE_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
WAVE_API_URL=https://api.waveapps.com/

Authentication

Wave uses API keys for authentication. Simple and sweet. Let's set it up:

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

const waveApi = axios.create({
  baseURL: process.env.WAVE_API_URL,
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.WAVE_API_KEY}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

Making API requests

Now for the fun part. Let's make a basic request:

async function getCustomers() {
  try {
    const response = await waveApi.get('/customers');
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching customers:', error);
  }
}

Core functionalities

Let's tackle some key operations:

Fetching customer data

async function getCustomerById(id) {
  try {
    const response = await waveApi.get(`/customers/${id}`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error fetching customer ${id}:`, error);
  }
}

Creating invoices

async function createInvoice(invoiceData) {
  try {
    const response = await waveApi.post('/invoices', invoiceData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating invoice:', error);
  }
}

Managing transactions

async function recordTransaction(transactionData) {
  try {
    const response = await waveApi.post('/transactions', transactionData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error recording transaction:', error);
  }
}

Webhooks

If you're feeling adventurous, set up webhooks to get real-time updates:

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

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  // Process the event
  console.log('Received webhook:', event);
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

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

Error handling and best practices

Always expect the unexpected:

function handleApiError(error) {
  if (error.response) {
    console.error('API Error:', error.response.data);
  } else if (error.request) {
    console.error('No response received:', error.request);
  } else {
    console.error('Error:', error.message);
  }
}

And don't forget about rate limits. Be nice to the API!

Testing the integration

Test, test, and test again:

const assert = require('assert');

async function testGetCustomers() {
  const customers = await getCustomers();
  assert(Array.isArray(customers), 'getCustomers should return an array');
}

testGetCustomers().catch(console.error);

Deployment considerations

When you're ready to go live:

• Keep your API key safe (use environment variables)
• Implement proper error logging
• Consider using a caching layer for frequently accessed data

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now riding the Wave like a pro. Remember, this is just the beginning. Dive into the Wave API docs for more advanced features.

Happy coding, and may your financial data flow as smoothly as your code!