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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow code wrangler! Ready to dive into the world of WhatConverts API integration? You're in for a treat. This guide will walk you through the process of building a robust integration that'll have you pulling and pushing data like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• A WhatConverts API key (if you don't have one, hop over to their site and snag it)
• Node.js and npm installed (you've probably got these, but just in case)

Setting Up Your Dev Environment

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

mkdir whatconverts-integration
cd whatconverts-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Create a .env file in your project root and add your API key:

WHATCONVERTS_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Authentication

Let's set up a simple authentication module:

// auth.js
require('dotenv').config();
const axios = require('axios');

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.whatconverts.com/v1',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.WHATCONVERTS_API_KEY}`
  }
});

module.exports = api;

Making API Requests

Now, let's create some functions to interact with the API:

// api.js
const api = require('./auth');

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

async function createLead(leadData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.post('/leads', leadData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating lead:', error);
  }
}

module.exports = { getLeads, createLead };

Handling Responses

When working with the API, always remember to handle potential errors:

async function getSafeLead(id) {
  try {
    const response = await api.get(`/leads/${id}`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 404) {
      console.log('Lead not found');
      return null;
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

Implementing Key Features

Let's put it all together in an example script:

// index.js
const { getLeads, createLead } = require('./api');

async function main() {
  // Get all leads
  const leads = await getLeads();
  console.log('Fetched leads:', leads);

  // Create a new lead
  const newLead = await createLead({
    name: 'John Doe',
    email: '[email protected]',
    phone: '1234567890'
  });
  console.log('Created new lead:', newLead);
}

main();

Optimizing API Usage

Remember, WhatConverts has rate limits. Be a good API citizen:

const rateLimit = require('axios-rate-limit');

const api = rateLimit(axios.create({
  // ... your config here
}), { maxRequests: 5, perMilliseconds: 1000 });

Testing the Integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick Jest test to get you started:

// api.test.js
jest.mock('./auth');
const { getLeads } = require('./api');

test('getLeads returns lead data', async () => {
  const mockLeads = [{ id: 1, name: 'Test Lead' }];
  require('./auth').get.mockResolvedValue({ data: mockLeads });

  const leads = await getLeads();
  expect(leads).toEqual(mockLeads);
});

Deployment Considerations

When deploying, remember:

• Use environment variables for sensitive data
• Implement proper error logging
• Consider using a caching layer for frequently accessed data

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid WhatConverts API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's a whole world of data and possibilities waiting for you in the WhatConverts API. Keep exploring, keep coding, and most importantly, have fun with it!

Need more info? Check out the WhatConverts API docs for a deep dive into all available endpoints and features.

Now go forth and convert that data into something amazing! 🚀