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

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Wix integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public Wix integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly in no time!

Prerequisites

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

• A Wix Developer Center account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• A solid grasp on OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)
• Your Node.js environment all set up and ready to go

Setting up the integration in Wix Developer Center

First things first, let's get our integration registered:

1. Head over to the Wix Developer Center and create a new app.
2. Navigate to the OAuth settings and configure your redirect URIs.
3. Snag your client ID and secret – keep these safe, they're your keys to the kingdom!

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Initiating the auth request

Time to get that authorization ball rolling:

const authUrl = `https://www.wix.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}&response_type=code`;
// Redirect your user to this URL

Handling the callback

Once the user grants permission, Wix will send them back to you with a shiny new auth code:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // Exchange this code for an access token
});

Exchanging code for access token

Let's trade that code for something more useful:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://www.wix.com/oauth/access', {
  client_id: clientId,
  client_secret: clientSecret,
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;

Storing and refreshing tokens

Keep those tokens safe and sound:

// Store these securely - never expose them to the client!
storeTokensSecurely(access_token, refresh_token);

// Don't forget to refresh when needed
async function refreshAccessToken(refresh_token) {
  // Implementation here
}

Making authenticated API calls

Now that you're authorized, it's time to put those tokens to work:

const response = await axios.get('https://www.wixapis.com/some-endpoint', {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${access_token}`
  }
});

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared for the unexpected:

try {
  // Make your API call
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    // Time to refresh that token!
    await refreshAccessToken(refresh_token);
    // Retry the API call
  }
  // Handle other errors
}

Testing the integration

Before you go live, give your integration a thorough workout in Wix's sandbox environment. Watch out for common pitfalls like incorrect redirect URIs or mishandled token refreshes.

Best practices and security considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility:

• Never, ever expose your client secret on the client-side.
• Implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) for an extra layer of security.
• Always use HTTPS for your redirect URIs.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid auth flow for your Wix integration. Pretty cool, right? Remember, this is just the beginning. From here, you can start adding all sorts of awesome features to your integration.

Keep exploring, keep building, and most importantly, keep having fun with it. You've got this!