Step by Step Guide to Building a Workflowy API Integration in C#

Aug 16, 2024 • 6 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Workflowy API integration? You're in for a treat. We're going to walk through building a robust C# integration that'll have you manipulating Workflowy lists like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
.NET Core 3.1 or later
A Workflowy account (duh!)
Your Workflowy API key (grab it from your account settings)

Got all that? Great! Let's move on.

Setting up the project

Fire up Visual Studio and create a new C# console application. We'll keep it simple for now, but feel free to fancy it up later.

Next, let's grab some NuGet packages:

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json
Install-Package RestSharp

These will make our lives easier when dealing with JSON and HTTP requests.

Authentication

Workflowy uses OAuth 2.0, so we need to implement that flow. Here's a quick snippet to get you started:

var client = new RestClient("https://workflowy.com/api/auth");
var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
request.AddParameter("client_id", "YOUR_CLIENT_ID");
request.AddParameter("client_secret", "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET");
request.AddParameter("grant_type", "authorization_code");
request.AddParameter("code", "AUTH_CODE");

IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
var token = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<TokenResponse>(response.Content);

Remember to store that token securely - you'll need it for all your API calls!

Basic API Operations

Now for the fun part - let's start playing with Workflowy data!

GET requests

Fetching nodes is a breeze:

var client = new RestClient("https://workflowy.com/api/v1/nodes");
var request = new RestRequest(Method.GET);
request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {token.AccessToken}");

IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
var nodes = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<Node>>(response.Content);

POST requests

Creating a new node is just as easy:

var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {token.AccessToken}");
request.AddJsonBody(new { name = "My New Node", parentId = "PARENT_ID" });

IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

PUT and DELETE requests

Updating and deleting follow the same pattern. Just change the HTTP method and tweak the payload as needed.

Advanced Features

Want to work with shared lists or handle attachments? The principles are the same - just check the API docs for the specific endpoints and parameters.

Error Handling and Rate Limiting

Always wrap your API calls in try-catch blocks and respect those rate limits! Here's a simple retry mechanism:

int maxRetries = 3;
for (int i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++)
{
    try
    {
        // Your API call here
        break;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        if (i == maxRetries - 1) throw;
        Thread.Sleep(1000 * (i + 1)); // Exponential backoff
    }
}

Testing and Debugging

Unit test each API call thoroughly. Use mock objects to simulate API responses for more robust testing.

Optimization and Best Practices

Cache frequently accessed data to reduce API calls. Consider implementing a local database to store and sync Workflowy data for offline access.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to build a killer Workflowy integration. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's so much more you can do with the API. Why not try building a Workflowy desktop app or a mobile client?

Resources

Now go forth and code! And don't forget to share what you build - the developer community loves a good show-and-tell. Happy coding!