Advanced SDK Usage

Authentication Strategies

Beyond basic API key usage, our SDKs support more robust authentication methods for enhanced security and control.

Token-based Authentication

Utilize OAuth 2.0 or JWT tokens for secure, stateless authentication. This is ideal for server-to-server communication and managing user sessions.

// Example: Obtaining and using an access token
const sdk = new YourSDK({ clientId: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID', clientSecret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET' });
const token = await sdk.auth.getAccessToken();
sdk.setAccessToken(token);
const userData = await sdk.users.getProfile();
                

API Key Management

For applications requiring persistent access, securely manage your API keys. Avoid hardcoding keys directly in client-side code.

# Example: Using an environment variable for API key
import os
from your_sdk import Client

api_key = os.environ.get("YOUR_API_KEY")
client = Client(api_key=api_key)
                

Robust Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling to gracefully manage API responses and network issues. Our SDKs provide structured error objects for detailed diagnostics.

Understanding Error Codes

Familiarize yourself with common HTTP status codes and our custom error codes:

• 400 Bad Request: Invalid request payload.
• 401 Unauthorized: Missing or invalid authentication credentials.
• 403 Forbidden: Insufficient permissions.
• 404 Not Found: Resource does not exist.
• 429 Too Many Requests: Rate limit exceeded.
• 5xx Server Error: Indicates an issue on our end.

Handling SDK Exceptions

try {
    const result = await sdk.someOperation();
} catch (error) {
    console.error("API Error:", error.message);
    if (error.statusCode === 404) {
        console.warn("Resource not found.");
    } else if (error.code === 'RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED') {
        console.warn("Rate limit hit. Retrying in 60 seconds...");
        setTimeout(() => retryOperation(), 60000);
    } else {
        console.error("An unexpected error occurred:", error);
    }
}
                

Working with Rate Limits

Respecting API rate limits is crucial for maintaining stable access. Our SDKs can help you track and manage your usage.

Checking Rate Limit Headers

Many API responses include headers like X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset. You can access these through the SDK's response objects.

Implementing Backoff Strategies

When a 429 Too Many Requests error is encountered, implement an exponential backoff strategy to avoid overwhelming the API.

import time

def make_request_with_backoff(sdk_client, resource_id):
    retries = 3
    delay = 1
    for _ in range(retries):
        try:
            return sdk_client.get_resource(resource_id)
        except RateLimitError as e: # Assuming RateLimitError is defined in SDK
            print(f"Rate limit exceeded. Retrying in {delay} seconds...")
            time.sleep(delay)
            delay *= 2 # Exponential backoff
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
            return None
    print("Maximum retries reached.")
    return None
                

Leveraging Advanced Features

Explore specific advanced functionalities provided by our SDKs to enhance your integration.

Pagination Handling

Retrieve large datasets efficiently using cursor-based or offset-based pagination.

async function getAllItems(sdk) {
    let allItems = [];
    let nextPageToken = null;

    do {
        const response = await sdk.items.list({ limit: 100, pageToken: nextPageToken });
        allItems = allItems.concat(response.data);
        nextPageToken = response.nextPageToken;
    } while (nextPageToken);

    return allItems;
}
                

Asynchronous Operations

Utilize asynchronous patterns for non-blocking I/O, improving application responsiveness.

async def process_batch_users(sdk, user_ids):
    tasks = [sdk.users.get_profile(user_id) for user_id in user_ids]
    user_profiles = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
    # Process user_profiles...
                

Implementing Webhook Endpoints

Receive real-time notifications from our services by setting up webhook endpoints. Ensure your endpoint is secure and can handle incoming payloads.

Verifying Webhook Signatures

To ensure the authenticity of incoming webhooks, verify the signature using the shared secret.

// Example (Node.js with Express)
app.post('/webhook', express.raw({ type: 'application/json' }), (req, res) => {
    const signature = req.headers['x-webhook-signature'];
    const payload = req.body;
    const secret = process.env.WEBHOOK_SECRET;

    if (!crypto.timingSafeEqual(Buffer.from(signature, 'hex'), crypto.createHmac('sha256', secret).update(payload).digest())) {
        return res.status(400).send('Invalid signature');
    }

    const event = JSON.parse(payload);
    handleWebhookEvent(event); // Your logic to process the event
    res.status(200).send('Webhook received');
});
                

Performance Optimization Tips

Optimize your SDK usage for speed and efficiency.

• Batch Operations: Whenever possible, use batch endpoints to reduce the number of individual API calls.
• Selective Fields: Request only the data you need by specifying fields in your queries.
• Caching: Implement client-side caching for frequently accessed, static data.
• Connection Pooling: For long-running applications, consider connection pooling if supported by your SDK/library.