# API Client Template (api-client.gbai) A General Bots template demonstrating REST API integration patterns for connecting to external services and data sources. ## Overview The API Client template provides examples and patterns for integrating General Bots with external REST APIs. It includes examples for weather services, Microsoft Partner Center integration, and general HTTP request patterns that can be adapted for any API. ## Features - **REST API Integration** - GET, POST, PUT, DELETE request patterns - **Authentication** - OAuth, Bearer tokens, API keys - **Header Management** - Custom headers for API requirements - **Pagination Support** - Handle paginated API responses - **Data Synchronization** - Sync external data to local tables - **Scheduled Jobs** - Automated API polling and sync ## Package Structure ``` api-client.gbai/ ├── README.md ├── api-client.gbdialog/ │ ├── climate.bas # Weather API example │ └── msft-partner-center.bas # Microsoft Partner Center integration └── api-client.gbot/ └── config.csv # Bot configuration ``` ## Scripts | File | Description | |------|-------------| | `climate.bas` | Weather API tool for getting current conditions | | `msft-partner-center.bas` | Full Microsoft Partner Center billing sync | ## Basic API Patterns ### Simple GET Request ```basic ' Get data from an API response = GET "https://api.example.com/data" IF response THEN TALK "Data received: " + response.value ELSE TALK "Failed to fetch data" END IF ``` ### POST Request with Body ```basic ' Send data to an API SET HEADER "Content-Type" AS "application/json" payload = {"name": "John", "email": "john@example.com"} response = POST "https://api.example.com/users", payload IF response.id THEN TALK "User created with ID: " + response.id END IF ``` ### PUT Request for Updates ```basic ' Update existing resource SET HEADER "Content-Type" AS "application/json" updates = {"status": "active", "role": "admin"} response = PUT "https://api.example.com/users/123", updates TALK "User updated: " + response.status ``` ### DELETE Request ```basic ' Delete a resource response = DELETE "https://api.example.com/users/123" IF response.deleted THEN TALK "User deleted successfully" END IF ``` ## Authentication Patterns ### API Key Authentication ```basic SET HEADER "X-API-Key" AS "your-api-key-here" response = GET "https://api.example.com/protected-resource" ``` ### Bearer Token Authentication ```basic SET HEADER "Authorization" AS "Bearer " + access_token response = GET "https://api.example.com/user/profile" ``` ### OAuth 2.0 Token Exchange ```basic ' Get OAuth token SET HEADER "Content-Type" AS "application/x-www-form-urlencoded" tokenResponse = POST "https://auth.example.com/oauth/token", "grant_type=client_credentials&client_id=" + clientId + "&client_secret=" + clientSecret access_token = tokenResponse.access_token ' Use token for API calls SET HEADER "Authorization" AS "Bearer " + access_token data = GET "https://api.example.com/resources" ``` ### Basic Authentication ```basic credentials = BASE64(username + ":" + password) SET HEADER "Authorization" AS "Basic " + credentials response = GET "https://api.example.com/secure-endpoint" ``` ## Weather API Example The `climate.bas` tool demonstrates a simple API integration: ```basic PARAM location AS "The city and state, e.g. San Francisco, CA" PARAM unit AS "celsius", "fahrenheit" DESCRIPTION "Get the current weather in a given location" ' Implementation would call weather API ' response = GET "https://api.weather.com/current?location=" + location RETURN weather_info ``` ### Usage ``` User: What's the weather in New York? Bot: [Calls climate tool with location="New York"] Bot: It's currently 72°F and sunny in New York, NY. ``` ## Microsoft Partner Center Integration The `msft-partner-center.bas` demonstrates a complex enterprise API integration: ### Features - OAuth token authentication with Azure AD - Multi-resource synchronization (Customers, Subscriptions, Billing) - Scheduled execution - Pagination handling - Database table management ### Configuration ```basic ' Required parameters tenantId = GET ENV "AZURE_TENANT_ID" clientId = GET ENV "AZURE_CLIENT_ID" clientSecret = GET ENV "AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET" host = "https://api.partnercenter.microsoft.com" ``` ### Scheduled Sync ```basic SET SCHEDULE "1 * * * * *" ' Run periodically ' Set required headers SET HEADER "MS-Contract-Version" AS "v1" SET HEADER "MS-CorrelationId" AS UUID() SET HEADER "MS-RequestId" AS UUID() SET HEADER "MS-PartnerCenter-Application" AS "General Bots" SET HEADER "X-Locale" AS "en-US" ``` ### Sync Customers and Subscriptions ```basic SET PAGE MODE "none" customers = GET host + "/v1/customers?size=20000" MERGE "Customers" WITH customers.items BY "Id" FOR EACH customer IN customers subs = GET host + "/v1/customers/" + customer.id + "/subscriptions" MERGE "Subscriptions" WITH subs.items BY "Id" END FOR ``` ### Billing Data Sync ```basic SET PAGE MODE "auto" billingItems = GET host + "/v1/invoices/unbilled/lineitems" + "?provider=onetime&invoicelineitemtype=usagelineitems¤cycode=USD" FOR EACH item IN billingItems SAVE "Billing", item.alternateId, item.customerId, item.productName, item.quantity, item.unitPrice, item.subtotal, item.chargeStartDate END FOR ``` ### Table Definitions ```basic TABLE Billing CustomerId Customers ResourceGroup string(200) CustomerName string(400) ProductName string(400) Quantity double UnitPrice double Subtotal double ChargeStartDate date ChargeEndDate date END TABLE TABLE Customers TenantId guid CompanyName string(100) Id guid END TABLE TABLE Subscriptions CustomerId Customers Id guid OfferName string(50) END TABLE ``` ## Custom API Integration ### Creating Your Own API Client ```basic ' my-api-client.bas PARAM resource AS STRING LIKE "users" DESCRIPTION "API resource to fetch" PARAM filters AS STRING LIKE "status=active" DESCRIPTION "Query filters" OPTIONAL DESCRIPTION "Fetch data from custom API" ' Configuration api_base = GET ENV "MY_API_BASE_URL" api_key = GET ENV "MY_API_KEY" ' Set authentication SET HEADER "Authorization" AS "Bearer " + api_key SET HEADER "Content-Type" AS "application/json" ' Build URL url = api_base + "/" + resource IF filters THEN url = url + "?" + filters END IF ' Make request response = GET url IF response.error THEN RETURN {"success": false, "error": response.error} END IF RETURN {"success": true, "data": response.data, "count": UBOUND(response.data)} ``` ### Handling Pagination ```basic ' paginated-fetch.bas PARAM endpoint AS STRING DESCRIPTION "API endpoint" DESCRIPTION "Fetch all pages from a paginated API" all_results = [] page = 1 has_more = true DO WHILE has_more response = GET endpoint + "?page=" + page + "&per_page=100" IF response.data THEN all_results = MERGE all_results, response.data IF UBOUND(response.data) < 100 THEN has_more = false ELSE page = page + 1 END IF ELSE has_more = false END IF LOOP RETURN all_results ``` ### Error Handling ```basic ' api-with-retry.bas PARAM url AS STRING DESCRIPTION "API URL to call" PARAM max_retries AS INTEGER LIKE 3 DESCRIPTION "Maximum retry attempts" DESCRIPTION "API call with automatic retry on failure" retries = 0 success = false DO WHILE retries < max_retries AND NOT success response = GET url IF response.error THEN retries = retries + 1 WAIT retries * 2 ' Exponential backoff ELSE success = true END IF LOOP IF success THEN RETURN response ELSE RETURN {"error": "Max retries exceeded", "last_error": response.error} END IF ``` ## Configuration Configure in `api-client.gbot/config.csv`: | Parameter | Description | Example | |-----------|-------------|---------| | `API Base URL` | Default API endpoint | `https://api.example.com` | | `API Timeout` | Request timeout in seconds | `30` | | `Retry Count` | Number of retry attempts | `3` | | `Log Requests` | Enable request logging | `true` | ### Environment Variables Store sensitive values as environment variables: ```bash MY_API_KEY=your-api-key MY_API_SECRET=your-secret AZURE_TENANT_ID=your-tenant-id AZURE_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret ``` Access in BASIC: ```basic api_key = GET ENV "MY_API_KEY" ``` ## Best Practices 1. **Secure credentials** - Never hardcode API keys; use environment variables 2. **Handle errors** - Always check for error responses 3. **Rate limiting** - Respect API rate limits with delays 4. **Pagination** - Handle paginated responses properly 5. **Logging** - Log API calls for debugging 6. **Timeouts** - Set appropriate timeout values 7. **Retries** - Implement retry logic for transient failures 8. **Caching** - Cache responses when appropriate ## Common HTTP Headers | Header | Purpose | Example | |--------|---------|---------| | `Content-Type` | Request body format | `application/json` | | `Accept` | Expected response format | `application/json` | | `Authorization` | Authentication | `Bearer token` | | `X-API-Key` | API key auth | `your-key` | | `User-Agent` | Client identification | `GeneralBots/1.0` | ## Troubleshooting | Issue | Cause | Solution | |-------|-------|----------| | 401 Unauthorized | Invalid credentials | Check API key/token | | 403 Forbidden | Missing permissions | Verify API access rights | | 404 Not Found | Wrong endpoint | Verify URL path | | 429 Too Many Requests | Rate limited | Add delays between requests | | 500 Server Error | API issue | Retry with backoff | | Timeout | Slow API | Increase timeout setting | ## Related Templates - `public-apis.gbai` - Pre-built integrations for public APIs - `bling.gbai` - ERP API integration example - `llm-server.gbai` - Building your own API endpoints - `crm.gbai` - CRM with external API sync ## Use Cases - **Data Synchronization** - Sync data from external systems - **Service Integration** - Connect to SaaS platforms - **Automation** - Automate cross-system workflows - **Monitoring** - Poll external systems for changes - **Reporting** - Aggregate data from multiple APIs ## License AGPL-3.0 - Part of General Bots Open Source Platform. --- **Pragmatismo** - General Bots