Basecamp API using Laravel in Web

Step 1 Introduction

• API :- Application Programming Interface

- It’s a particular set of rules that software programs follow to communicate with each other.
- Using API we are able to interact with someone else’s code and affect our public methods and properties.
- API expresses a Software Component in terms of its operations, inputs, outputs.
- An API specifies a set of functions or routines that accomplish a specific task or are allowed to interact with a specific software component.

Example Site: http://www.sitepoint.com/build-rest-resources-laravel/ 

Step 2 What is Basecamp?

- Basecamp is a project management application. Everyone who works at Basecamp interact with customers on a regular basis. That's why we need to be careful about who we hire.
- Basecamp works hard to make sure every employee is given the tools, and support to do the best work of their careers.
- Basecamp’s at home on Chrome (Mac, PC, iPhone/iPad, Android), Safari (Mac, iPhone/iPad), Firefox (Mac, PC), and IE 9+ (PC, Surface). Basecamp also integrates effortlessly with email.
- There is no need of any IT department to carry on work in basecamp.
- Many Project Management tools are available in basecamp.

2.1 Basecamp API :-

Basecamp provides following APIs
https://github.com/basecamp/bcx-api/

All the Basecamp APIs are available here.
Here, we will try one example.

- https://basecamp.com/Here-Your-Company-Id/api/v1/projects.json
- The above API link provides the project data for logged in user.
- Then we need to retrieve the JSON data.
- To use any type of API, we first need to check whether any data is returned or not?
- One should Use Chrome Extension DHC or Advanced Rest Client for API testing.

2.2 Using DHC

Using DHC will return following type of JSON data:

[
{
"id": 8147534,
"name": "Learning - Web",
"description": "",
"archived": false,
"is_client_project": false,
"created_at": "2015-01-21T14:45:07.000+05:30",
"updated_at": "2015-03-07T12:42:43.000+05:30",
"trashed": false,
"color": "000099",
"draft": false,
"template": false,
"last_event_at": "2015-03-07T12:42:43.000+05:30",
"starred": false,
"url": "https://basecamp.com/Your-Company-Id/api/v1/projects/8147534.json",
"app_url": "https://basecamp.com/Your-Company-Id/projects/8147534"
}
]

- Now convert this received json data into an Array using json_decode() function (available in php).

Let’s start to implement this API in laravel.

First, we need to gain some knowledge about Laravel.
- Laravel is a free, open source PHP web application framework, designed for the development of MVC (model–view–controller) web applications.
- Laravel is a clean and classy framework for PHP web development. Development should be a creative experience that you enjoy.
- Laravel provide a model, controller, migration to make Web Application.
- Restful controllers provide an optional way for separating the logic behind serving HTTP GET and POST requests.

Follow below steps to create laravel project.

Step 3 Write Following command in your terminal.

Step 4 Next move path to project in terminal and write following code to start a server

Step 5 And now write ‘localhost:8000’ in browser

Here, we have successfully created the laravel project and is ready to use.

Step 6 Create Controller in laravel project using following Command. look like this

Look Like This

Step 7 Now create a method in controller and write CURL to handle or use API.

Here we will be using CURL to initiate call to the API.
- CURL means Client URL.
- CURL is a background process.

• In Laravel

Write following CURL code in a controller or route of your laravel project.

$username = $_POST['username'];
$password = $_POST['password'];
 
$session = curl_init();
 
$basecamp_url = 'https://basecamp.com/Your-Company-Id/api/v1/projects.json';
 
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_URL, $basecamp_url);
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_HTTPGET, 1);
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_HEADER, false);
 
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array('Accept: application/json', 'Content-Type: application/json'));
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_USERAGENT, 'demo');
 
curl_setopt($session,CURLOPT_USERPWD,$username . ":" . $password);
 
curl_setopt($session,CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER,false);
 
$response = curl_exec($session);
$data = json_decode($response);
curl_close($session);

Here, $response is the json data returned and $data is the json-to-array converted data.
- $username and $password are post data that we need to pass with the request.
- curl_init() is used to initiate the CURL request in php.
- $basecamp_url is used to store API link.
- curl_setopt() is used to set other setting options in curl.
- Many a times CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER option create a problem in local environment. So this option is always set to false when testing.
- curl_exec() is used to execute the curl request and return JSON data.
- json_decode is used to convert this JSON data into an array.
- curl_close() is used to close the cURL request.

Step 8 The API response is as under:

That was all from the basecamp APIs. You can try out other APIs from above link. I hope this blog helps in Using Basecamp APIs. Let me know in comment if you have any questions regarding Web. I will reply you ASAP.

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Shushant Barad

As a Web Designer I designed the most stunning websites. I like to write & share tips & tricks about website design techniques.