Exploring an API with Blocks
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The document discusses the development of an API request builder tool that allows users to visually construct API requests using blocks. It describes how the tool uses the Google Blockly library and recursion to build requests and auto-generate code in multiple programming languages from an API's OpenAPI specification file. The tool addresses goals like easy request creation for nested objects, including documentation, viewing requests as JSON, and auto-programming SDKs. An early version received positive feedback, and a public release is planned for the summer.
![6/11/20
9
18
• The Builder tool uses
the Swagger file
definitions to
automatically create
arrays as needed
Automatic array creation
"envelopeDefinition": {
"documents": [
{
"filename": "anchorfields.pdf",
"name": "Example document",
"fileExtension": "pdf",
"documentId": "1"
}
]
}
An array was automatically created
for the document object
18
19
• Objects that have no
scalar attributes can
also be automatically
created
• Automatic arrays and
objects simplify the
diagram and the
fluent program
Automatic object creation
"envelopeDefinition": {
"recipients": {
"signers": [
{
"email": "signer_email@example.com",
"name": "Signer's name",
"recipientId": "1",
"clientUserId": "1000"
}
]
}
}
The recipients object was
created automatically
An array was also created
for the signer object
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Exploring an API with Blocks
- 1. 6/11/20 1 1 2 API Request Builder Exploring APIs with blocks Larry Kluger Lead Developer Evangelist Larry.Kluger@docusign.com @larrykluger 2
- 2. 6/11/20 2 4 What’s an API Explorer? A tool for making live calls to the API endpoints. AKA, “API Playground” N.B. “API Explorer” is also used for static API documentation. Make it easy to try your API API Explorers developer.dailymotion.com/tools/ 4 5 • Zero to hero: quickly try the API without writing a program or script. • Best: typed requests enable Select boxes, numeric entry, checkboxes, etc API Explorers: Benefits developer.dailymotion.com/tools/ 5
- 3. 6/11/20 3 6 Some API Explorers use a text area for creating the request. Benefits: easily save and reuse the request; easily support nested objects Issue: more thinking is required; easier to make an error; the explorer is no longer click & go Text areas for the request docs.adyen.com/api-explorer 6 7 Issue: text format has no guardrails—you’re programming, not exploring Six levels of nesting, and this is not a complicated request Nested objects in the API requests 7
- 4. 6/11/20 4 8 For APIs with many nested objects, the form UX is problematic. Nested objects in the API requests apiexplorer.docusign.com Four levels of nesting 8 9 An API explorer that supports: • Click & go, easy request creation • Supports deeply nested API elements (arrays and objects) Goal #1 9
- 5. 6/11/20 5 10 • Include API documentation • Show the request as JSON • Auto-program the request using an SDK in multiple languages • Load pre-built examples and then modify them • Save your work for re-use • Share your examples to help others Additional feature requests 10 11 Demo 11
- 6. 6/11/20 6 12 An API explorer that supports: • Click & go, easy request creation • Supports deeply nested API elements (arrays and objects) Solution step A • Use the open source Google Blockly library developers.google.com/blockly Solving Goal #1 12 13 Solution step B • Use the builder pattern to add data to the request object • Order counts! Each block affects the nearest prior appropriate object Solving Goal #1 13
- 7. 6/11/20 7 14 Solution step C • The blocks create a fluent (or chained) output program. Solving Goal #1 new docusign.EnvelopePlusJSON() .add_envDefAttribute("emailSubject", "Please sign the attached document") .add_envDefAttribute("status", "sent") .add_object("document", { filename: "anchorfields.pdf", name: "Example document", fileExtension: "pdf", documentId: "1" }) .add_object("signer", { email: "signer_email@example.com", name: "Signer's name", recipientId: "1", clientUserId: "1000" }) .add_object("signHere", { anchorString: "/sig1/", anchorXOffset: "20", anchorUnits: "pixels" }) .add_object("recipientViewRequest", { returnUrl: "http://localhost:3000/", authenticationMethod: "none", clientUserId: "1000", email: "signer_email@example.com", userName: "Signer's name" }) 14 15 Solving Goal #1 new docusign.EnvelopePlusJSON() .add_envDefAttribute("emailSubject", "Please sign the attached document") .add_envDefAttribute("status", "sent") .add_object("document", { filename: "anchorfields.pdf", name: "Example document", fileExtension: "pdf", documentId: "1" }) .add_object("signer", { email: "signer_email@example.com", name: "Signer's name", recipientId: "1", clientUserId: "1000" }) .add_object("signHere", { anchorString: "/sig1/", anchorXOffset: "20", anchorUnits: "pixels" }) .add_object("recipientViewRequest", { returnUrl: "http://localhost:3000/", authenticationMethod: "none", clientUserId: "1000", email: "signer_email@example.com", userName: "Signer's name" }) Solution step D • Software creates the JSON version • (Recursion is fun!) 15
- 8. 6/11/20 8 16 The Swagger (OpenAPI Specification) file defines the API’s methods, objects, their attributes, types, and relationships. It includes documentation too. The DocuSign eSignature Swagger file is automatically produced by the platform software itself. The tool is built from the API’s Swagger file 16 17 Demo 17
- 9. 6/11/20 9 18 • The Builder tool uses the Swagger file definitions to automatically create arrays as needed Automatic array creation "envelopeDefinition": { "documents": [ { "filename": "anchorfields.pdf", "name": "Example document", "fileExtension": "pdf", "documentId": "1" } ] } An array was automatically created for the document object 18 19 • Objects that have no scalar attributes can also be automatically created • Automatic arrays and objects simplify the diagram and the fluent program Automatic object creation "envelopeDefinition": { "recipients": { "signers": [ { "email": "signer_email@example.com", "name": "Signer's name", "recipientId": "1", "clientUserId": "1000" } ] } } The recipients object was created automatically An array was also created for the signer object 19
- 10. 6/11/20 10 20 Auto-programming the API’s SDKs The CodeGen software auto- generates the SDKs from the Swagger file The Builder tool uses recursion to auto-program the SDK from the JSON, starting with the deepest leaf nodes 20 21 Just three methods are needed (per SDK language) • Assign an array of objects to a variable • Assign an array of scalars to a variable • Assign an associative array (aka object or hash) to a variable Auto-programming SDK source 21
- 11. 6/11/20 11 22 Auto-programming the API’s SDKs 22 23 Today • C# • Java • PHP • Node.js • Visual Basic (no SDK) Auto-programming Planned • Python • Ruby • Curl • Powershell • And more 23
- 12. 6/11/20 12 24 ü Include API documentation ü Show the request as JSON ü Auto-program the request using an SDK ü Load pre-built examples and then modify them ü Save your work for re-use ü Share your examples for helping others Additional feature requests 24 25 Building the API Request Builder 25
- 13. 6/11/20 13 26 • As a separate batch process, a configuration app parses the Swagger file and creates the block definitions, plus relationship records. The output of the configuration tool is used to build the React tool. • React single page application • DocuSign UX library • No significant server components. The tool makes direct calls to DocuSign via CORS. API Request Builder tool 26 27 • When new documents or diagrams are “uploaded” to the tool, they’re processed within the browser since there is no server. • Likewise, when a diagram file is “downloaded” from the tool, the file is being created within the browser, then downloaded to the desktop. API Request Builder tool 27
- 14. 6/11/20 14 28 Preliminary customer feedback was positive Internal reviews have also been positive The tool includes an NPS survey and will enable developers to supply feedback Feedback 28 29 CONFIDENTIAL First public release planned for Summer Open source version is planned for next year Status 29