Bubble.io and AliExpress API integration: Step-by-Step Guide 2024

Integrating Bubble.io with AliExpress API involves various steps which are listed below:

Step 1: Get the AliExpress API Key

Before you proceed with the integration, the first thing you need to do is get an API key from AliExpress. Here's how to do it:

• Visit the AliExpress Open Platform website.
• Click on the "Sign Up" button and fill out the required details to create an account.
• Log in to your account, navigate to the "API" tab, and click on the "Create App" button.
• Fill the required details for the new app's information and accept the terms and conditions.
• Upon app creation, you will be provided with an API Key, which you will need to keep for later use.

Step 2: Sign up on Bubble.io and Create a New Project

After getting the API key, the next step is to create a project on Bubble.io where you can integrate the API:

• Sign up on Bubble.io by filling out the required details.
• After successful sign-up, log in to your account.
• Click on the "New App" button on your Dashboard to create a new project.
• Enter a name for the application and select a plan that best fits your requirements.
• Click on the "Create a new app" button to generate your new project.

Step 3: Install the API Connector Plugin

Now, you need to install the API connector plugin in your Bubble.io project:

• Inside your Bubble.io project, navigate to the "Plugins" tab from the left sidebar.
• Click on the "+ Add plugins" button found on the Plugin page.
• In the Plugin search bar, type "API Connector" and press enter.
• Click on the “Install” button to install the API Connector plugin in your project.

Step 4: Configure API Connector Plugin

With the API Connector plugin installed, the next step is to configure it with AliExpress API:

• Click on the "Plugins" tab again from the left sidebar.
• Find the API Connector plugin from the list and click on the "Add another API" button to open a new API configuration.
• In the input field marked "API name," type in "AliExpress" or any name you want to identify this specific API.
• Fill out all the required details such as the API base URL (AliExpress API endpoint), Header Keys and Values. The authentication type is 'Bearer Token Auth'.
• The key-value pair for Header keys should be "Authorization" and "Bearer YOUR_ALIEXPRESS_API_KEY," replacing "YOUR_ALIEXPRESS_API_KEY" with the API key you got from AliExpress.
• Click on the "Initialize Call" button to test the connection. If the setup is correct, you will see a success message.

Step 5: Set Up API Calls

Once the API Connector is configured, you can now set up different API calls in your Bubble.io project as per your requirement:

• In the API Connector, click on the button labeled "Add another call" to open the new call setup.
• Similar to the API setup, type in the Call name, set the Call type, and set up the necessary Call parameters and details.
• The API URL should be the endpoint URL to the specific function in AliExpress API that you wish to perform (e.g., fetch product details, place order, etc.). Each function will have a different endpoint URL that you can find in AliExpress API Documentation.
• Click on "Initialize Call" to test the call. If everything is set up correctly, you will get a success message.

Step 6: Integrating API Data within Your App

The final step is to integrate the API call within your Bubble.io app:

• Navigate back to your editor and select the page or element where you want to display or use the API data.
• Use dynamic data to refer to your API call. This can usually be done by clicking the "Insert Dynamic Data" button in any input or text field and select "Get Data from an External API".
• You should be able to select the name of your configured API call, along with any necessary parameters.
• Once you set up the data retrieval, you can manipulate and display the data as you want within your app.

It is important to understand that this is a generalized guide, and there can be multiple customized ways to set up Bubble.io with AliExpress API as per the specific requirements of your application. Whenever you configure or test an API connection or call, always refer to the API provider's official documentation to understand the endpoints, parameters, and responses correctly.