API Client Types

DRIP supports two distinct types of API clients, each designed for different use cases. Understanding the difference is crucial for choosing the right approach for your integration.

Client Type Overview

Realm Clients

Purpose: Direct access to your own realm
Scope: Single realm only
Authorization: Automatic access to your realm
Best for: Internal tools, custom dashboards, automation

App Clients

Purpose: Multi-realm applications
Scope: Multiple realms with explicit authorization
Authorization: Publish + per-realm authorization
Best for: Third-party integrations, marketplace apps

When to Use Each Type

Use Realm Clients When:

Building tools for your own community only
Creating internal dashboards or analytics
Automating tasks within your realm
Developing custom member management tools
You need immediate access without approval processes

Use App Clients When:

Building apps for multiple communities
Creating marketplace applications
Developing SaaS tools for DRIP communities
Building integrations that other realms can install
You want to distribute your app publicly

Creating API Clients

Creating a Realm Client

Access Developer Portal

Navigate to Admin → Developer in your DRIP dashboard

Go to Project API

Click the Project API tab

Create Client

Click Create API Client and configure:

Name: Descriptive name for your integration
Scopes: Select the permissions you need

Save Credentials

Copy and securely store your Client Secret (this is your API key)

Creating an App Client

Access Developer Portal

Navigate to Admin → Developer in your DRIP dashboard

Go to DRIP Apps

Click the DRIP Apps tab

Set up New App

In the Listing section, you can set up your app metadata (name, description, logo)

Get App Client

In the App Client section, you can set up your app client credentials

Submit App

Once your app is ready, you can publish it to the DRIP Apps marketplace

Wait for Approval

DRIP reviews your app for security and compliance

Scope Management

Understanding Scopes

Scopes define what your client can access and modify.

For apps: you select the scopes your app needs. Realms/projects grant those scopes when they authorize your app. If you later change your app’s requested scopes, realms must reauthorize for the new scopes to take effect.

Basic Scopes

const basicScopes = [
  'realm:read',           // Read realm information
  'members:read',         // Read member profiles
  'quests:read',          // Read quest data
  'store:read',           // Read store items
];

Advanced Scopes

const advancedScopes = [
  'members:write',        // Modify member data
  'points:write',         // Award/deduct points
  'quests:write',         // Create/modify quests
  'store:write',          // Manage store items
];

Scope Selection Best Practices

Principle of Least Privilege

Only request scopes you actually need. This improves security and increases approval chances.

// ❌ Bad: Requesting unnecessary scopes
const badScopes = ['realm:read', 'members:read', 'members:write', 'admin:read'];

// ✅ Good: Only what you need
const goodScopes = ['realm:read', 'members:read']; // For read-only analytics

Start Small, Expand Later

Begin with basic scopes and add more as your app grows.

// Phase 1: Read-only analytics
const phase1Scopes = ['realm:read', 'members:read'];

// Phase 2: Add point management
const phase2Scopes = [...phase1Scopes, 'points:write'];

// Phase 3: Add quest creation
const phase3Scopes = [...phase2Scopes, 'quests:write'];

Authorization Flows

Realm Client Flow

Characteristics:

✅ Immediate access
✅ No approval delays
✅ Full permissions within your realm
❌ Limited to single realm
❌ Can’t be distributed to other realms

App Client Flow

Characteristics:

✅ Multi-realm capability
✅ Can be distributed publicly
✅ Scalable business model
❌ Requires platform approval
❌ Each realm must authorize separately
❌ Limited to approved scopes only

Managing Multiple Clients

Client Organization

class DripClientManager {
  constructor() {
    this.clients = new Map();
  }

  // Add a realm client
  addRealmClient(name, apiKey, realmId) {
    this.clients.set(name, {
      type: 'realm',
      client: new DripClient(apiKey, realmId),
      realmId
    });
  }

  // Add an app client
  addAppClient(name, appClientSecret) {
    this.clients.set(name, {
      type: 'app',
      client: new DripAppClient(appClientSecret),
      authorizedRealms: []
    });
  }

  // Get client by name
  getClient(name) {
    return this.clients.get(name);
  }

  // List all clients
  listClients() {
    return Array.from(this.clients.entries()).map(([name, config]) => ({
      name,
      type: config.type,
      realmId: config.realmId || 'multiple'
    }));
  }
}

// Usage
const manager = new DripClientManager();
manager.addRealmClient('analytics', 'realm_api_key', 'realm_id');
manager.addAppClient('marketplace-app', 'app_client_secret');

Environment-Based Configuration

// config/clients.js
const clients = {
  development: {
    realm: {
      apiKey: process.env.DEV_REALM_API_KEY,
      realmId: process.env.DEV_REALM_ID
    },
    app: {
      clientSecret: process.env.DEV_APP_CLIENT_SECRET
    }
  },
  production: {
    realm: {
      apiKey: process.env.PROD_REALM_API_KEY,
      realmId: process.env.PROD_REALM_ID
    },
    app: {
      clientSecret: process.env.PROD_APP_CLIENT_SECRET
    }
  }
};

const env = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development';
export const realmClient = new DripClient(
  clients[env].realm.apiKey,
  clients[env].realm.realmId
);
export const appClient = new DripAppClient(
  clients[env].app.clientSecret
);

Security Best Practices

API Key Management

Secure Storage

Store keys in environment variables
Use secure key management services
Never commit keys to version control
Rotate keys regularly

Access Control

Use least-privilege scopes
Monitor API key usage
Set up usage alerts
Revoke unused keys immediately

Code Examples

// ✅ Good: Environment variables
const client = new DripClient(
  process.env.DRIP_API_KEY,
  process.env.DRIP_REALM_ID
);

// ❌ Bad: Hardcoded keys
const client = new DripClient(
  'drip_1234567890abcdef',
  '507f1f77bcf86cd799439011'
);

// ✅ Good: Key rotation support
class SecureDripClient extends DripClient {
  async rotateKey(newApiKey) {
    // Test new key first
    const testClient = new DripClient(newApiKey, this.realmId);
    await testClient.request('GET', `/realms/${this.realmId}`);
    
    // If successful, update
    this.apiKey = newApiKey;
    console.log('API key rotated successfully');
  }
}

Monitoring and Analytics

Usage Tracking

class MonitoredDripClient extends DripClient {
  constructor(apiKey, realmId) {
    super(apiKey, realmId);
    this.stats = {
      requests: 0,
      errors: 0,
      lastUsed: null
    };
  }

  async request(method, endpoint, data) {
    this.stats.requests++;
    this.stats.lastUsed = new Date();
    
    try {
      const result = await super.request(method, endpoint, data);
      return result;
    } catch (error) {
      this.stats.errors++;
      throw error;
    }
  }

  getStats() {
    return {
      ...this.stats,
      errorRate: this.stats.errors / this.stats.requests,
      isActive: Date.now() - this.stats.lastUsed < 300000 // 5 minutes
    };
  }
}

Migration Strategies

From Realm to App Client

If you started with a realm client and want to expand to multiple realms:

Create App

Submit your app through the DRIP Apps portal

Parallel Development

Develop app client integration alongside existing realm client

Testing

Test app client with your own realm first

Gradual Migration

Migrate features one by one from realm client to app client

Deprecation

Once fully migrated, deprecate the realm client

Code Migration Example

// Before: Realm client
class RealmIntegration {
  constructor(apiKey, realmId) {
    this.client = new DripClient(apiKey, realmId);
  }

  async getLeaderboard() {
    return this.client.getLeaderboard();
  }
}

// After: App client supporting multiple realms
class AppIntegration {
  constructor(appClientSecret) {
    this.client = new DripAppClient(appClientSecret);
    this.authorizedRealms = new Map();
  }

  async getLeaderboard(realmId) {
    if (!this.authorizedRealms.has(realmId)) {
      throw new Error('Not authorized for this realm');
    }
    return this.client.getLeaderboard(realmId);
  }

  async loadAuthorizedRealms() {
    const realms = await this.client.getAuthorizedRealms();
    realms.forEach(realm => {
      this.authorizedRealms.set(realm.realmId, realm);
    });
  }
}

Next Steps

Build Your First App

Create a simple application using your API client

Multi-Realm Apps

Learn to build apps that work across multiple communities

Authentication Guide

Deep dive into authentication and security

API Reference

Complete documentation of all available endpoints

Overview

Developer Guide

Apps

Drip Academy

FAQ

Links

​Client Type Overview

Realm Clients

App Clients

​When to Use Each Type

​Use Realm Clients When:

​Use App Clients When:

​Creating API Clients

​Creating a Realm Client

​Creating an App Client

​Scope Management

​Understanding Scopes

​Basic Scopes

​Advanced Scopes

​Scope Selection Best Practices

​Authorization Flows

​Realm Client Flow

​App Client Flow

​Managing Multiple Clients

​Client Organization

​Environment-Based Configuration

​Security Best Practices

​API Key Management

Secure Storage

Access Control

​Code Examples

​Monitoring and Analytics

​Usage Tracking

​Migration Strategies

​From Realm to App Client

​Code Migration Example

​Next Steps

Build Your First App

Multi-Realm Apps

Authentication Guide

API Reference

Client Type Overview

When to Use Each Type

Use Realm Clients When:

Use App Clients When:

Creating API Clients

Creating a Realm Client

Creating an App Client

Scope Management

Understanding Scopes

Basic Scopes

Advanced Scopes

Scope Selection Best Practices

Authorization Flows

Realm Client Flow

App Client Flow

Managing Multiple Clients

Client Organization

Environment-Based Configuration

Security Best Practices

API Key Management

Code Examples

Monitoring and Analytics

Usage Tracking

Migration Strategies

From Realm to App Client

Code Migration Example

Next Steps