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Guide to Building Google Calendar App

Feb 16, 2025

Lecture Notes: Building a Google Calendar App with React and Node.js

Overview

  • The lecture demonstrates the creation of a full-stack application using React for the front-end and Node.js with Express for the back-end.
  • The application utilizes the Google Calendar API to create events in a user's calendar.
  • OAuth2 is used for user authentication and authorization.

Key Steps

Google Developer Console Setup

  1. Create a New Project:

    • Access the Google Developer Console at console.cloud.google.com.
    • Create a new project (e.g., "Calendar Tutorial").

  2. Enable APIs and Services:

    • Enable the Google Calendar API within the project settings.

  3. OAuth Consent Screen Setup:

    • Choose an external user type for the consent screen.
    • Fill in app details such as name and support email, avoid adding an app logo during development.
    • Set authorized domains and developer contact information.

  4. Add Scopes and Test Users:

    • Add necessary scopes like email, profile, OpenID, and calendar access.
    • Add test users for development purposes.

  5. Create OAuth Credentials:

    • Generate OAuth 2.0 Client ID for a Web application.
    • Set up authorized JavaScript origins and redirect URIs (e.g., http://localhost:3000).

React Front-End

  1. Create React Application:

    • Use npx create-react-app to initialize the front-end.
    • Install dependencies: react-google-login for OAuth and axios for HTTP requests.

  2. Setup Google Login:

    • Import and use the GoogleLogin component.
    • Configure with client ID, scopes, and response type.
    • Handle successful and failed login attempts.

  3. Form Handling:

    • Create a form to capture event details: summary, description, location, start, and end times.
    • Use state to manage form inputs.

Node.js Back-End

  1. Setup Express Application:

    • Use the express-draft package to scaffold the back-end.
    • Configure environment variables and dependencies.

  2. Handle OAuth Tokens:

    • Use the googleapis package to interact with Google APIs.
    • Create a route to exchange authorization code for access and refresh tokens.
    • Ensure to save the refresh token securely (e.g., in a database).

  3. Create Calendar Event:

    • Use the calendar.events.insert method to create events with user-provided details.
    • Set up the OAuth2 client with tokens and handle API requests.

Common Issues and Solutions

  • Refresh Tokens Expiration:
    • Tokens may expire if the app is in testing mode; publish the app to avoid expiration.
  • Refresh Token Not Received:
    • Ensure proper OAuth setup and use the correct grant type for token exchange.

Final Remarks

  • The tutorial covers essential steps for integrating Google Calendar with a web application.
  • Emphasizes using secure practices for token management and handling sensitive user data.
  • Encourages exploring additional resources like Chakra UI for styling.

Additional Notes

  • Consider proxy configurations to handle CORS issues during development.
  • Utilize development tools and logs to debug and ensure proper data flow between front-end and back-end systems.

These notes should serve as a guide for setting up a basic application that interacts with Google Calendar, covering OAuth2 authentication and API requests in a React and Node.js environment.

Full transcript