Chapter 7: API - Developer Interfaces
Brilliant! You've connected your tools and built integrated workflows. Now let's unlock unlimited possibilities with Taskade's API—giving you programmatic access to build custom applications, advanced integrations, and automated systems that extend Taskade infinitely.
What Problem Does the API Solve?
Pre-built integrations have limitations:
Generic functionality that doesn't match your specific needs
Missing features that your business requires
Proprietary systems that can't connect to anything else
Manual processes that should be automated but aren't available
The API solves this by giving you complete programmatic access—build exactly what you need, connect anything to anything, and create custom solutions that perfectly fit your business.
What is the Taskade API? (Programmatic Superpowers)
The Taskade API is a complete RESTful interface that exposes all Taskade functionality programmatically. It transforms Taskade from a productivity tool into a development platform where you can build custom applications, integrations, and automated workflows.
The API enables:
🔧 Custom Applications: Build apps tailored to your business
🔗 Advanced Integrations: Connect systems that don't have native integrations
⚡ Enterprise Automation: Large-scale automated workflows
📊 Live Dashboards: Real-time business intelligence
🤖 AI-Enhanced Development: Programmatic access to AI features
📱 Mobile Applications: Custom mobile experiences
How the API Works (RESTful Architecture)
The API follows REST principles with predictable patterns:
HTTP Methods
GET /projects # Retrieve projects
POST /projects # Create new project
PUT /projects/123 # Update project 123
DELETE /projects/123 # Delete project 123Resource Structure
/workspaces # Workspace management
/projects # Project operations
/tasks # Task manipulation
/users # User management
/webhooks # Real-time notifications
/automations # Workflow automationRequest/Response Format
// Request
{
"method": "POST",
"url": "/projects",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
"Content-Type": "application/json"
},
"body": {
"name": "New Project",
"description": "API-created project"
}
}
// Response
{
"id": "project_123",
"name": "New Project",
"description": "API-created project",
"created_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
"workspace_id": "workspace_456"
}Getting Started with the API (Step-by-Step)
Let's make your first API call:
Congratulations! You're now a Taskade API developer!
Core API Resources and Operations
Workspaces API
Manage your organizational structure:
// Get all workspaces
const workspaces = await api.get('/workspaces');
// Create a new workspace
const newWorkspace = await api.post('/workspaces', {
name: 'API Development Workspace',
description: 'For custom API integrations'
});
// Update workspace settings
await api.put(`/workspaces/${workspaceId}`, {
settings: { theme: 'dark', notifications: true }
});Projects API
Handle project lifecycle:
// List projects with filtering
const projects = await api.get('/projects', {
params: { workspace_id: 'ws_123', type: 'board' }
});
// Create project from template
const project = await api.post('/projects', {
name: 'Customer Onboarding',
template_id: 'template_456',
workspace_id: 'ws_123'
});
// Update project metadata
await api.patch(`/projects/${projectId}`, {
description: 'Updated project description',
due_date: '2024-02-01'
});Tasks API
Manipulate work items programmatically:
// Get tasks with advanced filtering
const tasks = await api.get('/tasks', {
params: {
project_id: 'proj_123',
assignee: 'user_456',
status: 'pending',
due_before: '2024-01-31'
}
});
// Bulk create tasks
const newTasks = await api.post('/tasks/bulk', {
tasks: [
{ name: 'Design mockups', assignee: 'user_123' },
{ name: 'Write documentation', assignee: 'user_456' },
{ name: 'Code review', assignee: 'user_789' }
]
});
// Update task with custom fields
await api.put(`/tasks/${taskId}`, {
name: 'Updated task name',
priority: 'high',
custom_fields: {
estimated_hours: 8,
difficulty: 'medium'
}
});Advanced API Techniques
Webhooks for Real-Time Integration
Get instant notifications of changes:
// Register webhook for task updates
const webhook = await api.post('/webhooks', {
url: 'https://your-app.com/webhook/task-updated',
events: ['task.created', 'task.updated', 'task.completed'],
secret: 'your_webhook_secret'
});
// Handle webhook in your application
app.post('/webhook/task-updated', (req, res) => {
const signature = req.headers['x-taskade-signature'];
const payload = req.body;
// Verify webhook signature
if (verifySignature(signature, payload, webhook.secret)) {
// Process the task update
handleTaskUpdate(payload);
res.status(200).send('OK');
} else {
res.status(401).send('Invalid signature');
}
});Batch Operations for Efficiency
Handle multiple operations atomically:
// Bulk update multiple tasks
const batchUpdate = await api.post('/batch', {
operations: [
{
method: 'PUT',
path: '/tasks/task_123',
body: { status: 'completed' }
},
{
method: 'POST',
path: '/tasks',
body: { name: 'Follow-up task', project_id: 'proj_456' }
},
{
method: 'DELETE',
path: '/tasks/task_789'
}
]
});Advanced Querying and Filtering
Extract exactly the data you need:
// Complex filtering with multiple criteria
const filteredTasks = await api.get('/tasks', {
params: {
project_id: 'proj_123',
assignee: ['user_456', 'user_789'],
due_date: { $gte: '2024-01-01', $lte: '2024-01-31' },
priority: 'high',
labels: { $in: ['urgent', 'client-work'] },
sort: '-due_date',
limit: 50,
include: ['assignee', 'project']
}
});Building Custom Applications
Example: Customer Dashboard
Build a custom interface for customer data:
class CustomerDashboard {
constructor(apiKey) {
this.api = new TaskadeAPI(apiKey);
}
async getCustomerProjects(customerId) {
return await this.api.get('/projects', {
params: {
'custom_fields.customer_id': customerId,
include: ['tasks', 'members']
}
});
}
async updateCustomerStatus(projectId, status) {
return await this.api.put(`/projects/${projectId}`, {
custom_fields: { status },
updated_at: new Date().toISOString()
});
}
async createSupportTicket(customerId, issue) {
const project = await this.api.post('/projects', {
name: `Support: ${issue.title}`,
type: 'list',
custom_fields: {
customer_id: customerId,
priority: issue.priority,
category: issue.category
}
});
await this.api.post('/tasks', {
name: issue.description,
project_id: project.id,
assignee: 'support_team_lead'
});
return project;
}
}Example: Automated Reporting System
Generate business reports automatically:
class ReportingSystem {
constructor(apiKey) {
this.api = new TaskadeAPI(apiKey);
this.scheduleDailyReports();
}
async generateDailyReport() {
const yesterday = new Date(Date.now() - 86400000).toISOString().split('T')[0];
const completedTasks = await this.api.get('/tasks', {
params: {
completed_at: { $gte: yesterday },
include: ['assignee', 'project']
}
});
const report = {
date: yesterday,
total_completed: completedTasks.length,
by_assignee: this.groupByAssignee(completedTasks),
by_project: this.groupByProject(completedTasks),
productivity_score: this.calculateProductivity(completedTasks)
};
await this.createReportProject(report);
await this.sendReportEmail(report);
}
groupByAssignee(tasks) {
return tasks.reduce((acc, task) => {
const assignee = task.assignee?.name || 'Unassigned';
acc[assignee] = (acc[assignee] || 0) + 1;
return acc;
}, {});
}
async createReportProject(report) {
const project = await this.api.post('/projects', {
name: `Daily Report - ${report.date}`,
type: 'table'
});
// Add report data as tasks/table rows
for (const [assignee, count] of Object.entries(report.by_assignee)) {
await this.api.post('/tasks', {
name: assignee,
project_id: project.id,
custom_fields: { tasks_completed: count }
});
}
}
}API Security and Best Practices
Authentication Security
Protect your API access:
// Use environment variables for API keys
const apiKey = process.env.TASKADE_API_KEY;
// Implement proper error handling
try {
const response = await api.get('/projects');
// Process response
} catch (error) {
if (error.status === 401) {
// Handle authentication error
refreshToken();
} else if (error.status === 429) {
// Handle rate limiting
await delay(error.retryAfter);
retryRequest();
}
}Rate Limiting and Optimization
Work within API limits efficiently:
class RateLimitedAPI {
constructor(apiKey) {
this.api = new TaskadeAPI(apiKey);
this.requests = [];
this.rateLimit = 100; // requests per minute
}
async request(method, path, options = {}) {
// Implement token bucket algorithm
const now = Date.now();
this.requests = this.requests.filter(time => now - time < 60000);
if (this.requests.length >= this.rateLimit) {
const waitTime = 60000 - (now - this.requests[0]);
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, waitTime));
}
this.requests.push(now);
return await this.api.request(method, path, options);
}
}Error Handling and Resilience
Build robust API integrations:
class ResilientAPI {
async requestWithRetry(method, path, options = {}, maxRetries = 3) {
let lastError;
for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
try {
return await this.api.request(method, path, options);
} catch (error) {
lastError = error;
if (error.status >= 400 && error.status < 500) {
// Client error, don't retry
throw error;
}
if (attempt < maxRetries) {
// Exponential backoff
const delay = Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000;
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));
}
}
}
throw lastError;
}
}SDKs and Development Tools
Official SDKs
Pre-built libraries for popular languages:
// JavaScript/TypeScript SDK
import { TaskadeAPI } from '@taskade/sdk';
const api = new TaskadeAPI({
apiKey: 'your_api_key',
baseURL: 'https://api.taskade.com/v1'
});
// Python SDK
from taskade import TaskadeAPI
api = TaskadeAPI(api_key='your_api_key')
# Go SDK
import "github.com/taskade/go-sdk/taskade"
api := taskade.NewAPI("your_api_key")Development Tools
Accelerate your development:
API Explorer: Interactive web interface for testing endpoints
Code Generators: Generate SDK code from API specifications
Webhook Testing Tools: Local webhook development servers
Monitoring Dashboards: Track API usage and performance
How it Works Under the Hood
Technically, the API is:
RESTful Architecture: Standard HTTP methods and status codes
JSON API Specification: Consistent data formats and error handling
OAuth 2.0 Support: Secure user authentication flows
Webhook System: Real-time event notifications
Rate Limiting: Fair usage policies with burst handling
Caching Layer: Performance optimization for frequently accessed data
Audit Logging: Complete activity tracking for security
But you don't need to understand the tech—powerful applications just work!
API Use Cases and Examples
Custom Mobile Applications
Build native mobile experiences:
Field service apps for technicians
Customer feedback mobile apps
Inventory management for warehouse staff
Executive dashboards for leadership
Enterprise Integration Hubs
Connect legacy systems:
ERP system integration
HR platform synchronization
Financial system connections
Manufacturing execution systems
AI-Powered Applications
Leverage Taskade's AI capabilities:
Intelligent task routing systems
Automated content generation workflows
Smart customer support assistants
Predictive analytics dashboards
IoT and Hardware Integration
Connect physical devices:
Sensor data collection and monitoring
Equipment maintenance scheduling
Facility management systems
Smart building automation
Your API-Enabled Ecosystem Becomes Limitless
Programmatic access unlocks infinite possibilities:
Custom UIs: Build interfaces perfectly suited to your workflows
Advanced Automation: Create complex multi-system workflows
Real-time Dashboards: Live business intelligence and monitoring
Mobile Innovation: Native apps that extend Taskade's reach
AI Integration: Combine Taskade's AI with your custom logic
Exceptional work! You now have complete programmatic control over Taskade. The API transforms Taskade from a productivity tool into a development platform where you can build anything your business needs.
Ready for the final chapter? In Chapter 8: Mobile & Desktop, we'll ensure your living workspace works perfectly everywhere!
What's the custom application your business has always needed? With the API, you can now build it. The possibilities are literally endless—start small, dream big!
← Back to Chapter 6: Integrations | Next: Mobile & Desktop →
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