How to integrate google contacts api in node webkit - google-api

Question

I need to integrate google contacts import in my nw.js app. How should I create the google app ? When I create the app as web app, it asks for redirect uri which is not available for desktop apps. I'm not clear about how to implement google integration for desktop apps. Can anyone help me on this. ?

Answer 1

There is an option in OAuth for desktop applications, when instead of http://domain you will redirect to app://something and you application will be started or receive a callback.
To make this, in your application you need to open request token url in new window (new window in your node-webkit app).
Also: google docs and node-webkit github issue and other issue about this.
For me I thought better would be open a default browser, there is a high chance that user already authenticated, and then just need to click "allow". So I start simple webserver inside node-wekit app and redirect to localhost.
You can see implementation in my project https://github.com/Paxa/postbird/blob/90cfb53b1775310eb2f262c8b54c9dba15b5cc0a/app/heroku_client.js#L185
To open default browser I use command "open" (only for mac)
child_process.spawn('open', [url]);
I also try to close browser window when user redirected back, it works but not always.
response.writeHead(200, {"Content-Type": "text/html"});
response.end("<script type='text/javascript'>window.close();</script>");
May be I should also make a window active when receive redirect back (didn't try it yet):
var currentWin = require('gui').Window.get();
currentWin.focus();
If google not allows to make localhost as a callback url, you can try to use some domain (even free) and point it to 127.0.0.1 or use http://readme.localtest.me/