Prerequisites for POS Application Development

Before you begin developing your Point-of-Sale (POS) application for integration with the POS Hub platform, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place. A solid understanding of these core concepts will help you streamline your development process and ensure a successful integration.

1. POS Hub Developer Account & Application Setup

To interact with the POS Hub API, you must first register as a developer and create an application within the POS Hub Developer's area.

• Register as a Developer: If you haven't already, sign up for a POS Hub developer account.
• Create Your Application: Once registered, create a new application. During this process, you will be issued:
  • Client ID: A public identifier for your application.
  • Client Secret: A private key that must be kept secure.
• Configure Endpoints: Set up the necessary URLs for your application:
  • Redirect URL: The URL where users are sent after authorizing your application. This is crucial for the OAuth2 flow.
  • Webhook URL: The endpoint on your server that will receive real-time events from POS Hub (e.g., new orders).
  • Sync Endpoint: The endpoint responsible for handling catalog synchronization requests from POS Hub.

2. Third-Party POS Developer Account

Since your application will be bridging the gap between POS Hub and an external POS system, you will need developer access to that system.

• Developer/Sandbox Account: Gain access to a developer or sandbox environment for the third-party POS system you are integrating with.
• API Credentials: Obtain API keys, tokens, or other credentials required to make authenticated requests to the third-party POS API.
• API Documentation: Have the official API documentation for the third-party POS readily available. You will need it to understand their data models, authentication methods, and available endpoints.

3. Understanding Core POS Hub Concepts

Familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts and patterns of the POS Hub API to ensure a smooth integration.

• Application Anatomy: Understand the structure and types of applications within POS Hub, particularly the POS application type.
• Authentication & Authorization: Understand how to authenticate your application using OAuth2, specifically the Client Credentials Grant for application-level access and the Authorization Code Grant for user-initiated installations.
• Integration Flow: Review the end-to-end flow for POS applications, from installation to order injection.
• Webhooks: Grasp the mechanics of how POS Hub dispatches webhook events to your application, including the payload structure and retry policy.
• API Response Structures: Understand the consistent JSON structure for API requests and responses.
• Error Handling: Learn how to interpret and handle various HTTP status codes and error responses from the API.