Connecting the dots where your stack falls short

Use Service Studio's Logic tab to right-click REST > Consume REST API, pasting the API URL or OpenAPI spec for auto-generation of methods and structures. Publish a wrapper module exposing public server actions that call these methods, making them reusable across apps. This low-code approach generates consumable endpoints in minutes, handles serialization automatically, and scales to complex payloads, perfect for rapid prototyping without manual coding.

Configure Basic, API Key, or OAuth directly in the Consume REST dialog, with client actions testing credentials pre-publish. For errors, wrap API calls in exception handlers using OnAfterResponse or Try-Catch, mapping HTTP codes (401/403/500) to custom messages via JSON Serialize for structured responses. This ensures graceful failures, detailed logging via Service Center, and user-friendly alerts, preventing app crashes while aiding debugging.

Avoid heavy joins between external entities and local data, as they spike query times and hurt performance, import key data via timers instead. Watch for schema changes requiring Extension rebuilds, mismatched data types causing silent errors, and high-volume syncs overwhelming connections. Opt for read-only views or replication for stability, always test latencies in staging to prevent production surprises and ensure single-source-of-truth governance.

In Logic > Integrations > REST, create Expose REST API, add methods (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE) linked to server actions querying entities. Define resources with input/output structures, set versioning in the name (e.g., v1), and consume via generated URLs. This publishes secure, documented endpoints instantly, supporting Swagger for clients and enabling real-time data sharing without custom servers.

Choose Forge connectors (e.g., Stripe, Salesforce) for pre-built, tested integrations with auth and pagination handled, ideal for standard services to launch fast. Go custom REST when APIs lack connectors, need unique payloads, or require heavy logic like aggregation. Connectors save 80% time on common cases but limit flexibility; custom shines for bespoke needs while reusing platform tools for scalability.

Implement Basic or API Key first via exposed REST method properties, then layer OAuth using Two-Way SSL or Basic Auth on your Logic with external IdP like Auth0. Add roles/users validation in actions, return 401/403 with Accept exceptions for unauthorized calls. This enforces token-based access, scopes, and refresh flows natively, meeting enterprise security without code, monitor via LifeTime for compliance.