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Author Topic: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016  (Read 756 times)

nasali

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Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 17, 2016, 02:26:26 pm
Hi all. I am a final year software Engineering student in the university of Buea with 4 years of experience in php, javaScript, html and css. I find this project idea interesting because it brings to life the possibility of linking applications that were developed differently so that they can communiicate. I created a zap on zapier.com then linked it to my facebook test page oasisAfrica and my facebook timeline. I then went ahead to test it. In the course of setting this up, I made it such that Zapier listens to the facebook test page oasisAfrica so that i was able to make a post on oasisAfrica that fired the trigger moving Zapier to post content in response (action) on my facebook timeline.
I will like to discuss the project requirements some more to fine tune my ideas prior to submitting my proposal.
Regards,
Theophilus

Erik Hommel

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 18, 2016, 06:03:38 am
Hi Theophilus,
good to hear that you are interested! Can you explain what kind of requirements and help you are looking for from the community in general?

A bit more background to the requirement:
I work with Amnesty International Flanders, located in Antwerp, on their CiviCRM installation. When discussing their fundraising requirements with Ilja de Coster, their Fundraising Data Strategist, he came up with the possibilties of Zapier. Especially hooking into some applications to send surveys, polls, mailings etc. was something he was really interested in.
We discussed some, and came up with a lot of questions too debating if Zapier would be an ideal solution in the long run:
  • what happens with the data, in what countries is the data stored and what data is stored?
  • what does it mean to rely on a service like Zapier? How does that operate with the open source commitment?
  • any privacy issues

But we agree that if we could integrate Zapier with CiviCRM it would be really neat for Proof of Concept and Try Out projects!

At CiviCon in London we had a discussion with some interested parties, and we all agreed that it would be great to do a first Proof of Concept project which would cater for these first steps:
  • from Zapier (or really from another linked app but you probably get the point) create a CiviCRM activity of a specific activity type.
  • from CiviCRM add a Zapier action (I think it is called a zapp) with the CiviCRM API. This will probably mean adding an API to CiviCRM with entity ZapierZapp and actions Get andCreate

As the project is a Proof of Concept it should certainly deliver a healthy set of Wiki pages detailing what needs to be done, so that any one picking up the rest would be able to get a good start.

Ilja de Coster from Amnesty International has promised to co-mentor this project so I will ask him to reply to this post too.

I would certainly investigate how the CiviCRM API works and how to develop that sort of stuff. Looking forward to seeing a proposal!

Erik
« Last Edit: March 18, 2016, 06:15:13 am by Erik Hommel »
Consultant/project manager at EEatWork and CiviCooP (http://www.civicoop.org/)

nasali

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 21, 2016, 03:06:00 pm
Hi,
I have uploaded my proposal. Please find time to review and make any recommendations.
Regards,
Theophilus

nasali

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 21, 2016, 03:10:20 pm
It is not the final proposal. it is just a draft. I am still doing some digging here and there to make it better. In the mean time feel free to make any recommendations and I will work on them happily.

ilja

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 22, 2016, 07:10:50 am
Hi Theophilus,

Thanks for the interest. Would be nice if you could try something out.

As one of the people behind the idea, some input from my side - that is a non-programmer, non-technical point of view.

It starts from the basic believe that there isn't one big system that can handle all data processes a fundraisers, a marketeer, or any other end user would need. There are a lot of cloud apps out there focussing on one specific task and often they are godo at it, as development is focused on this one issue they deal with.
A CRM like civi can be at the core of a data process, but it could be really strenghtened if it could be easily linked to those clloud apps.

As a non-programmer, with some technical skillls setting up API connections can be a pain in the ass. That is were zapier can come in. There are indeed several similar online tools like zapier, the only practical reason for me to  go for zapier, is that is seems to have the biggest number of integration with different other cloud apps - making the whole thing more interesting.

I can image, thet a civi-zapier integration can be in teh first place a play space to try and set up connections between applications, enabeling end users with a pricess in mind to test and play with it. So to have a prove of concept and some input for programmers on what a connection should do.

Once that type of process would be come a real core function of ones operation, it might be senseful however to leave the zapier integration and go for a direct API connection programmed between civi and the cloud app - what would require more custom programming.

 Greetings,
Ilja

nasali

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 22, 2016, 12:00:47 pm
CiviCRM should integrate directly with Zapier by means of an API that hitherto is not existent. The the work here pretty much is coming up with an API for CiviCRM that "hooks up" CiviCRM with  Zapier.

CiviCRM <==> (via to be written API )<==>Zapier

From Zapier, there are already Cloud apps such as MailChimp from which we should be able to send activities over the Zapier framework to CiviCRM.

« Last Edit: March 24, 2016, 07:54:24 am by nasali »

merci

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 24, 2016, 05:04:39 am
Hi nasali,
                 I am merci and ia am interested on this same project i was recommended by llja to discuss with you if we can come out with a unanimous project proposal i dont know what you think but you can meet me on IRC( merci_m)

Regards
merci

Erik Hommel

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 24, 2016, 05:41:32 am
merci_m,

i do not think you can do projects together. I will be on IRC later (erik_h) and the potential mentor for this project. Would you be able to create a draft proposal as soon as possbile so I can have a look?

Erik
Consultant/project manager at EEatWork and CiviCooP (http://www.civicoop.org/)

merci

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Re: Integration of CiviCRM with Zapier GSOC_2016
March 24, 2016, 05:54:41 am
Thanks erik_h
                        Let me send do that and send to you immediately i will send you a link on IRC
Regards
merci
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