Sequin

Sequin is a powerful tool that enables you to harness the capabilities of SQL to seamlessly connect to external APIs. With Sequin, you can build on top of third-party services like Salesforce or Airtable using SQL queries, providing a fast and efficient alternative to direct API usage.

Configuring Sequin Sync

Prerequisites

Before you can use Sequin with DronaHQ, follow these steps to create a Sequin sync to your Postgres database:

1. Sign Up for Sequin:

   • Start by signing up for Sequin here.

2. Connect to the API:

   • Once you've signed up, connect Sequin to the API you want to sync. This is the external API you'll be working with.

3. Configure Schema:

   • Configure your schema by selecting the specific tables and columns you want to sync from the API.

4. Database Connection:

   • Sequin will prompt you to connect to your Postgres database. You can also opt to use a free demo Postgres instance hosted by Sequin.

Connection details

5. Initiate Sync:

   • Click Create to initiate the synchronization process. Sequin will start syncing your data in real-time.

6. Connection Instructions:

   • Sequin will provide you with connection instructions for your Postgres database. Keep this information accessible, as you'll need it to configure DronaHQ.

For more detailed guidance on setting up a Sequin sync, refer to this guide.

Setup Sequin Connector in DronaHQ

Sequin uses a Postgres Proxy to interface with your Sequin-synced tables. The Proxy lets Sequin capture inserts, updates, and deletes you make in your database and commit them to the API.

To add Sequin's Postgres Proxy as a DronaHQ connector, you can treat it as a regular Postgres resource and enter the connection details in the connector configuration:

1. Access your DronaHQ dashboard and navigate to the Connectors section.

2. Click + Add Connector and select PostgreSQL Connector.

3. Provide a name for the connector and paste the connection string from your Sequin dashboard.

4. Under Connection Options, enable Enable converting queries to prepared statements and Connect using SSL for efficient and secure database access.

5. Test the connection to ensure it's working correctly, then click Save.

tip

DronaHQ can Auto fill crucial connection values like host, name, password, and more from the connector's connection string or from a AWS IAM credentials using AWS Import.

General

Field	Description
Host	Enter the Host Domain or IP
Port	Enter the Port number
Database Name	Enter the Database name
Authentication Type	Choose from User and Password or AWS IAM
Username	Enter the Username
Password	Enter the Password
AWS Access Key	Enter the AWS Access Key of your database.
AWS Secret Key	Enter the AWS Secret Key of your database.
AWS Region	Enter the AWS Region of your database.
Role to assume (ARN)	Enter the role to be used while accessing API. Example - arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/RoleName

PostgreSQL with Sample details.

Admin

Advanced Option	Description
Connection Options	The key and value connection options in database configuration refer to specific settings (keys) and their corresponding values that dictate how the application connects to the database
Use Dynamic Database Host	Dynamically determine the host for the database connection.
Use Dynamic Database Name	Set the database name dynamically, allowing easy switching between databases.
Use Dynamic Database Credentials	Enable dynamic database credentials for secure and convenient management.
Enable Converting Queries to Prepared Statement	Opt for prepared statements to enhance database performance and security.
Connect using SSL	Securely access the database using an encrypted SSL connection, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
Enable SSH Tunneling	Securely access the database through encrypted SSH tunneling.
Whitelist IP	Enhance security by restricting database access to specific whitelisted IP addresses.

Adding Database Queries

After configuring the connector, access it in your Connector Library. To add queries, click Add query once the connection is ready. Create simple or complex queries, view tables and fields. Input Query name, run the query, and see results in Response.

Write Queries

tip

Use double curly brackets for dynamic variables. Test with sample values before saving. Link dynamic variables to controls/actions and more for runtime use.

Saved queries appear under your connector in Connector Library.

Added Queries

Supported Query Operations

Operations	Description
Raw SQL Query	Various select, insert, delete, update, join operations which are supported by PostgresSQL query. e.g. - select * from UserInfo;
Stored Procedure Call	You can call store procedure similar to that we call from workbench. e.g. - CALL getUserInfo;

Using the Sequin Connector in DronaHQ

With Sequin syncing your API data to your database, you can now query this data within your DronaHQ app. Here's how to do it:

1. From your DronaHQ dashboard, access your app.

2. In the left rail, click on Data Queries (the database icon), then click + New and select Connector Query.

3. Choose the Sequin Postgres Proxy connection as the connector.

4. Compose your SQL query using the schema for your Sequin-synced tables available on the right rail.

5. Click Test to ensure your query runs as expected.

Here's an example Salesforce query that retrieves Salesforce Contacts belonging to a specific account:

select * from salesforce.contact
-- use a query variable, {{account_id}}
where account_id = '{{account_id}}'
limit 100;

Writing Back to the API

Sequin allows you to perform mutations via your database, which are then applied to the external API. In DronaHQ, you can use custom-built or auto-generated forms to insert or update data in your Sequin-synced tables.

1. Create a form with input fields matching your Sequin-synced table columns.

2. Connect the Submit button of your form to a database mutation query in DronaHQ.

3. Configure the insert query by populating values with input field values from your form.

insert into salesforce.contact (first_name, last_name, email)
values ('{{first_name}}', '{{last_name}}', '{{email}}');

Inserting Contact

Error Handling

In case Sequin encounters an error while applying a mutation to the upstream API, it returns a standard Postgres error. You can configure your app to display this error as an alert notification.

1. In the event of an error, configure an On-Screen Action (e.g., Toast) to display the error message.

Toast Config for error

With Sequin, you can seamlessly integrate third-party services into your DronaHQ app using SQL, making data management and utilization efficient and straightforward.

For more details on writing queries and understanding how Sequin works, refer to their documentation.