Connecting things.
WHAT THIS USUALLY MEANS
Moving data between systems that do not talk to each other.
WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE
An API, where one exists A database, where you have access File exchange, as an export and import A webhook, where the system pushes to you
WHAT TO PREFER
An API, then a webhook, then files, then direct database access.
WHY DATABASE ACCESS LAST
It bypasses the application's own rules and breaks when the schema changes.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What triggers the exchange What happens on failure How duplicates are prevented How you know it worked
THE DUPLICATE POINT
Any integration that can run twice must handle it.
Record what has been processed.
WHAT TO BUILD IN
Logging of every exchange Validation of what arrives Alerting on repeated failure
WHAT TO AVOID
Integrations nobody monitors Assuming the other system will always behave
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
What connects to what, and what to check when it fails.
