How do I use the Zenhub API for custom integrations?

The Zenhub API allows you to create custom integrations, generate tailored reports, and automate project management workflows. Using GraphQL, you can read workspace data, manipulate issues, and build applications that extend Zenhub's functionality for your specific needs.

Understanding the Zenhub API

Zenhub’s GraphQL API gives you programmatic access to your workspace data, issues, reports, and project management information. With GraphQL, you can request exactly the data you need while avoiding the over-fetching that can slow down integrations.

The API supports both read and write operations, enabling you to build applications that not only consume Zenhub data, but also create and modify issues, update project statuses, and manage workspace content. This bidirectional capability makes the API suitable for everything from simple data exports to complex workflow automation systems.

All API responses use JSON, making it easy to integrate with modern development frameworks and tools. GraphQL provides strong typing and introspection capabilities, helping you understand the available endpoints and build reliable integrations.

For comprehensive API documentation, examples, and detailed endpoint information, visit the official developer documentation at https://developers.zenhub.com/

Getting started with API authentication

Accessing the Zenhub API requires authentication using an API token generated from your Zenhub account. Navigate to your account settings by clicking your username at the bottom of the left sidebar, then selecting "Account management" from the dropdown.

In your account management area, look for the "API" section in the navigation menu. This section provides tools for generating and managing API tokens that authenticate your applications with the Zenhub API.

Generate a new API token by following the token creation process in your account settings. Each token is tied to your user account and inherits your permissions for accessing workspaces, repositories, and data. Keep your API tokens secure and never share them in public code repositories or unsecured applications.

Test your API authentication by making a simple API call with your new token. Successful authentication confirms that your token is properly configured and your development environment can communicate with the Zenhub API endpoints.

Making your first API requests

Start with basic API calls to understand the GraphQL structure and response format before building complex integrations.

Set up your development environment with an HTTP client for your programming language. GraphQL APIs use standard HTTP POST requests, so most programming languages and frameworks can interact with the API without specialized tools or libraries.

Begin with simple queries that retrieve workspace information or issue data. These foundational queries help you understand the API response structure and confirm that your authentication and connection setup work correctly.

Explore the API documentation to understand available queries, mutations, and data structures. GraphQL's introspection capabilities allow you to discover available fields and their types programmatically, making it easier to build robust integrations.

Test your API calls with different parameters and filters to understand how to retrieve specific data sets that match your integration requirements. Start with small data sets during development, then scale up once your integration logic is working correctly.

Building robust integrations

Develop integrations that handle errors gracefully and respect API rate limits to ensure reliable operation in production environments.

Implement proper error handling for common API issues including authentication failures, rate limit exceeded responses, and network connectivity problems. Robust error handling prevents your integrations from failing when temporary issues occur.

Respect API rate limits by implementing appropriate request throttling in your applications. Rate limits protect the API infrastructure and ensure consistent performance for all users. Check the API documentation for current rate limit policies and design your integrations accordingly.

Use efficient GraphQL queries that request only the data your application needs. Overly broad queries can impact performance and consume unnecessary API quota. Take advantage of GraphQL's selective field retrieval to optimize your integration performance.

Implement data caching strategies when appropriate to reduce API calls and improve application responsiveness. Cache data that doesn't change frequently, but ensure your caching strategy doesn't interfere with real-time data requirements.

Webhook integration for real-time updates

Combine API usage with webhook subscriptions to create integrations that respond immediately to changes in your Zenhub workspaces.

Webhooks provide real-time notifications when issues are created, modified, or moved between pipelines. This event-driven approach is more efficient than polling the API for changes and enables integrations that respond quickly to project updates.

Set up webhook endpoints in your applications to receive and process Zenhub events. Webhook payloads contain relevant data about the events, reducing the need for additional API calls to gather context information.

Verify webhook authenticity using provided signature validation to ensure your applications only process legitimate webhook deliveries. This security measure protects against malicious webhook attempts that could disrupt your integrations.

Handle webhook delivery failures gracefully by implementing retry logic and fallback mechanisms. Network issues or temporary application downtime shouldn't permanently disrupt your webhook-based integrations.

Troubleshooting API integration issues

Address common API integration problems systematically to maintain reliable application functionality.

Authentication token errors often indicate expired tokens, incorrect token configuration, or insufficient permissions for the requested operations. Regenerate tokens when authentication fails consistently, and ensure your application handles token refresh appropriately.

Rate limit exceeded responses require implementing backoff strategies in your applications. When you exceed rate limits, wait before retrying requests and consider implementing exponential backoff to avoid continued rate limiting.

GraphQL query errors usually indicate incorrect query syntax, requests for non-existent fields, or missing required parameters. Use Zenhub’s API Explorer (https://developers.zenhub.com/explorer/index.html) to validate your queries against the API schema during development.

Security considerations for API integrations

Implement security best practices to protect your API tokens and integration applications from unauthorized access.

Store API tokens securely using environment variables, secure configuration management systems, or encrypted credential stores. Never embed tokens directly in application code or store them in version control.

Implement token rotation policies that regularly refresh API tokens to limit the impact of potential token exposure. Many organizations require monthly or quarterly token rotation for security compliance.

Use HTTPS for all API communications to protect authentication tokens and data in transit. The Zenhub API requires secure connections, but your integration applications should also enforce HTTPS for any related web interfaces.

Monitor API usage logs and set up alerts for unusual activity patterns that might indicate unauthorized token usage. Regular monitoring helps detect security issues before they impact your projects or data.

Using the Zenhub MCP Server

Zenhub's MCP server lets you query and interact with your Zenhub data through AI clients like Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, and even Claude Desktop. Our MCP server wraps the Zenhub GraphQL API, and exposes a number of tools to search and modify issues, understand your current sprint, and more.

Prerequisites To connect to the MCP server, you'll need:

• A Zenhub API token from https://app.zenhub.com/settings/tokens
• A Zenhub workspace ID (the 24-character ID in your workspace URL)
• Node.js installed, so you can use the mcp-remote module via npx

More information on configuring your MCP client can be found here: developers.zenhub.com/mcp

FAQ

Q: Can I use the Zenhub API without programming experience?
A: The Zenhub API is designed for developers and requires programming knowledge to use it effectively. Consider using Zenhub's built-in export features or third-party integration platforms if you need data access without custom development.

Q: Are there rate limits on API usage?
A: Yes, the Zenhub API includes rate limiting to ensure consistent performance. Check the current API documentation for specific limits and implement appropriate request throttling in your applications.

Q: Can I modify Zenhub data through the API?
A: The API supports both read and write operations, allowing you to create, update, and delete issues and other workspace content. Write operations require appropriate permissions for the target repositories.

Q: How do I handle API authentication in team applications?
A: Use service account tokens or implement proper token management systems for team applications. Avoid sharing personal API tokens across team members, as this creates security and access management problems.

Q: Can I integrate Zenhub with third-party services using the API?
A: Yes, the API enables integration with external services, databases, and business systems. Many teams use the API to sync Zenhub data with CRM systems, time tracking tools, and reporting platforms.