Bolt.new AI and Printful integration: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

 

Step 1: Setting Up Environment Variables

 

In your Bolt.new AI project, add a file named config.ts to store your Printful API key. This key is needed to authenticate with Printful’s API. If Bolt.new supports environment variables through code, include the configuration in this file.

// File: config.ts
export const PRINTFULAPIKEY = process.env.PRINTFULAPIKEY || 'YOURPRINTFULAPIKEYHERE';

• Replace 'YOURPRINTFULAPIKEYHERE' with your actual Printful API key.
• If Bolt.new supports a way to set environment variables via its interface, set PRINTFULAPIKEY there and remove the fallback.

 

Step 2: Creating the Printful API Client File

 

Create a new file in your project named printfulClient.ts. This file will contain functions that make HTTP requests to the Printful API using the built-in fetch function.

// File: printfulClient.ts
import { PRINTFULAPIKEY } from './config';

const PRINTFULAPIURL = 'https://api.printful.com';

/**
- Makes an authorized request to the Printful API.
- 
- @param endpoint - The API endpoint (e.g., '/orders', '/products').
- @param method - HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.). Defaults to 'GET'.
- @param body - Optional request body for POST/PUT requests.
- @returns The JSON response from the Printful API.
 */
export async function printfulRequest(endpoint: string, method: string = 'GET', body?: any): Promise {
  const url = ${PRINTFUL_API_URL}${endpoint};
  const headers: HeadersInit = {
    'Authorization': Bearer ${PRINTFUL_API_KEY},
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  };

  const options: RequestInit = {
    method,
    headers,
    body: body ? JSON.stringify(body) : undefined
  };

  const response = await fetch(url, options);
  if (!response.ok) {
    const errorDetails = await response.text();
    throw new Error(Printful API error: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}: ${errorDetails});
  }
  return response.json();
}

/**
- Example function to get products from Printful.
 */
export async function getProducts(): Promise {
  return printfulRequest('/products');
}

/**
- Example function to create an order on Printful.
- 
- @param orderData - The order data object as defined by the Printful API.
 */
export async function createOrder(orderData: any): Promise {
  return printfulRequest('/orders', 'POST', orderData);
}

• This file creates a reusable function 'printfulRequest' to call Printful API endpoints.
• Two sample functions, getProducts and createOrder, demonstrate how to read from and post data to the API.

 

Step 3: Integrating the Printful Client in Your Main Application

 

Modify your main application file (typically index.ts or app.ts) to include and call the Printful client functions. This example demonstrates how to call the getProducts function when needed.

// File: index.ts (or app.ts)
// Import the Printful client functions
import { getProducts, createOrder } from './printfulClient';

// Example: Fetch products from Printful and log the results
async function fetchPrintfulProducts() {
  try {
    const products = await getProducts();
    console.log('Printful products:', products);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching products:', error);
  }
}

// Example: Call createOrder with proper order data
async function placeOrder() {
  const orderData = {
    // Fill in with the order structure required by Printful
    recipient: {
      name: "John Doe",
      address1: "123 Main St",
      city: "Anytown",
      state_code: "CA",
      country_code: "US",
      zip: "12345"
    },
    items: [
      {
        variant_id: 1,
        quantity: 1,
        retail_price: "29.99"
      }
    ]
  };

  try {
    const orderResponse = await createOrder(orderData);
    console.log('Order created:', orderResponse);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating order:', error);
  }
}

// Invoke the functions to test Printful integration
fetchPrintfulProducts();
// Uncomment the next line to test order creation functionality
// placeOrder();

• This code imports getProducts and createOrder from your Printful client file.
• It demonstrates how to call these functions, handle responses, and catch potential errors.

 

Step 4: Installing Dependencies Without Terminal

 

Since Bolt.new AI projects do not have terminal access, you must include any dependency installations directly in your code. In this example, no external dependencies are required because the built-in fetch API is used with TypeScript. If you needed a library (for example, axios), add it by including the code from that library or by using a CDN if supported by Bolt.new.

• Make sure your project’s tsconfig.json is properly configured for TypeScript compilation.
• If you later need additional libraries, use the dependency management interface provided by Bolt.new to add them.

 

Step 5: Testing Your Integration

 

After adding the above files and code snippets, run your Bolt.new AI project using the Run button provided in the interface. Observe the console logs to verify that the Printful API calls are completed successfully. If errors occur, the console output will help debug issues such as network problems or misconfigured API keys.

• Ensure that your Printful API key is valid and correctly set.
• Review the API documentation on Printful’s website for any changes in API endpoints or payload structures.