AI Plugins: Integrations Without Coding Skills
Your time tracking tool, CRM, or project management software isn't supported by GrandTotal? With an AI assistant, you can try to develop your own integration – no coding skills required, but you shouldn't be afraid of the terminal. Enter URL and API credentials, run two scripts – ideally, the AI finds the API documentation, tests the interface, and writes a working plugin. Success depends on the quality of the API documentation.
How It Works
You open the Integration Wizard, choose an AI assistant (Claude Code or Codex), and enter your tool's URL and API credentials.
The wizard generates two scripts: The first creates the plugin skeleton and links it with GrandTotal. The second is a prompt for the AI assistant that finds the API documentation, tests it, and writes code based on that.
If you provide API credentials, the AI makes real API calls, analyzes the responses, and writes code based on actual data – instead of just guessing from the documentation.
Practical Examples
Import time tracking: Transfer tracked time from your time tracking software directly to GrandTotal and bill it.
Migration: Import customers, items, invoices, and other data from your previous software or CRM systems to GrandTotal.
Send documents: Submit invoices and quotes to external accounting or archiving systems.
By the way: Many of the integrations already available in GrandTotal were created with the help of AI.
Security of API Credentials
The AI needs API credentials to test the interface and write appropriate code. These credentials are transmitted to the AI services (Anthropic for Claude Code, OpenAI for Codex).
Important: Renew the API credentials used after plugin development. The AI has seen and used them for testing – generate new credentials for production use.
The finished plugin stores your production API credentials encrypted in the macOS Keychain – like all GrandTotal plugins.
Best Practices
Use test accounts: If your tool supports test accounts or restricted API keys, use them for plugin development. Work with production credentials after successful development.
Minimal permissions: Create API keys with the minimum necessary permissions for development. Many APIs allow granular permission assignment.
Delete after development: Revoke development credentials immediately after successful plugin creation. Generate new keys for production operation.
Limitations and Reality
Not every integration works on the first try. Complex APIs with poor documentation, OAuth authentication, or very specific data structures can overwhelm the AI. Success depends heavily on the quality of the API documentation.
Simple REST APIs with clear documentation usually work without problems. For more complex cases, the AI can help with debugging – you copy error messages back into the chat, the AI suggests corrections.
The Integration Wizard is an experiment. It shows what's possible with current AI assistants – and where the limits are. For many standard cases, it saves considerable time. For complex integrations, traditional development work remains necessary.
Quick Overview
No Coding Skills
URL + credentials are enough
Fast Development
Integration ready in minutes
Real API Tests
AI tests instead of guessing
Minimal Permissions
Use test keys or restricted APIs
Debugging Help
AI assists with errors
⚠️ Renew Credentials
Generate new keys after development
Requirement: API credentials for your tool
Goal: Working GrandTotal integration