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Android: authenticate using Dropbox app without using SDK?

I am writing an android app that connects with Dropbox using the REST api. It does not use any SDK. Currently my users give my app permission to access their Dropbox account using a web browser, which works. However, most of them would prefer not to enter their username and password into the browser, something they do not need to do when using the SDK and the local Dropbox app. My question: is there a way for me to launch the Dropbox app using an intent with some set of extras so that the user can give permission there, then get the results (the token) back?

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Greg-DB

We don't currently have any documentation for the app authorization flow built in to the official Dropbox mobile apps, but I'll be sure to pass this along as a request for that.

That flow is handled for you in the SDKs, but if you're not using one of the SDKs, we do recommend using the standard OAuth flow in the browser as you mentioned.

The Core SDK is open source though, so you could look at it and replicate what the SDK does, though it'd be safer to just use the standard OAuth flow, since the SDK flow isn't documented.

Charles H.7

Thanks for your answer. I did look at the SDK source before asking and decided that there was too much "magic" in it for me to depend upon me correctly reverse engineering the flow.

I have switched to using a webview instead of launching browser. This cleans up some of the user interaction, especially handing the redirect URL. I will stay with it for exactly the reason you gave: it is documented and stable.