Phase 3: Video Generation · 55 min · Python · fal.ai API · Replicate API

Video Generation API Integration

Video generation is async — you submit a job, wait 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and retrieve the result. Master the polling and webhook patterns.

What you will learn

Implement REST API polling: POST generation request → poll for status → retrieve video URL
Implement webhook pattern: POST generation request → receive callback when complete
Handle async job management for long-running generation jobs (30s-5min)
Implement error handling: rate limits (429), generation failures, content policy rejections

Objective

Create motion evidence that can be reviewed frame by frame, not only as a successful API response. In the paired studio lab, build a robust async Python client for video generation that supports both polling and webhook modes. Include retry logic with exponential backoff, timeout handling, rate limit awareness, and concurrent job submission for batch generation.

The Problem

A team integrates a video generation API. They send a POST request and wait for the response. After 60 seconds, the HTTP connection times out. They retry. Same timeout. They don't realize video generation is inherently async — the API returns a job ID immediately, and you poll for status or receive a webhook callback when the video is ready. Their synchronous code can't handle a 2-minute generation time.

Async API integration is a core engineering skill for video generation. Interviewers test whether you can handle long-running jobs correctly — polling, webhooks, error handling, and job management.

What you'll build
Implement both REST API polling and webhook patterns for video generation. Handle rate limits (429), generation failures, and content policy rejections. Build a job manager that tracks multiple concurrent video generation jobs.

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You've read the first 2 sections. The rest of this lesson covers The Concept, Build, Check Yourself, Key Terms & Next — plus a hands-on lab, quiz, and project artifact.

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