So it looks like,
RESTful
I guess XML-RPC lost out in everything except blogging and SOAP is still too
painful for most people.
Standardised
So for example if we embedded everything in the ATOM syntax you would like
that? Or did you mean something else?
Well Documentated.
Yep, and I really like the idea of a wiki which you guys can also edit.
Formats.
My feelings is XML makes a lot of sense. JSON, well I know its gotten much love
recently but... YAML? does anyone actually use this? I thought JSON did away
with YAML?
Also who's offering this as a webservice?
Developer system
Yes we will require some kind of authentication system and I guess this is
where the real debate goes. What kind of interactions would you prefer?
How would you feel about us having some developer key system, maximum amount of
calls a day, authentication?
What have you seen which you like?
I remember Flickr was a pain because you couldn't find your dev key easily,
while Amazon had a dev token and authentication. Technorati's limit of 1000
calls a day is ok but how do people feel about the result once you go over the
limit? Should error messages use http states or return errors in xml?
Thoughts?
Ian Forrester || backstage.bbc.co.uk || x83965
________________________________
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gareth
Rodger
Sent: 06 December 2006 15:44
To: backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk
Subject: Re: [backstage] The best WebAPIs
I must agree with the Flickr fans.
In my opinion if it's;
RESTian
Standardised
Well documented
Choice of output formats (JSON, YAML, XML etc.)
An open wiki to supplement the docs
It'll do for me.
Will the BBC require developer keys or authentication?.
Gareth Rodger
W: http://www.garethrodger.com
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On 6 Dec 2006, at 12:58, Neil Roberts wrote:
>>which API's have you used which were a joy to use and why?
I really like the flickr because they offer a simple api for
non-techies in the form of the badge, which even my dad can use (this is a man
they type with one finger and that's not one finger on each hand but just one
finger).
This makes the content really accessible which is important.
And on the other end of the spectrum they offer api's that for
the true developer that allow you to achieve things like this
http://www.webmonkey.com/webmonkey/06/08/index4a_page2.html
For me this is awesome becuse it not only shows their content
up in a good light.
It promotes flickr and can inform their service development;
all things that I think backstage is trying to do for the BBC.
Important things that I have found useful but may not fall into
the realm of api for some people is:
For the novice:
Restful/guessable/hackable URLs
A range of simple standard RSS feeds
Examples and easy to use interfaces eg: flickr badge
For the not so novice:
Parameterised RSS feeds
HTTP implemention is always good but the technology in my
opinion should be the one that can be used by the most people.
Good documentation and often the best documentation is not
found on the providers site but on people's blogs, so making the documentation
an open wiki would help.
neil
On 12/6/06, Mr I Forrester <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Right Calm down everyone! :)
Lets put the debate on hold for now (although I was
tempted to throw in
a line about the GPL3 drafts). I don't know about
everyone else, but I
personally think this could make a good podcast if I
got a few of you in
a room together.
Anyway,
Its almost 2007 and I wanted to ask a question to the
list.
One of the things you really want more of, is more BBC
API's. Well were
working on that but I wanted to ask which API's have
you used which were
a joy to use and why?
Is the documentation, API naming, structuring, amount
of data given away
or something else?
For example, for me Flickr's API is great but I love
the security of
Del.icio.us. The documentation on Flickr is also very
easy to follow and
understand while the ability to run XSL serverside on
Amazon's servers
has been useful. Google Data/Base is very interesting
being just ATOM
based and I can certainly see more APIs using ATOM as a
base result
response in the future.
Don't worry guys we can pick up the Free Software
debate later...
Ian Forrester | backstage.bbc.co.uk | cubicgarden.com
Laurence Samuels wrote:
> You explained these a long time ago, and you kept on
repeating what
> did not amount to new knowledge. I hope you wont
reply to this email.
> If you do, I wont reply to the list, I might reply to
you privately.
>
> L
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