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layout: post
title: 'Weekly API.Report For February 20th, 2015'
sourceurl: http://apievangelist.com/2015/02/21/weekly-apireport-for-february-20th-2015/
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Swagger is now Open API Definition Format (OADF) -- READ MORE
I have been inspired by my partner in crime Audrey Watter's (@audreywatters) approach to her weekly news on Hack Education, and will be trying to revive the weekly ritual for API Evangelist, something that I'm going to call the Weekly API.Report. I work to try and post API related news on API.Report each day, but my new Weekly API.Report is looking to to capture my news curation for the week.
The Weekly API.Report represents the best of what I've read throughout the week, and is only what I personally felt should be showcased. Each news item comes with a link, and some thoughts I had after curating the piece of API related news. I'm trying to break down stories into as coherent buckets as I can, but it remains something that is ever changing for me, but ultimately I will settle on a clear definition for each of the research areas.
I've seen agriculture related API efforts, but with two in one week, I may have to dive deeper:
Analysis is an area, I'm going to shave off my larger data API pie, and try to make better sense of how APIs are used for analysis:
The area of API design, is one of the most important conversations going on right now:
I am always looking for innovative new ways to evangelise APIs:
LucyBot is duplicate from above, but I think their approach represents an important API integration evolution as well, adding to the fast growing list:
I thought this was an interesting peek into how Microsoft is looking at API driven architecture:
The banking API conversation is growing rapidly, and something I think you will see a lot in weekly news:
As the space matures, certification is becoming more important for API ecosystems:
I am stoked to see the growth in open data and APIs usage across city government:
- Detroit Turns to Data-Driven Government and Digital Democracy - Socrata showcasing what Detroit is up to, using data, and API ecosystem to change how it governs.
- Toward a Municipal Ping Service - Interesting thoughts on a municipal specific notification service, making city operations more real-time.
- Bridging the Gap Between People and Public Services - Showcasing an important layer of government operations that keeps popping up on my radar. We have a long way to go in making sure government services are delivered sensibly using technology, and bridging the gap.
- Data portals are tomorrow’s map room | Data, etc. - I thought this was an interesting notion coming out of Chicago's open data efforts, and speaks to one possible future when it comes to open data.
- Seattle Privacy Coalition Seattle Privacy Coalition - Individual privacy - Institutional transparency - It makes me happy to see privacy coalitions coming out of cities like this one from Seattle.
- Civic hackers are already building a better MTA bus tracking system - I like to see stories like this this, showcasing and encouraging civic hackers to take it into their own hands to nake change.
- Improvements Necessary in Order for Minneapolis’ Open Data Portal to Thrive - A critical look at what it will take to continuing to evolve Minneapolis’ open data efforts, which such great detail of the technical, business, and political considerations of open data and APIs.
- Yelp + Open Data = The End of Food Poisoning? - I am eager to see the potential role open data and APIs can play in public health, but somewhat skeptical of big claims like this. It is something I will be keeping an eye on.
A number of cloud related API stories this week:
Another notable, public story of APIs from the construction space:
- Constructech – Data Collection in Construction - I have to take note of interesting API usage in new and important industries like construction. I know APIs are common in the space, but you do not always see it discussed publicly. Shows some change in construction space.
I predect container stories will be in here every week, whaddya think?
It feel a little bit of hope with the growing number of stories thinking critically about the Internet of Things:
Nothing is safe in our scary new world of cybersecurity:
I get overwhelmed by the number of data stories, but think it is an important parallel to the API conversation:
- XOData Lets Developers Explore OData APIs Visually - A reminder for me that OData is alive an well, and introduction into an introduction to an interesting tool for working with the data format. I like the visualization aspect, which seems in alignment with other API driven visualization evolution in the space.
- U.S. gets a chief data scientist: Here's what he should be doing - Lots of talk this week about the US Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil. I hope he can make a dent in how things work!
- Impact of vaccines throughout history - I want to see more visualizations like this to emerge across all disciplines. Just do not forget to publish the data behind when you do!
- In the wake of scandal, the State of Oregon seeks to restore trust through publishing public records - Unfortunately I think this is the way many city, county, and states will make their way to open data and APIs. Regardless it is good to see my home state make moves forward.
- Bits Blog: AT&T’s Offer: Share Your Data for Personalized Ads, or Pay More - I cannot quite decide if this is just disturbing, or also a bit of genius in how AT&T is trying to monetize, while also exploiting.
- Bridging the Gap Between People and Public Services - Showcasing an important layer of government operations that keeps popping up on my radar. We have a long way to go in making sure government services are delivered sensibly using technology, and bridging the gap.
- Paxata Leverages REST API to Automate Loading and Manipulation of Big Data - Some more thoughts on the convergence of big data and API.
- Teradatavoice: Turn Liquid Information Into Solid Revenue - This one really bothers me. Yes there is a huge amount of valuable information out there, but like APIs, there is also a need to keep things open and accessible. I worry that people will read pieces like this and think they can lock up public data.
- Bits Blog: IBM, G.E. and Others Create Big Data Alliance - More big data news, and the enterprise taking notice of the value of data.
- The curse of big data - Data Plumbing - A deep look at the plumbing challenges when it comes to big data.
- Cook County Data Published Over the Last Year - A nice snapshot of some of the open data to come out of Chicago open data efforts. I would like to continue my work to compile a common list of these types of building blocks that support open data and APIs in city operations.
- Yelp + Open Data = The End of Food Poisoning? - I am eager to see the potential role open data and APIs can play in public health, but somewhat skeptical of big claims like this. It is something I will be keeping an eye on.
Documentation is a critical area of API management, and there were some interesting conversations this week:
Tracking on the might enterprise, and how they see the API space, and how API platforms are working to court the enterprise:
Good stuff going on high up at the federal government level:
Some more blips on the financial and market portion of the API economy:
A pretty big milestone hit this week with HTTP getting fully baked:
A pretty important move forward for hypermedia, and the world of API definitions:
- Utilising API Blueprint in API Clients—Apiary Blog - This is an important step for Apiary and their API blueprint format, but also for API definitions overall. They are adding in a hypermedia layer, the first of the formats to do so. I am still working to understand, and will be covering more.
Great story from Jerome over at Restlet about the intersection of API and IDE:
Another move in the insurance API sector, moving me closer to establishing deeper research:
The dizzying amount of Internet of Things stories I was exposed to this week:
- Cheap USB Control for your Telescope - I like finding novel, and unique approaches to connecting devices to a network, and thinking beyond just Internet connectivity.
- Common sense meets the Internet of Things (IoT) - I'm seeing more critical posts like this when it comes to the Internet of Things. I'm not sure it will be enough to counteract the rising IoT tide, but one can hope. ;-)
- Smart devices can make the insurance biz proactive, not reactive - IoT and the insurance industry is something I predict we will see more of. I am already tracking on auto insurance devices, but predict the usage across areas that are insured.
- TaskRouter and the Internet of Things - I think Twilio and connect devices has always been a thing, but it is interesting to see them make a direct play for IoT with a new device. Definitely a platform you will have to watch when it comes to IoT.
- Beacons are moving out of the pilot phase and helping retailers and marketers revolutionize in-store shopping - Keeping track of movement in the Internet of Things space, especially sensors.
- Explore MQTT and the Internet of Things service on IBM Bluemix - More IoT out of IBM, with an emphasis on a specific IoT protocol, MQTT.
- IBM's ADEPT Project: Rebooting the Internet of Things - Some valuable insights from IoT expert and researcher Phil Windley.
- New Part Day: Time Of Flight Sensors - I am slowly building a list of sensor technology, and compiling a list of building blocks to consider when apply APIs to sensors.
- Building an API-driven Ecosystem for the Internet of Things - This is the first of my Internet of Things white papers, released for the Gigaom research network. I will be doing more papers like this as I continue to monitor the space.
- Connect Arduino GSM/GPRS Shield to a Mobile Cell Network - A cool approach to networking Arduino devices to the Internet.
- Octoblu IoT Platform Opens APIs to Developers - The launch of a pretty robust looking IoT platform, courting developers to build on one platform to rule all their IoT devices.
- The Best Internet Of Things Dividend Stocks Everybody Must Know - A valuable way to look at the Internet of Things space. I need all the lists that I can get, when trying to understand what is going on with IoT.
- Senate hearing on Internet of Things emphasizes light regulatory touch - Government regulation and IoT is inevitable, and I will keep tracking on which government agencies, and leaders are asking the hard questions when it comes to ioT privacy, and security.
- This talking dinosaur has a brain powered by IBM’s Watson supercomputer - Ok, this is a pretty cool, and cute IoT implementation, using IBM's Watson. I wonder what other device brains you could use the machine learning API engine for.
- Connect your TV, home, even your body, to the internet. But beware hackers - Some FUD coming from Internet connected TVs, spreading the security concerns to another layer of the IoT space.
- Senate hearing on Internet of Things emphasizes light regulatory touch - Government regulation and IoT is inevitable, and I will keep tracking on which government agencies, and leaders are asking the hard questions when it comes to ioT privacy, and security.
- Building an API-driven Ecosystem for the Internet of Things - This is the first of my Internet of Things white papers, released for the Gigaom research network. I will be doing more papers like this as I continue to monitor the space.
Only two microservices stories I felt needed showcasing--another area that I predict will be in each weeks news:
- A Microscope on Microservices - Another awesome look into Netflix operations, and diving down deep into how their microservices work. I do not think everything Netflix is doing applies to wider space, but there are huge amount of items to dissect and apply in our own approaches.
- An Outside View on Microservices : Agility and Scale - When it comes to understanding microservices and containers Iron.io is one company to watch. They are consistently doing important work at scale, and telling the story about it publicly, which is very important to the evolution of the space.
Some pretty strong movement forward when it comes to mobile:
A reminder that when I cover API monetization, it isn't always something positive:
A unique view of music, and something unique enough, I felt the API space needed to hear about it:
Interesting study around the reach of tech patents:
Payments continue to be a very fast moving layer to the API space:
- Stripe Now Accepts Bitcoin Payments - Everyone is getting on the Bitcoin band-wagon. I have to say when Stripe throws towel in, that it is a pretty important signal for the rest of us to tune in.
- Visa expands its online payments service Checkout to 16 countries - Visa making the international moves with its online payment service.
- Why Slow Electronic Payments Can Cause Cash Flow Problems : NPR - While not directly API related, I think this story feeds an important narrative in the banking space, as it is poised to try and get its API footing.
- Stripe Payment Gateway Kit For Resellerclub (Miscellaneous) - I track on a lot of API integrations, but only some I talk about. This was interesting enough to showcase, especially because it is monetized.
- Session 2: ‘APIs and Mobile/Electronic Payments’ with Jason Harmon - An interesting podcast with API thought leader Jason Harmon of Paypal, from IBM.
- Square vs. Stripe (SBUX,TWTR) - I like it when I find detailed comparisons of API driven platforms, and always try to track on so I can pull up when trying to help people make decisions on which platforms to use.
- New – Set Preferred Payment Currency for your AWS Account | AWS Official Blog - Interesting currency, and internationalization options coming out of the Amazon platform, something that will definitely add to them being a global heavyweight.
- Pay.On launches payment platform based on open API architecture - A new payment API that I will be tracking on to see what they have to offer, and are worthy of being in the API Stack.
Lots of important privacy discussions this week:
- The Right to Be Forgotten, the Privilege to Be Remembered | Re/code - Such an important conversation, as we decide whether or not we should be opening up privacy controls for API consumers, and end-users.
- Microsoft adopts first international cloud privacy standard - Microsoft on the Issues - I haven't dug into the details of their commitment, but if it has any traction, it sends a good signal.
- Bits Blog: AT&T’s Offer: Share Your Data for Personalized Ads, or Pay More - I cannot quite decide if this is just disturbing, or also a bit of genius in how AT&T is trying to monetize, while also exploiting.
- Seattle Privacy Coalition Seattle Privacy Coalition - Individual privacy - Institutional transparency - It makes me happy to see privacy coalitions coming out of cities like this one from Seattle.
- Fail This Smart Breathalyzer's Test And It Will Help You Get An Uber - This is another integration that makes me go WTF. Sure, I get that incentivizing drunk folks to use Uber is nice, but think of the privacy considerations. Uber will know every time you are drunk. #FUN
- Dutch DPA says government's data retention plans still illegal • The Register - Some thoughts around privacy, and data retention of open data at the government level.
- The Role APIs Can Play When It Comes To Online Trolling · - This is the beginning of some of my monitoring, and brainstorming on how APIs can be used deal with online trolling.
- How much does privacy cost? According to AT&T, about $29 - AT&T continues to blur the lines of privacy, net neutrality, and just being plain creepy--they need to get more imaginative when they come up with ways to make money.
- Microsoft Azure: The first cloud computing platform to conform to ISO/IEC 27018, the only international set of privacy controls in the cloud
- Privacy Concerns: 8 Best Practices in Online Data Collection - A plain english, easy to understand list of privacy concerns when working with data online. I will use to incorporate into a master list of privacy concerns in API space.
Real-Time, and look who is leading...Microsoft:
A handful of interesting reciprocity news:
Tracking on the politics of APIs, and specifically regulation:
Security, another growth area in 2015:
Significant state government movement, along with other government APIs:
The fast moving API visualization area, is something I can get behind:
This first Weekly API.Report was about 8 hours worth of work for me, in addition to the regular API news curation I do each week. Next week should be easier, as I built some tools to help me. The hard work now is to prioritize the Weekly API.Report each week, providing a regular account of what I've curated.
This post has helped me better absorb what happened this week, something I hope I can achieve each week. I have this same data going back to 2013, as I've been doing the work each week, i just stopped publishing a weekly post when I went to work in Washington D.C. as a Presidential Innovation Fellow--I just got too busy.
Next up for me, is to generate a short summary, and do a companion email newsletter for the Weekly API.Report--stay tuned!
Updated November 27, 2015: Links were updated as part of switch from Swagger to OADF (READ MORE)