---
layout: post
title: 'Weekly API.Report For March 9th, 2015'
sourceurl: http://apievangelist.com/2015/03/09/weekly-apireport-for-march-9th-2015/
image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions/api-report/api-report-logo.png
---
Swagger is now Open API Definition Format (OADF) -- READ MORE

This is the third week in a row I've managed to do this weekly report, something that took me about 9 hours of work, so I can see that the amount of work will vary pretty dramatically each week. Doesn't matter, I'm in for the long haul now, butI'm guessing Monday morning is going to be the common release date, as I start wrapping up on Saturday, but often can't do all the heavy lifting until Sunday.
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.
You don't often see me lead into a story with accounting, but Xero is pushing forward with their world domination plan, worthy of highlighting:
There were a number of acquisitions, that were worth enough of showcasing this week:
- IBM Acquires AlchemyAPI, Enhancing Watson's Deep Learning Capabilities
- IBM Acquires AlchemyAPI - IBM has been beating their API drum lately, and the Watson team has been a significant portion of this drumbeat--interesting to see them making API related acquisitions. I use AlchemyAPI, so this impacts me.
- IBM powers up Watson with AlchemyAPI acquisition - Mentioned already, but I always like to include one outside view in the conversation.
- SocketPlane Excited to Be Joining Docker to Collaborate with Networking Ecosystem - This is an interesting move by Docker. Networking related API and container related stories seem to be popping up more. Usually they are just SDN API stories, but this acquisition is an interesting sign of whats to come.
- Box buys small security startup to court more risk-averse clients - Using security acquisitions to boost your street cred is a worthy investment in the current landscape. You can just do it, but buying a company to add to stack, sends a good message to your consumers.
- OrgSync Acquired by iModules Software - An interesting education related acquisition. I will have to learn more about iModules, and keep an eye on what they are doing in the higher education constituent management API space.
- Akamai Acquires Xerocole - Like security, DNS related investments are wise. Especially if your doing things at Internet scale like Akamai.
- PayPal acquires Paydiant, puts NFC into its Here readers - At some point I will have to connect the dots on all the payment space moves, lots of action. Almost too much to keep track of.
Advertising is not something usually here, but at the intersection of gaming, I'm a little more interested:
I am working to pull together analytics specific research project over the next week. It is one of those areas I'm carving off of data:
I am moving API definitions out of the API design realm, where I can showcase the benefits of machine readable formats:
- Apigee Product Highlight Video: SmartDocs - I thought was an introducing highlight of SmartDocs on the Apigee platform, or as I call them interactive docs. I like seeing how each of the API providers view the benefits of machine readable API definitions like Swagger--Apigee is definitely invested in Swagger.
These are my thoughts on API deployment for the week:
- We Need An Open Library Of The Most Common Utility API Implementations · - This seems like a no brainer to me. Someone should step up and build a platform to house these, and figure out some way of generating revenue around this, in a way that you can offer the open source designs for free. Maybe premium services, or custom deployments could be enough to pay for it? It is another area that if someone doesn't step up I may start creating and publishing to a Github repo.
Some interesting API design discussions this week, from the pragmatic, to the restafarian:
- Making Sure My API Roundup Stories Are Machine Readable By Designing Them As APIs.json Collections · - A look into how I'm using APIs.json to build collections of APIs. As I research specific areas of the industry, I am trying to create these machine readable definitions, that eventually can turn into something so much more.
- POST /eff/you/this/is/the/right/url – RESTful API Design - I love creative, pragmatic stories on API design. This one made me laugh, and definitely made me reflect on some of the whacky shit I do when it comes to API design, and you know, that is ok!
- Dropbox Sparks Controversy With API Design Decision - I really do not get all worked up about design decisions like this. Whatever. It is their choice, as long as they communicate it out effectively, it doesn't really change the game to much. I prefer to just showcase the decisions API designers make, and why, and let you decide the best path forward for you.
- My API Design Research - Rewriting the home page for my API research, while I spend some time pondering what is the current state, and what might be next for my work in this area.
- Meta-design: The intersection of art, design, and computation - O'Reilly Radar - This is way beyond API, but of course is where my mind went as I was reading. Some really interesting concepts to weave into API design practice here.
- Application-Level Profile Semantics (ALPS) - Shit is getting real for ALPS. I keep meaning to add it to my wheelhouse of API design knowledge, but haven't had the time. Looks I better prioritize, as they are getting real with it.
- Common Cases When Using SOAP Makes Sense - It is ok to use SOAP, especially if you work with the enterprise, or take showers every day like I do! ;-)
- Dropbox starts using POST, and why this is poor API design. - While I may not have an opinion directly about this, I do love hearing what everyone else has to say.
As usual, I'm leading the API discovery conversation:
A handful of API evangelism discussions throughout the week:
The event season is warming up, with lots of API events to attend:
I predict API integration conversation will keep dominating the landscape:
Lots to learn in the area of API management this week:
- A Little Care Package for PHP Developers - A pretty straightforward code library story, which I usually do not share as part of weekly update, but I like well told stories, that show API providers care about their devs.
- How Promoting a Developer Ecosystem Strengthens an API - Great story from Mark over at PW. These types of stories are important to motivate API providers in a positive way.
- Adding Four New Building Building Blocks Providing An API Management API Blueprint · - You will see more work from me in this area, as I define a base blueprint API providers can use to provide an API for their API management infrastructure. I'm using 3Scale to drive the base definition, as I use them for my own infrastructure.
- A note about rate limits - A nice, transparent look into API rate limits over at Keen.io. I love it when platforms break down their limits, and the logic that goes into that. It goes a long way to building trust.
- Top 20 Intuit Developer Questions - I like the idea of doing a top X FAQ blog post regularly. As an API provider you should also have a dedicated FAQ page, but grabbing the top questions, and publishing on the blog regularly can help get the word out!
I am hoping that the API podcasts that have emerged keep it up, and new one's continue to emerge:
- APIs Uncensored - Another episode from SmartBear on their APIs Uncensored podcast. They had Tony Tam over from Swagger, for a very interesting conversation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is always a fun look at a possible future:
Some stories from the world of connected automobiles:
A few moves this week on the banking front:
An interesting enough API launching in the online billing space:
One area I will profile deeper in coming weeks is calendaring:
Always good stuff to cover in the world of city government operations:
- 5 Modes of Civic Engagement in Civic Tech - Some important insight on what it means to be doing civic tech.
- Case Study: On the Go - Insights into Food Truck Regulation in US Cities - Several areas that are interesting. Food trucks yum! Also regulation in U.S. cities. This is one of those areas that open data and APIs by default in cities can have a big economic impact.
- Chicago crime data with Turf - I'm always a sucker for a cool story about using public data, especially when it involves mapping, and the growing area of police and crime data.
- Improving Cities by Investing in Next-Generation Internet - I keep an eye on net neutrality, connectivity, and network stories, but only sometimes share them in weekly update. As APIs are the next evolution in Internet, these types of partnerships, and discussions are important.
- Free Wi-Fi On Buses Offers A Link To Future Of 'Smart Cities' - This is the way it should be! Screw the telcos, and cities should invest in the Internet their citizens deserve, while also building out vital infrastructure. Sorry, the telcos just do not have this type of imagination.
- Small City Tackles Big Data: Reading, PA - Every city should be doing this, which is why I have to showcase any new city that gets lit up. -- Thanks Socrata.
Lots of things to watch in the cloud computing wars:
The container movement always has interesting stories and players:
Just keeping the API and copyright conversation going:
Like net neutrality, cybersecurity wil continue to leak onto m weekly roundup:
- The Democratization of Cyberattack - All the cybersecurity rhetoric is like a train or car wreck for me, I can't help but tune in and be captivated by the 1984-esque tone of it all.
Data continues to lead the API conversation:
- As the “quantified self” industry explodes, who will control the data — us or them? - Oh man, so many great questions as the Silicon Valley religion fades, and we are left with sifting through the reality.
- Data and Goliath's Big Idea - Deep thoughts from the leader in security. Understanding the nuance of security, not just the hype. Adding to my reading list...
- How Open Data Can Change Pakistan - A look at the fringe of what open data and tech can do.
- Best time to visit DMV - A pretty relevant, and useful view of what open data can do to impact our everyday life.
- Once Upon a Dataset: Data Storytelling in New York City - Storytelling + Civic = win in my book. We need more of this.
- Watch Hilary Mason discredit the cult of the algorithm - I love watching things like this unfold. Someone I really respect, but have stopped tuning into because of the commercial aspects of their world--now I'm paying attention again, because they are preaching the truth. ;-)
- Sunshine and shadows: Statehouses tackle open records laws in 2015 - Some important state by state movement on the open data front. Gotta love the work the Sunlight Foundation does.
- Views of Government Policies Since Start of Great Recession - An interesting walk back through the history of data and the economy
- If Data Sharing is the Answer, What is the Question? - Wait what? We have to stop and ask critical questions along the way? Yes, yes, and yes!!!
- Chicago crime data with Turf - I'm always a sucker for a cool story about using public data, especially when it involves mapping, and the growing area of police and crime data.
- Monitr Announces Finance API for Economic Trend Analysis - How do we understand the fintech space? Another take...
- After Sunlight FOIA, comprehensive data indexes arrive on Data.gov - I did not fully understand Sunlight Foundation role in all of this happening. Something you do not hear about on the gov side of discussion, but for shows the important role FOIA plays in the movement forward.
- Announcing Data for Everyone: Our New Free, Open Data Library - Lots of things swirling around here. Will have to dive deeper and understand what is going on at Crowdflower.
- How Not To Do Open Data - More critical thought on all the open data efforts. I feel like we are finally getting to a healthy point with al of this.
- In a step towards sunlight, United States begins to publish a national data inventory - More movement, and perspective from the DC king of gov scrutiny. Still think we have a lot of work to do in making sense of bigger picture, across all this data being released.
Always like covering the nextgen databases like Ochestrate, but cloud blueprints is interesting too:
You won't see DNA too often in roundup (I hope):
Interesting DNS, while doing Internet at global scale:
Embeddable is still critical to API integrations:
- Embed Twitter-hosted video on your website - Ok. Twitter investing on th embeddable front. Just when I'm about to de-emphasize some of the embeddable research I'm doing, a big player like Twitter steps up and makes another investment. #value
- Google Maps API Checker Uncovers Mapping API Problems - This is interesting, because they made an API to help debug and solve the problems faced when using their embeddable, JS API. I think this is something other providers of embeddable JS APIs should consider. Paying attention to what pioneers like Google Maps API are up to is important.
- Twitter introduces video embeds for sites - Just a little outside perspective on what Twitter is up to with their new investment in the embeddable space.
An encryption story to keep an eye on:
I wish there were more environment related API stories available:
As usual the federal government is dominating, or maybe its because I'm obsessed with the area:
- Interagency Public Land Groups Partner to Make Recreation Data More Accessible, User Friendly - Important movement on the parks and recreation API work I've been railing on. I haven't fully digested this news, but it was sent to me directly from PR folks at the Department of Interior.
- House of Representatives Places an Order for Legislative Data Transparency - This kind of movement makes me optimistic for actual change in what happens behind closed doors of government. #justalittle
- As FTC adds encryption to its website, government remains unsure on corporate use - Conflicts in the encryption conversation at the federal government level.
- How Open Data Can Change Pakistan - A look at the fringe of what open data and tech can do.
- Sunshine and shadows: Statehouses tackle open records laws in 2015 - Some important state by state movement on the open data front. Gotta love the work the Sunlight Foundation does.
- The API Briefing: Practicing Safe App Development with Secure Federal APIs
- Views of Government Policies Since Start of Great Recession - An interesting walk back through the history of data and the economy
- After Sunlight FOIA, comprehensive data indexes arrive on Data.gov - I did not fully understand Sunlight Foundation role in all of this happening. Something you do not hear about on the gov side of discussion, but for shows the important role FOIA plays in the movement forward.
- Government Agencies Turn to IFTTT to Make APIs Accessible - Ok, this is important. I can't believe I haven't written about it early on, but will just be happy that IFTT is supporting gov. Zapier made the move to make their TOS gov ready a while back. All of it equates into more reciprocity in federal government, driven by APIs.
- In a step towards sunlight, United States begins to publish a national data inventory - More movement, and perspective from the DC king of gov scrutiny. Still think we have a lot of work to do in making sense of bigger picture, across all this data being released.
Couple of financial related items:
I am reminded of how important FOIA is, and will continue to be, in the work I do:
This was an interesting piece from the world of forms:
APIs will continue to evolve in gaming sector this year:
More amazing GitHub lessons:
A couple of interesting hackathons occuring:
GE shows it is interested in the healthcare space:
Adding to my history of compute archives:
Some fun and distrubing thoughts from the connected home:
An idea I had this week, that generated some great conversation:
Identity related products I'm researching better:
Of course, more Internet of Things (IoT) stories:
- Google Play Services 7.0 Adds APIs For Detecting Places And Connecting To Nearby Devices, Improves On Mobile Ads, Fitness Data, Location Settings, And More - Bridges many elements of this weeks news, but I think its local connectivity is most significant. Especially when it comes to other gaming efforts.
- Transparency, immediacy and productivity: How IoT will rock your biz - Fuck yeah!! Woooooo!! IoT Rocks! Interesting take on the shit unfolding.
- SMART bus driver helps lost child - Thank gawd for smart buses! Saving children. ;-)
- Fridge caught sending spam emails in botnet attack - I have never trusted refrigerators. it makes sense that they would give in to radicalization.
- Developer Seeks Arduino Robotics API Funding - Interesting cross-section of APIs, robotics, and monetization...
- If you want access to future Dropcam features, you’ll need a Nest account - is not just about a smart thermostat or a camera watching you, they are in collusion. Keep an eye out, because our home systems are working together against us! ;-0
- Salesforce1 Lightning Components – Working with Controllers - Once mastered the work environment using SalesForce, it makes sense that I would extend this success to my home.
- New Release of Eclipse Paho and Eclipse Mosquitto Continue Momentum of the Growing Open Source IoT Community and MQTT - Ok, lots of relevant things come out of the Eclipse Foundation...staying in tune.
- Introduction To The IBM IoT Foundation - Part of the tuning in. We have a foundation for IoT. Cause nothing says we are all in, like a foundation!
- New IoT Mode Conditions - From the side of IoT where we are just talking about possibilities around IoT, we head over to Temboo, where they actually do shit with connecting devices to the Internet.
- Solar Panel System Monitoring Device Using Arduino - Gotta connect your solar panels to the Internetz. The sun gods require it!
- Using Cheap Displays With The Raspberry Pi - You will keep finding simple Rapberry Pi stories in my IoT section, because it is the center of much of the real exploration going on.
- Tim O’Reilly: Silicon Valley is massively underestimating the impact of IoT (interview) - Always need to hear Tim's opinion on things.
- Broadcom’s new Wi-Fi chip turns your phone into an IoT hub - Do I want my phone to be an IoT hub? I guess I do? Or I'll at least keep in tune with those that think we should.
- Khronos unveils Vulcan: API for wearables, computers, cars and drones - Ok, you had me at Vulcan. But I can wear it, it plugs into my car, and my drones! It all makes my head swim.
- SAP inks partnerships to extend Internet of Things services - Cause after you go all in on cloud and API, you have to go all in on IoT. It is how things work.
- The internet of things will rock your business and here’s how
- STMicroelectronics unveils world’s first customizable wireless battery... - Now we can configure our apps, the networks, the devices, and now the batteries. I can get behind that.
A couple of healthy API career options emerged this week:
One of the more mature layers to the API space, mapping:
I keep saying it, keep an eye on Microsoft, and media is the focus this week:
Google dominated the messaging discussion this week:
Couple of microservices conversations I was paying attention to:
Continuing to demonstrate that mobile is top of list for big companies in 2015:
I like stories about API mocking:
Net neutrality crept into my roundup. I track on lots of stories in this area, but they rarely making it into the API conversation:
One of the top, new growth areas for me in the API conversation is networking: