Creating a program for API, has anyone done it?

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:21

I'm not really sure if creating a program to interface with an API is the correct terminology but has anyone ever done it, is it something the laymen can do?

I've never done anything like that before so I'd literally be starting from cold - too much hassle?

Does anyone here create interfaces/apps for APIs that could lend some assistance, and potentially I could lend them my wallet if need be!

Inquisitor · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:28

Do you mean you want to create an API to your app for other developers to use, or is there already an API for some other app out there that you want to use in your own app?

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:31

There's an API that I want to use, not create the API, sorry.

Inquisitor · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:40

Well that's a fairly straightforward task then

Just build your app as you would and incorporate the necessary parts of the API to make it do what you want it to. An API is essentially just a library of tools for you to use as you wish. I'm assuming you already have the relevant programming language and its own libraries under your belt, of course; if not, you'll need to learn that first!

Tilluss · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:41

Bleek said:
There's an API that I want to use, not create the API, sorry.

Depending on the application there is normally some sort of documentation on how to use it, but it depends what it is and what your trying to achieve.

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 08:44

Inquisitor said:
Well that's a fairly straightforward task then

Just build your app as you would and incorporate the necessary parts of the API to make it do what you want it to. An API is essentially just a library of tools for you to use as you wish. I'm assuming you already have the relevant programming language and its own libraries under your belt, of course; if not, you'll need to learn that first!

I have the documentation for the API and as you say it's just load of scripts and commands/inputs.

I've never programmed in my life.

Is this task something to be outsourced then?

Inquisitor · 21 Jan 2011 at 09:02

If you're on a schedule, then yes, it probably is! Learning to program is not something you can do overnight.

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 09:06

Inquisitor said:
If you're on a schedule, then yes, it probably is! Learning to program is not something you can do overnight.

Would it be costly to get someone to create an app to interface with an API or is that a how long is the piece of string kind of question?

I guess I'd just have to show the person the API documentation and they'd have to work it out from there?

Not sure I want to learn how to program!

slylittlefox · 21 Jan 2011 at 09:19

Depends on what your idea of costly is

I'm studying for my MSc in Computer Science and always looking for projects to earn a bit of money on - get in touch if you'd like to have a chat (e-mail in trust).

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 09:53

slylittlefox said:
Depends on what your idea of costly is

I'm studying for my MSc in Computer Science and always looking for projects to earn a bit of money on - get in touch if you'd like to have a chat (e-mail in trust).

Let me think of how best to explain what I need, I'll probably draw a few diagrams, and fire over an email with the API doc. Give me a day or two and then see what you think, thanks.

Dj_Jestar · 21 Jan 2011 at 11:35

Don't attempt to get everything right/in up-front in one document or whatever. Collaborate with your developer as frequently as you can afford to. It is something you want, after all, so why not be there as much as possible to make sure you get it.

Inquisitor · 21 Jan 2011 at 11:40

Bleek said:
Would it be costly to get someone to create an app to interface with an API or is that a how long is the piece of string kind of question?

The API has relatively little to do with it (unless it's horrendously complicated or badly made and/or has no documentation). What determines how difficult and time-consuming (and thus how expensive) it'll be is what/how much the application should actually do. So yeah, how long is a piece of string?

Bleek · 21 Jan 2011 at 13:18

The application won't actually do a lot, it'll perform a couple of functions (place instant orders) but has to be constantly active and ready to react.

The inputs from the GUI will be pretty simple, you define a few parameters that define the order and commit it.

topbanana · 21 Jan 2011 at 15:19

In that case it should take about four days

Dj_Jestar · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:33

That's far too little information to get any meaningful intent from. What do those parameters represent? What does "doing" that stuff aim at achieving, and most importantly why?

Drumming out technical details to a developer will give you a meaningless result unless they have a very good understanding of why you need it and to what end.

slylittlefox · 21 Jan 2011 at 18:26

topbanana said:
In that case it should take about four days

I hope you're taking the mick! As Dj_jestar has highlighted, it's impossible to put a solid timescale on it with the amount of detail given.

slylittlefox · 21 Jan 2011 at 18:28

Bleek said:
Let me think of how best to explain what I need, I'll probably draw a few diagrams, and fire over an email with the API doc. Give me a day or two and then see what you think, thanks.

Great, look forward to hearing from you