the eBay API the big daddy

ten tips to successful API living ‘ooh they have an API’ – it’s just the start Don’t end up having wasted your time knee deep in documentation with nothing to show for it

‘ooh they have an API’ – it’s just the start

Don’t end up having wasted your time knee deep in documentation with nothing to show for it

1. Get past the first hurdle Get through sign up Track all your logins/tokens Understand any constraints Get basic do’s/don’t Don’t get overwhelmed

Get through sign up

Track all your logins/tokens

Understand any constraints

Get basic do’s/don’t

Don’t get overwhelmed

2. Come up with an idea What user pain-point are you trying to solve? W ant a eBay search for just shoes I’d like to have eBay on my PSP What is the new opportunity your idea allows? eBay is time-sensitive so get contextual information to the bidder Surface misspelled listings which are less likely to be found

What user pain-point are you trying to solve?

W ant a eBay search for just shoes

I’d like to have eBay on my PSP

What is the new opportunity your idea allows?

eBay is time-sensitive so get contextual information to the bidder

Surface misspelled listings which are less likely to be found

3. Decide what you want Do you want content / functionality? FindItems / GetReviewsAndGuides Do you want data / information? GetPopularKWs, ResearchAPI GetDeals, FindPopularItems

Do you want content / functionality?

FindItems / GetReviewsAndGuides

Do you want data / information?

GetPopularKWs, ResearchAPI

GetDeals, FindPopularItems

4. Use the data Makes me an expert I have a hobbyist site and I want to expand it Ham radio seems like a good fit (eBay category id 4670) One API call tells you what products ham radio hobbyists shop for hallicrafters, yaesu, collins, drake, heathkit, ten-tec, elecraft, hammarlund, dentron, gonset, alinco, ameritron, yagi, vibroplex…??

Makes me an expert

I have a hobbyist site and I want to expand it

Ham radio seems like a good fit (eBay category id 4670)

One API call tells you what products ham radio hobbyists shop for

5. Understand inputs and outputs inside out Read up the documentation to make sure you know What to put it – what makes up the call What you get out – what XML do you get?

Read up the documentation to make sure you know

What to put it – what makes up the call

What you get out – what XML do you get?

6. Ask for help Use the forums and support areas Reach out to account managers at eBay by any means. Don’t spend days in documentation

Use the forums and support areas

Reach out to account managers at eBay by any means.

Don’t spend days in documentation

7. Focus on the integration Best integration are sometimes the simplest Tight integration using your look and feel Make the most of what we give you Trade off effort versus reward constantly

Best integration are sometimes the simplest

Tight integration using your look and feel

Make the most of what we give you

Trade off effort versus reward constantly

8.Keep updated API schemas change – despite all hopes otherwise Keep looped in with the developer program for new releases and version control If something breaks – we’ve probably changed something

API schemas change – despite all hopes otherwise

Keep looped in with the developer program for new releases and version control

If something breaks – we’ve probably changed something

9.Don’t worry if you have no skills Got an idea but no idea what to do? Hire someone – rentacoder, your brother etc Make sure they know what you want and how to get it Match the tool to level of experience Editor Kit  RSS  Shopping API

Got an idea but no idea what to do?

Hire someone – rentacoder, your brother etc

Make sure they know what you want and how to get it

Match the tool to level of experience

Editor Kit  RSS  Shopping API

10. Do something new “ I’ve got this great idea – it’s a google maps and eBay mashup” Be first to market. Exploit new developments with other APIs and technology eBay Translation eBay Twitter alerts eBay Depreciatr

“ I’ve got this great idea – it’s a google maps and eBay mashup”

Be first to market.

Exploit new developments with other APIs and technology

eBay Translation

eBay Twitter alerts

eBay Depreciatr