Library Application Program Interfaces
For reasons of serendipity, this seems to have been API week at FGI. We just keep posting stories about APIs. So, here is one more. It's not new, but still a good one:
- Library Application Program Interfaces, By Roy Tennant, TechEssence, July 17th, 2008.
Application Program Interfaces (APIs) are structured methods for one software application to communicate with another. APIs allow programs to interoperate and share data and services in a standard way. Here is a list of library-related APIs that library developers may find useful.Continue reading
The People’s Data
The People’s Data, by Christopher Werth, NEWSWEEK, From the magazine issue dated Mar 9, 2009. "Government should make data openly available and then let outside talent reimagine how it can be used online." See also: Realizing Transparency Through Federal Government APIs, by Andres Ferrate, ProgrammableWeb, March 4th, 2009. Continue reading
A good set of links on the economy
New Economy Analytics, Resources and Alerts, By Marcus P. Zillman, LLRX, March 18, 2009. Some of the links you'll find here are old friends, but you're bound to find at least one or two new ones that will become indespensible. Continue reading
Most Wanted Federal Documents
Show Us the Data: Most Wanted Federal Documents, A Report By Center for Democracy & Technology & OpenTheGovernment.org March 2009 Center for Democracy & Technology. 1 Public Access to All Congressional Research Service Reports 2 Information About the Use of TARP and Bailout Funds 3 Open and Accessible Federal Court Documents Through the PACER System 4 Current Contractor Projects 5 Court Settlements Involving Federal Agencies 6 Access to Comprehensive Information About Legislation and Congressional Actions via THOMAS or Public Access to Legislative Information Service 7 Online Access to Electronic Campaign Disclosures 8 Daily Schedules of the President and Cabinet Officials 9 Personal Financial Disclosures from Policymakers Across Government 10 State Medicaid Plans and Waivers Continue reading
St Louis Fed goes gaga for APIs
And speaking of APIs, I just noticed a post on govdoc-l that the St Louis Fed is now providing APIs for FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and ALFRED (ArchivaL Federal Reserve Economic Data). Here's more information on their API. I hope our programming friends will check out FRED and ALFRED as there's a TON of data there, some going back to 1927! From the St Louis Fed programmer:
"The FRED API accommodates any programming language that can parse XML and communicate with our servers using HTTP. The FRED API is based on the REST web service architecture. REST leverages familiar web technologies. Like a website, the FRED API uses HTTP to receive requests and send responses. Also like a website, the FRED API uses URLs to specify requests. This web service differs from a normal website by sending XML instead of HTML. HTML is a visual medium that's not always strictly formatted and flexible enough for arbitrary data structures. XML allows custom tags and relationships among tags."This is *exactly* how govt agencies should building their Web/data services. Thanks St Louis Fed!! Continue reading