Weekly API.Report For March 16th, 2015

Phew!! This week was hard. I just couldn't find the mojo to plow through, but I did it. A little late on Monday evening, but still so worth doing--putting the week into perspective.

I'm still trying to assess the best balance with what I post as individual news stories on API.Report. I think more of this could be pulled out as actual news stories, but will have to see if I have the time. Overall I am happy with how the weekly API.Report is evolving, but there is so much more I could do.

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 track on a lot of 3D Printing, but few of them are directly API related, finallky one that moves the conversation forward:

• Internet of Things and 3D Printing Creating Paradigm Shift in Field Service Management - Interesting convergence of the Internet of Things and 3D Printing, showing the potential, on the ground around 3D printing. If it is reality, only time will tell, but provides and interesting conversation around the topic. 
• Sharing is Caring: Access Your 3D Files on the Cloud with Sunglass.io - More APIs and platform to support 3D printing conversation, specifically at the 3D file storage and sharing level.

A handful of acquisitions I noticed this week, with one more stroy on last weeks IBM acquisition:

• Amazon Web Services nabs Internet of Things developer platform 2lemetry - Interesting moves by AWS into IoT space--keeping an eye on. 
• Kitematic a Docker GUI joins the Docker family - Dockers view on their Kitematic acquisition. They seem to be on a buying spree lately. Should take a look across all their investments. 
• Twitter snaps up live video streaming app developer Periscope - Boosting their video portfolio with acquisitions from their API ecosystem. 
• IBM Acquires AlchemyAPI to Bolster Watson - Lingering thoughts this week about the IBM acquisition of AlchemyAPI. I still have an open story about this in my notebook, and the impact on my world as an AlchemyAPI customer.

Several interesting API analysis related things I am tracking on:

• Collecting and Analyzing Car Telematics Using Azure and Arduino - An interesting look into cloud, IoT, automobiles, and API analysis. I find the CodeProject to be an interest cross section of the tech space, and specifically API integration. It is heavily MS focused, but provides some other interesting layers to the space. 
• A Glimpse At What I Am Imagining For API Driven Analysis, Visualization, And Beyond · - I thought these guys provide an interesting look at what is to come. I found their approach lacking the simplicity and intuitiveness that is required, but it gives me hope that their better things coming down the pipes with API analysis and visualization. 
• Introducing Splunk Light: The Power of Splunk for Small IT Environments - The price tag of Splunk has been a limiting factor in my own usage of platform. They have had an entry level solution for a while, but it is good to see a lite version emerge.
• .Modeling Language and REST API Make Advanced Analytics Easy in Web - Another take on the RASON modeling language and API. I'm still wrapping my head around the potential, and as as many takes on what it is, is valuable. 
• A Glimpse At What I Am Imagining For API Driven Analysis, Visualization, And Beyond - I want to see more open tooling like this in the space.

Some API definition stories from me this week:

• Crafting Exactly The API Definition You Need With Swagger Vendor Extensions · - Swagger vendor extensions were new to me, so I wanted to share the fact that they existed, in case you thought Swagger wasn't extensible. I will be using, and adding to the spec where it makes sense. 
• What is ALPS? · - I'm working to better understand ALPS, and paying attention to conversations going on around it. What Mike and Mark are working on is important, and i just need to find some entry level use cases to help onboard people.

Some serious API deployment movement this week, with a couple of new offerings:

• OpenLegacy Releases Open Source API as Modernization Solution - OpenLegacy offers a compelling story -- connecting the legacy systems to this new API world. Time will tell if they can deliver. 
• Zend Plans to Add Middleware Stack for APIs Built Using PHP - Makes sense as a net logical step for Zend, and I know many PHP folks are heavily invested in Zend already for some API integrations. 
• EMF-REST : now with data validation, security and full RESTful support - A pretty interesting API design and deployment release. I have to get a better handle on their approach, but looks pretty sophisticated, and something I will be keeping any on throughout my research. 
• Transitory APIs: Intentionally Building APIs That Can Go Away At Anytime · - Some fun I am having in my own infrastructure with deploying APIs, that changes the way I look at APIs. 
• Introducing a new Quickstart Wizard in APISpark - Nice way to reduce friction with folks wanting to deploy APIs. APISpark is definitely leading the mainstream API deployment conversation in 2015. 
• OpenLegacy Launches First Open-Source API Platform for Automated Legacy IT Modernization and Integration - Just covering the news, and marking the data OpenLegacy emerged on the scene, so I can track on the history of their offerings.

Some approahces to API Deprecation:

• Facebook Offers Graph API 1.0 Retirement Advice - An interesting look at communicating around the deprecation of older APIs, and helping users migrate to the newer version.

Mostly my own API design thoughts this week:

• Augmenting A Read Only API With AN External POST, PUT, And DELETE · - I am exploring the concept of augmenting someone elses API design with your own interpretation. Not just adding VERBS, but also changing other aspects of the API surface area. 
• Facebook Applies Versioning Strategy to Marketing API - Interesting look at moving fast and breaking things over at Facebook with versioning schedules for their API. 
• Targeting Some APIs In My Stack For House Cleaning And Maybe Some Design Iterations - More of my desire to evolve, and change some of the API designs I come across. Not that I'm right and they are wrong, it is just because I'm OCD.

Again, mostly my own stories, but a handful of API discovery items this week:

• Postman Collections As Unit Of Measurement For Transactions In The API Economy · - I had a realization over the week, while working more with Postman, and adding their collections as an API property type for APIs.json. What they offer is much more than just API discovery, it is about measuring the potential of the API economy. 
• Making The API Feedback Loop Machine Readable With APIs.json - An offshoot of my API discovery work, with my API communication proposal for api-conversations. I'm trying to make the conversations that occur around APIs machine readable and portable -- we will see how it works. 
• Microsoft Convergence: Discover RESTful Microsoft APIs - An interesting roundup, and look at Microsoft APIs from Cloud Elements. 
• Postman Collections Will Take Your API Productivity To The Next Level - I'm organizing some of my API stacks into Postman Collections, and I am beginning to see more potential when it comes to API design, and integration.

A wide variety of API evangelism stories:

• Why Amazon forces its developers to write press releases (AMZN) - I can behind this type of effort, bringing developers out from behind the firewall curtain, and make them more accountable for their work. 
• Slowly Adding The People Layer To The API Evangelist Network · - My thoughts on expanding my platform, adding API evangelist personalities, and other human aspects of the API industry. 
• Why API Developer Experience Matters More Than Ever - Tbe all important DX conversation, making this just as much about the developers as it is about the API itself.

API integration related stories, with commerce taking over:

• Application Performance Management vs. API Performance Monitoring - API performance continuing its presence in the API integration conversation. 
• Intuit integrates with Bigcommerce, Shopify in ecommerce push - Direct integration between your commerce platform and your account platform makes sense--seamless commerce. 
• SmartBear Announces Support for Integrated GUI and API Testing - SmartBear continuing their push for more API testing, and providing the tooling people need. 
• Magento Percentage Tier Pricing (Magento Extensions)  - Another magento integration showcased on CodingProject.
• Magento Shipping Restriction (Magento Extensions) - Interesting commerce focused extensions for Magento. 
• One Step Checkout (Magento Extensions) - And one last commerce focused extensions for Magento. 
• SoapUI Open Source 5.1.2 Refresh - Thanks for keeping the open source version up to date -- so very important. 
• Stripe Complete for WordPress and WooCommerce (WooCommerce) - Some more API driven commerce and payment connectivity. 
• Postman Collections Will Take Your API Productivity To The Next Level - I'm organizing some of my API stacks into Postman Collections, and I am beginning to see more potential when it comes to API design, and integration.

Some interesting shifts, and additions in the world of API management:

• AdroitLogic Releases APIDirector for API Management - Another entry into the world of API management service providers--curious to see how they size up against the old timers. ;-) 
• Making The API Feedback Loop Machine Readable With APIs.json - An offshoot of my API discovery work, with my API communication proposal for api-conversations. I'm trying to make the conversations that occur around APIs machine readable and portable -- we will see how it works. 
• Manage your APIs with the new IBM Bluemix Service - Keeping any on the offerings coming out of IBM. I'm not 100% on how they all fit together, or into the overall API space, but I keep tracking on until it all comes together for me. 
• SOA Software Broadens Platform, Changes Name to Akana - OG SOA API platform decides it is no longer cool to be SOA, and changes name to something kool! ;-) Makes me ponder what I will be changing API Evangelist to? 
• Blacklisting JSON Web Token API Keys - JSON Web Tokens as API keys are fast becoming something to pay attention when securing your APIs. 
• Facebook Applies Versioning Strategy to Marketing API - Interesting look at moving fast and breaking things over at Facebook with versioning schedules for their API. 
• Securing Web.API Requests With JSON Web Tokens - Supporting my other thoughts on JSON web tokens, and an integrtation example over at CodeProject. 
• Ask The Stack When You Need API Support - Some thoughts I had on using Stack Overflow, which brought some interesting feedback from fellow evangelist, Jeremiah Lee about the pros / cons of this approach. More stories to come... 
• What Exactly Does Your API Do? · - Some pretty basic API management advice, but I feel compelled to keep telling in 100 different ways.

Thinking I'll keep breaking API monitoring, out of integration stories:

• Application Performance Management vs. API Performance Monitoring - API performance continuing its presence in the API integration conversation. 
• API Performance in a Consumer-Driven World - SmartBear selling the need for API performance in their webinars.

I can usually count on Zapier for one good API reciprocity story a week:

• Supercharge Google Calendar: 30 Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Add-Ons - I use Zapier as a metric for where cloud integration and interoperability is. The areas they showcase are based upon some pretty real-world examples of how people need to move things around using APIs.

Like montoring, I will keep breaking out API testing stories into their own category:

• Testing and Documenting Node.js APIs with Mocha and Acquit - Keep an ear to the ground on how different people are approaching testing, and documentation. 
• How to run Selenium from TestComplete in 6 Simple Steps - I need to spend more time learning about how to apply Selenium in a world of APIs--I've used in other dev environments, but not applied to API world.

I can usually find some API visualizations related stories, even it is more visualizaiton than just API:

• Multi-layered storytelling with visualization - You had me at multi-layered, but storytelling and visualizations!! I really want to immerse myself in this world of historical data design. 
• Visualize Your Cloud Presence Using Mohiomap · - Cool visualization tools I'm adding to my research. 
• 10 Examples of Captivating Data Visualization - I need an API visualization design guide, to help me see the future! ;-) 
• Girl Scout cookies differ by region - See, we are solving the most important problems facing the world with open data. <3 Flowing Data. 
• Visualize Your Cloud Presence Using Mohiomap - My thoughts on Mohiomap, and example of other areas of API driven visualization I'm talking about.

Thought this was a very cool nod in the world of architecture:

• 21 Ways Architects Can Work Smarter, Not Harder - I thought this was an interesting reference from the world of architecture, showing APIs as a competitive advantage.

Anything art related I can sneak in:

• Google releases Chrome extension that replaces blank tabs with works of art - I just thought this was clever use of digital space, and recommend to the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) that they do it with their API driven collection.

Two automobiles, API, and data related items:

• Collecting and Analyzing Car Telematics Using Azure and Arduino - An interesting look into cloud, IoT, automobiles, and API analysis. I find the CodeProject to be an interest cross section of the tech space, and specifically API integration. It is heavily MS focused, but provides some other interesting layers to the space. 
• Connected Car Data For EVERYONE - Carvoyant is leading not just the automobile API conversation, but also IoT in my opinion.

Business of APIs is always a good catch-all bucket:

• Livefyre Studio Joins Elite Twitter Certified Program - When joining an API partner program is worthy of a press release. #realdeal 
• The Mobile Surge -- Why CTOs Need to Think About APIs Before Websites - A pretty standard story, but something I like to collect, to hear how APis are being evangelized to the masses. 
• We Are Akana - From the horses mouth, on why they changed their name. Interesting. 
• The API Journey Or What Is the Point of an API, By Tony Hirst (@psychemedia) · - Some thoughts for Tony about why APIs are about the journey, and rarely about the tech. I dig his ability to see through the bullshit when it comes to APIs and open data--always working to make sense. 
• Open Platform is Key to Success for Intuit as QuickBooks Online Nears 1M Subscribers | Blog | Intuit Developer - Intuit shares some insight on how their open platform is key to their success and growth. 
• What’s the Point of an API? - Great question (and answer) Tony. Dig these types of exploration. So important.

Putting any interesting API related job posts under what I call careers:

• Platform API Software Engineer at RateSetter - Nod to the financial space. Your next career move? 
• Principal Orchestration Engineer at Verizon in San Jose, California - Principal Orchestration Engineer - Holy Shit!! -- I want that title over API Evangelist. That just sounds cool, up until the word Verizon. 
• Software Engineer Junior | NetCarreiras - Junior levels skills too. Yo! 
• SDN Software Engineer at Verizon in Irving, Texas - Echoing what I'm seeing in the explosion of SDN related products, stories, and more. APIs penetrating all aspects of the technology stack. 
• API Relations Specialist Details Rates - Another new one for me--API relations specialist. I can get behind because it is relationship focused. 
• Palo Alto API Principal Product Manager Job - CA, 94301 - Lots of levels here. Finance. The City. The Title. API is what you need to know these days. 
• User Interface Developer at Pearl Capital Business Funding (New York... - Ok, I'm sensing a theme -- financial API jobs are where it is at.

A small CDN related nuggest from AWS:

• New – Amazon CloudFront Signed Cookies for Private Content - More CDN security joojoo from AWS. I wish I had an Identity Evangelist to help me keep track of the nuances of the identity layer to the API world.

I call it city government, but put anything API, and data related to city operations here:

• City Of Cambridge - View Job Listing - Could be in careers, but was city focused so I thought I'd include in the overall city conversation and what municipalities should be looking to do. 
• Talking Smart Cities with Dr. Anthony Townsend (Part 2) - Interested in hearing what Temboo is up to when it comes to IoT and smart cities.

Always several cloud computing items to talk about betwwen AWS, Microsoft, and Google:

• Fuel your hungry applications with our new, larger virtual machines - Another entry in the cloud computing battles. 
• New – AWS API Activity Lookup in CloudTrail | AWS Official Blog - Overlay into the security realm from cloud computing. I need to understand this better in context of my own infrastructure -- APIs on AWS. 
• Google Cloud Nearline Adds Low-Cost, Quick Access Storage - Google stepping it up in the low cost cloud storage front, taking on AWS and Microsoft on all fronts! 
• Google Cloud Platform Blog: Introducing Google Cloud Storage Nearline: (near)online data at an offline price - The official announcement from Google on their move in the cloud storage arena. Cloud compute and storage is something the big companies will keep battling to the bottom. 
• Public vs. private cloud: Price isn’t enough - I keep close track on math related to cloud and API pricing--the thinking behind pricing is always extremely valuable in future discussions.

Two items standing out specifically dealing with cloud storage:

• How Dropbox can help you stay calm, cool, and collected while traveling - Sorry, I am a sucker for these little tidbit stories. 
• Online storage company Box is tanking on its first-ever earnings report (BOX) - Noooo Box!! It is so hard to grow up and IPO. IPA? API? I still like Box.

Didn't quite know how to categorize this one, so simply tagged as code:

• There's an Algorithm for That: Algorithmia Helps You Find It - Ok. Its a code sharing site. I think it has potential, if the API can be leveraged to deploy microservices. #foodforthought
• APIEmbed by Mashape - It is a client side code generator, I kind of think calling it APIEmbed is a little misleading, but it is worthy of showcasing, because it is pretty nicely done.

Magento integrations was a big part of the commerce stories:

• Intuit integrates with Bigcommerce, Shopify in ecommerce push - Direct integration between your commerce platform and your account platform makes sense--seamless commerce. 
• Magento Percentage Tier Pricing (Magento Extensions)
• Magento Shipping Restriction (Magento Extensions) - Interesting commerce focused extensions for Magento. 
• One Step Checkout (Magento Extensions) - And one last commerce focused extensions for Magento. 
• Stripe Complete for WordPress and WooCommerce (WooCommerce) - Some more API driven commerce and payment connectivity. 
• The Ecwid API platform launch attempts to level playing field, - Competition is fierce in what I'd consider the oldest web API sector, pioneered by Amazon, SalesForce, and Ebay.

Not to much worthy enough talking about on the communications front:

• Intro to Web Real-Time Communications [Video] - Always pushing my understanding of the real-time communications layer to APis. WebRTC is changing conversation quickly.

Lighter lod of stories on the containerzation front:

• Kitematic a Docker GUI joins the Docker family - Dockers view on their Kitematic acquisition. They seem to be on a buying spree lately. Should take a look across all their investments. 
• Our one click upgrade from dorm room to Docker – the Kitematic story. - A little history behind the technology and recent acquisition. 
• Docker Online Meetup: Machine, Swarm and Compose. - Hmmmm...online meetup sounds like a good idea if you are as hot as Docker. Not sure it would work for everyone, but a building block worth noting regardless. 
• Tiny Docker Operating Systems - I will be keeping an eye on RancherOS, see where it goes. 
• Docker Vs Rocket: Container Technology » - Rocket is on my list to better understand in comparison to Docker, and other containerization efforts This has helped me a lot. 
• Q&A: Docker's David Messina on why the SocketPlane Acquisition is Important... - I love these backstories. Tells a lot about the motivation behind these moves.

Direct CORS stories isn't always something you see:

• Microsoft Adds CORS Support to Aid JavaScript Development 

The always full list of data related stories I'm tracking on:

• German Startup Campaigns For Personal Data API Law | TechCrunch - I've seen a lot of data movement, and this one has an interesting approach. Will be diving in deeper, talking with them and seeing where I can help. 
• Introducing PYLON and How to Apply CSDL to Facebook Topic Data
• Health data breaches and fines - Some more insight into data breaches, specifically in the healthcare space. I'm going to be keeping tally on these. 
• Marshal your data with entity resolution - I do not follow exactly what is being applied here, but worth saving and reviewing when I dive into data analytics for my research. 
• If ‘Change’ had a favourite number…it would be 2.3 - Some important features with the latest version of CKAN. It is adding in some important API management elements in the latest version. 
• Open Data 500 - I had come across the Open Data 500 again, and wanted to include in roundup, just to keep it floating up in my research. 
• The Anxieties of Big Data - I am enjoying much of the critical analysis of big data lately. Even if I do not agree with everything, I like people asking questions. 
• Splunk and Operational Intelligence come to the G-Cloud - Some thoughts on public sector data from Splunk. Worth evaluating alongside other approaches to opening up data in government. 
• CISL’s Data Support Section to collaborate on “Big Data” project | Computational Information Systems Laboratory - A project to keep an eye on, but also some kick ass data visualizations. I love this kind of evolution in how we use data to make sense of our world, not the big data bullshit coming out of Silicon Valley. 
• Collect and verify mobile reports - I enjoy learning about any approaches to data out of development seed, but also the mobile gathering aspect is pretty interesting too. 
• Introducing Splunk Light: The Power of Splunk for Small IT Environments - The price tag of Splunk has been a limiting factor in my own usage of platform. They have had an entry level solution for a while, but it is good to see a lite version emerge. 
• Open Knowledge Russia: Experimenting with data expeditions - I enjoy learning from other open data efforts, especially those in other countries, and pushing emerging market land. 
• Sketching Out a Python / pandas Remote Data Access Wrapper for the Nomis API - Anytime I get the story behind an SDK, library or other integration effort I am going to showcase. I love the detail and honesty in these posts. 
• Time To Play Ball With Data - The angle of this seems a little opportunistic and chaotic, but I thought it was an interesting look at what is unfolding.

Some of the SDN related talks bleeding over into the data center:

• Open Network API Decouples Network OS from Silicon
• Vapor IO introduces the Open Data Center Runtime Environment - I don't even know what a runtime environment would look like for the data center, but I have to keep tracking of these and try to connect the dots. 
• Juniper Networks lines up Internet of Things strategy for data centers - I heard about moves from Juniper into this area a while back at a conference, and I think they are savvy enough to understand wher ethings are going.

Two database stories stood out this week for me:

• Employee directory for Windows Phone (Database Abstractions) - This is a pattern I'm interested in seeing in the API space, with small, reusable API patterns 
• FoundationDB Integrates with CenturyLink Cloud - I am not fully up to speed on what FoundationDB is up to, or the services offered by CenturyLink, but I like their blueprint approach, and worthy of recording and digging deeper.

Several education related items that caught my attention:

• OER in Adult Education - I am trying to keep track of open content efforts in the education space. 
• Learning Apps Outstrip School Oversight, and Loss of Student Privacy Is Among the Risks - Intersection of data, privacy, and education. Something I'm compelled to keep an eye on. 
• Building Trust in Online Learning Environments - An area of funding I'm keeping an eye on. Would have had a grant specific area, but it was only one, so putting it under education. 
• Teaching children about Creative Commons Licenses to re-use images - An important lesson for any age, but glad it is being taught to kids. I'm curious what some of the outcomes would be. 
• The 21st Century’s Raw Material: Using Open Data as Open Educational Resources - OKFN is doing some interesting things with not just open data, but content. Content is an under-represented area when it comes to APIs, and is something I'd like to change.

I'll keep an eye on election related stories as we get closer to 2016 here in the US:

• Quick Sketch – Election Maps - I will be tracking on data, analysis, visualization, mapping and other areas in support of elections. I'm all about shaking things up here.

Two encryption related thougths:

• HDMI Splitter is also a Decrypter - For me the lesson here is where the decryption or encryption for that matter can occur. 
• Germany pushes for widespread end-to-end email encryption - I am super excited to be putting on API Days and APIStrat in Berlin this April.

Always makes me happy when there are energy related stories:

• The API Briefing: Fulfilling the D(e)SIRE for Renewable Energy with the Department of Energy’s New API - Data at the Department of Energy represents a huge opportunity for someone to deliver on when it comes to APIs. 
• Why U.S. Energy Could Be the Next Big Data Engine - Opportunity! Opportunity! an area I can definitely see huge growth around doing APIs properly -- energy.

Two sides of the enterprise API conversation:

• The Enterprise Will Make The Same Mistakes With API And Microservices That They Did With SOA, Because Essential API Concepts Go Right Over Their Head · - I know this isn't what the enterprise wants to hear from me, and most of them will dismiss, but its true. You need to internalize before you move forward. 
• Positioning APIs and Services – Let’s End the Confusion - Clearing the air, from the enterprise side of things.

Always lots of activity in the federal government:

• R9 Accelerator - Creative HQCreative HQ - In NZ, government API teams are going through an accelerator programme in partnership with the local entrepreneur and startup community and one of the initiatives is going to be an API marketplace to connect supply and demand for government APIs. 
• API security takes myriad forms - One of thousands of API security conversations that need to occur in government. 
• National Security Archive finds 40% E-FOIA compliance rate in federal government agencies - I am pleased to learn that FOIA has played such a significant role in open data efforts, but agree with Alex that we can do better. 
• Commerce Department names Ian Kalin first chief data officer - Round one Presidential Innovation Fellow Ian Kalin gets named as first Chief Data Officer (CDO) at the Department of Commerce. I STRONGLY believe in Ian as a person, and trust his tech ability, as well as his moral compass to kick ass and take names in this role. #excited 
• US, Canada, and Mexico Collaborate to Improve Open Government and Digital Services - I cannot couch for the details, but I have to get behindany interoperability efforts in North American government. 
• Data, Code, and API Event Round Up - Good to see regular coverage coming out of news outlets. 
• The API Briefing: Fulfilling the D(e)SIRE for Renewable Energy with the Department of Energy’s New API - Data at the Department of Energy represents a huge opportunity for someone to deliver on when it comes to APIs. 
• New Zealand Government Launches API Portal for Businesses - Important coverage of API efforts going on in New Zealand. I've been talking with folks don their for a while, and they aren't just listening to what we are doing, they are taking a lead in some areas. 
• DigitalGov Monthly Theme: How Data and Code Improve Government Services - Important roundup of what is going on in federal government around APIs and open data. The stories are important, but the roundups are too, helping busy executives stay up to date. 
• Labor Category Descriptions for Agile Procurements - This type of leadership is what government should be about. This isn't just a dataset, and existing work that government can use, anyone can. Government should produce this type of work for anything it does. This is what our taxpayers dollars should be paying for. 
• OpenGov Voices: Lessons learned from Mexico's procurement process - Learning about open data beyond just what we are doing in the US.

The financial world is continuing to heat up with API conversations:

• Emergent Fintech Public Index - A set of data points we can use to track on fintech. 
• TradeKing Media - Taking Live Collaboration for Traders to the Next Level - Interesting how this is being sold. APIs are definitely a competitive advantage in the financial trading space. 
• 5 Reasons Citizens Want You to Invest in Financial Transparency - This kind of talk helps build the case for why we should support what Socrata is doing. 
• Financial Institutions of the future: Digital, virtual and omnipresent - I am all about exploring the future of banking. What will it look like? How will we get there? 
• We’ve Come a Long Way – Programming and Valuation - "A quick search on the internet for finance APIs yields hundreds of APIs full of useful technical details" -- I like that, but is also pretty scary.

Another interesting view on using GitHub:

• Social Blogging for Developers built on top of the GitHub API - I am always interested in seeing different approaches to using Github. Some interesting takes from AirPair.

Handful of hackathons stories:

• Facebook to Host a Marketing API Hackathon - It is always interesting to see why Facebook throws hackathons -- where they are encouraging development. 
• Table Numbers & Mega Hackathons - And from the hackathon authorities... 
• WorldMate Wearable Hackathon - Innovation in Every Interaction - Only including this because of title: Innovation in Every Interaction - FUCK YEAR!! Everything I do is innovation.

Appled fueled healthcare stories:

• mPowering the Apple ResearchKit: How Max Little put a Parkinson’s app on the iPhone - Some big promises, but can we deliver? 
• Apple updates developer guidelines to safeguard health and fitness data - Ok, probably pretty important. Will it set the tone for the space? 
• The most important API you’ve never heard of « Rock Health - A look into the growing API healthcare space. I really need someone to step up and start owning the growth of APIs and healthcare, as it is a pretty fast moving world, and something I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around. 
• Health data breaches and fines - Some more insight into data breaches, specifically in the healthcare space. I'm going to be keeping tally on these. 
• HealthTap Announces RateRx, the world’s first large-scale resource for medication ratings by doctors - Doctor crowdsourced? Interesting approach...how many are influenced by pharmaceutical companies? 
• Apple ResearchKit Promises To Revolutionize Medical Research - Just gotta throw in PW opinion... 
• Most people are happy to share their personal health data with advertisers - Disturbing, but so true. Not sure how to educate people properly on this subject.

One item to add to my history of tech stories:

• The Abandoned Microwave Towers That Once Linked... - I just thought this was an interesting look into how are world used to be connected, as we take for granted the Internet we have.

API related talk in the home:

• Marvell Targets Apple's HomeKit With IoT SDK - Just keeping a track on who is playing in the home IoT space... 
• Integrations: Why It’s Important for Our Product, Why It’s Important for Real People - I was moved...into sharing... 
• KITT And The Smart Home CAN Get Along - Painting a picture of the landscape at Carvoyant.

One hypermedia discussion to note:

• How to Use Hypermedia APIs to Deliver HTML With Adaptive Web Design - More hypermedia lessons to learn from...

Infrastructure conversations out of Netflix are often worth showcasing:

• Can Spark Streaming survive Chaos Monkey? - I just love the work coming out of Netflix. I feel in the long run it is more important than anything that could have come from the public API.

Some crossover with other areas in the world of Internet of Things:

• Juniper Networks lines up Internet of Things strategy for data centers - I heard about moves from Juniper into this area a while back at a conference, and I think they are savvy enough to understand wher ethings are going. 
• Amazon Web Services nabs Internet of Things developer platform 2lemetry - Interesting moves by AWS into IoT space--keeping an eye on. 
• Spinning IoT Data into Recurring Revenue Gold - Not everything I include is an endorsement...more about showing this shit that is published out there. 
• Internet of Things and 3D Printing Creating Paradigm Shift in Field Service Management - Interesting convergence of the Internet of Things and 3D Printing, showing the potential, on the ground around 3D printing. If it is reality, only time will tell, but provides and interesting conversation around the topic. 
• Google: IoT Can Help The Disabled - InformationWeek - A compelling, and easy sell for the IoT world. I track on these to better understand the spectrum of promises being made. 
• Smart Luggage for the Connected Age - Ok, I am not sure this is a thing. A great story to tell, and nonsense to highlight in the space, but really not something we should be focusing our energy on. 
• SAP Prepares to Take On The Internet of Things, Announces String of New Partnerships - Of course they are. They are also all in on APIs and the cloud. 

Couple of items to note in the legal bucket:

• Adaptation of IBM’s Watson Now Answers Legal Questions - Watson big brain is being turned to answer legal questions -- yes replace all the labels. 
• GitHub Releases Licenses API to Promote Sharing - An interesting push on code licensing from Github, going to dive in more and better understand if a similar approach can be done with APis.

I wish I had more library related items each week:

• My open source career as a systems librarian - I thought this was an interesting profiling of technology behind a library, and would love to learn more about what modern librarians are focusing on. 
• code4lib jobs: Digital Infrastructure Librarian - University of Idaho - Was going to put under careers, but figured it would be good here, showing what a job description looks like for modern libraries. 
• Digitization partnerships with Minnesota Public Libraries - DPLA is rocking it through their partnerships, and building an army of digitally equipped library and museum efforts.

The always interesting concept of machine learning:

• Machine Learning: Device Syncing: Call From Computers and Text From Tablets - Several layers that API can contribute to. We will be seeing more smart API aggregation and syncing solutions emerge. 
• Watson Services Workshop Krakow - Beginning evidence of Watson world domination? eh? Or probably just getting the word out around the world about the Watson APIs.
• Interactive Periodic Table of Machine Learning Libraries - I just like this design, and approach to organizing a library. I'd like to do this with APIs.

Three mapping related items:

• Iteris ClearAg Map Overlay - A cool mapping overlay layer that showed up on my radar. 
• Google Map with JSON - A nice, simple, mapping integration example. 
• Quick Sketch – Election Maps - I will be tracking on data, analysis, visualization, mapping and other areas in support of elections. I'm all about shaking things up here.

TWo interesting items on microservices that I read:

• Each microservice is an independent, autonomous process with no dependency on other microservices - Just a single thought from Mike Amundsen that sparked some thoughts for me.
• Microservices: Avoiding Dumb Pipes - I enjoy hearing everyones definition of what is microservice, and how they talk about the pros and cons.

When it comes to date I'm going to start slicing off open data specific related stories:

• Growing free knowledge through open data - Some wisdom from the biggest platform when it comes to "open" data. 
• Small teams, big ideas: open data ambition runs from start ups to governments - Startup energy in government, and at the World Bank.
• Open Data 500 - I had come across the Open Data 500 again, and wanted to include in roundup, just to keep it floating up in my research.

Movement on the outdoors API front out of the government:

• Open Data for the Outdoors - A nice call to action around the RIDB, and work in federal government around recreation API. 
• mheadd/node-ridb - My man Mark got inspired and build an SDK for the RIDB database. nice! 
• Agencies tap into recreational data - A view, a little closer to the government press side. I'm tracking on all stories I come across, to show the full view of story from all sides.

Always something payment related to discuss:

• PayPal REST API Recurring Payment via Stored Credit Card - An interesting integration with Paypal I thought was worthy of showcasing. 
• MasterCard Expands Services for Small Business Segment with Kabbage Partnership - A payment partnership worth showcasing. Putting under payments, cause I didn't have any other partner stories to work. 
• Apple Pay Now Accepted In Nearly 700K Locations - A line in the sand to track on, so I can user later in research and storytelling in the API payment space. 
• Barclays Payment Gateway Magento (Magento Extensions) - Magento is rock'n it in the commerce and payment related plugins. Not sure if they are doing this, or its the community, but their presence is pretty good. 
• Top Payments APIs: PayPal, Square and Stripe - Roundups are always good. I wish PW would make them machine readable with APIs.json. 
• Stripe Complete for WordPress and WooCommerce (WooCommerce) - Some more API driven commerce and payment connectivity.

Only one entry in the area of policing this week:

• University of Chicago Police Would Have to Open Its Books if Bill Passes - Last week had more policing stories, and I think this came up as part of that. Convergence of open data, policing and transparency.

Politics of APIs is where I put all the politically charged ideas from the week:

• Twitter Chokes Off Meerkat's Access To Its Social Network - BuzzFeed News - I do not know all the details behind this, but sounds like Twitter is up to its usual ecosystem tactics. 
• An Outside-In Approach Will Play A Critical Role In Driving The API Economy · - This is an important aspect of how APIs get done, and how the politics and industry effects of APIs. Lots of outside influences to consider. 
• Augmenting A Read Only API With AN External POST, PUT, And DELETE - This a way of doing APIs from the outside in, something I'll be playing with more when it comes to government APIs.

The growing concern of privacy:

• German Startup Campaigns For Personal Data API Law | TechCrunch - I've seen a lot of data movement, and this one has an interesting approach. Will be diving in deeper, talking with them and seeing where I can help. 
• 'Get your privacy policy down to one page': AVG CEO throws glove down •... - An interesting take on privacy from the CEO vantage point. 
• Google Apps bug revealed names, addresses, and other data about almost 300K people - I keep track of as many of these as I can, just so I can do roundups, and recall in future stories. 
• Internet carriers may be breaching Canadian privacy laws - More of these conversations are going to emerge as things continue to heat up. 
• Data privacy and the business of the internet - An important view from WIthknown on how we maintain control over our data. 
• Privacy – step on the road to trust? - I am tracking on any claim from the enterprise to be privacy focused, so when things going wrong, I have their promises. 
• Your Info Is As Safe With Us As It Is With Your Bank - It is an interesting view on their view of privacy and security, but I thought the title was specifically interesting, and telling of how we'll be talking in coming months about our data privacy. 
• FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Dutch Agency On Privacy Enforcement Cooperation - Lots of inter-governmental work around open data, privacy, and APIs. Good to see happening, but we'll keep an eye on what comes out of it. 
• Learning Apps Outstrip School Oversight, and Loss of Student Privacy Is Among the Risks - Intersection of data, privacy, and education. Something I'm compelled to keep an eye on. 
• The Seven Principles of Human Data Privacy - I like some of the recent privacy stuff coming out of Datasift is pretty well crafted, and comes from a place of wisdom in the space when it comes to social data. 
• Most people are happy to share their personal health data with advertisers - Disturbing, but so true. Not sure how to educate people properly on this subject. 
• Violating an Employer’s Computer Use Restriction Is Not a Federal Crime - That is good. Would be a little scary if this precedent had been set. 
• Germany pushes for widespread end-to-end email encryption - I am super excited to be putting on API Days and APIStrat in Berlin this April.

PubNub is always good for some real-time stories:

• Creating Realtime Updating Data Visualizations with NVD3 - PubNub is feeding right into my other visions of API driven visualizations, but they are doing what they do best -- making it real-time. Nice work. 
• Building a Realtime Statistics Streaming App w/ AngularJS (Pt. 2) - More real-time goodness from PubNub, but this time overlapping with the world of Single Page Apps (SPA)

Reporting stories coming out of SalesForce has caught my attention:

• Displaying Reports in Salesforce1 Using Lightning Components, jQuery Mobile and the Analytics API. - I find the report series out of SalesForce interesting enough to track on, possibly as something other APIs can follow. It crosses over into some of the research I'm doing around API analytics, but not sure where reporting will live overall in my research, yet.

Anything related to scraping and Kimono is worthy of talking about:

• Scraping, Enriching, and Visualizing Data: A CrowdFlower Meet Up - Nice cross pollination between platforms. Using Kimono to enrich data on Crowdflower. 
• Tomato or Tomahto? How Next Caller uses kimono to add pronunciation to caller ID - Kimono definitely inspires some interesting use cases. Scraping is always about solving real world problems -- that is why I think Kimono is such an important tool.

Couple of SDK specific stories were interesting:

• New Optimized SDK For Faster, More Integrated User App Experience - I thought this was interesting enough of an SDK story because it touched on the optimization factor we are hearing in other API integration stories. 
• Announcing General Availability of iOS Offline Sync SDK - Anything offline is worthy of tracking on, but I think sync is also an area you'll see me highlight more in SDK conversation. 
• Introducing the Application Insights SDK for Java - Analytics and insights right in your SDK. Are we working towards smarter SDKs?

Lots of security items this wee, with cross-over from a couple of other areas:

• API security takes myriad forms - One of thousands of API security conversations that need to occur in government. 
• Testing MetaCert’s Security API Service - A security API resource I'm adding to my stack, and will be researching further. 
• Facebook Releases ThreatExchange API Documentation - More movement forward on the ThreatExchange API. I'm on the wait list for it, but haven't gotten any access yet. 
• Threats to Information Integrity - This was a very thought provoking angle to look at security, and specifically around the integrity of information. 
• New – AWS API Activity Lookup in CloudTrail | AWS Official Blog - Overlay into the security realm from cloud computing. I need to understand this better in context of my own infrastructure -- APIs on AWS. 
• Report: 71 percent of orgs were successfully attacked in 2014 - Some dark numbers on what is to come, and a look at the FUD that will be sewn. 
• HDMI Splitter is also a Decrypter - For me the lesson here is where the decryption or encryption for that matter can occur. 
• Health data breaches and fines - Some more insight into data breaches, specifically in the healthcare space. I'm going to be keeping tally on these. 
• IBM Discloses Discovery of Dropbox SDK Vulnerability - I thought it was interesting that this came out of IBM, but also tracking to have in my catalog of vulnerabilities. 
• New – Amazon CloudFront Signed Cookies for Private Content - More CDN security joojoo from AWS. I wish I had an Identity Evangelist to help me keep track of the nuances of the identity layer to the API world. 
• MetaCert steps out from behind its porn-blocking browsers with mobile security API - Another new tool I'm adding to my security research stack. Will dive in and see what they are up to. 
• Messente Announces 2-Step Verification API for Mobile Authentication - Nice to see more solutions stepping up in area of 2-factor authentication. 
• Blacklisting JSON Web Token API Keys - JSON Web Tokens as API keys are fast becoming something to pay attention when securing your APIs. 
• Securing Web.API Requests With JSON Web Tokens - Supporting my other thoughts on JSON web tokens, and an integrtation example over at CodeProject. 
• Venmo adds two-factor authentication and email alerts after security criticism - They didn't handle the communications of this one well, but good to see something came out of it. 
• White House moves WhiteHouse.gov to HTTPS by default, tying privacy to security - Yay White House. 18F is doing well at pushing this across government. 
• API Security Breaches in the News - More data for my research. Keeping an eye on where the breaches are.

Two Single Page Applications (SPA) items:

• AngularJS - The Next Big Thing - A nice overview of AngularJS for those of who haven't been exposed. 
• Building a Realtime Statistics Streaming App w/ AngularJS (Pt. 2) - More real-time goodness from PubNub, but this time overlapping with the world of Single Page Apps (SPA)

Smart watches will probably be tracked on separately from IoT in the future:

• xkcd: Watches - Pretty much...

Single social related items:

• Introducing the MailUp App for Facebook - I do not see as many announcements regarding new apps on Facebook, figured I'd record when I do. Keep track of what is being deployed in this environment.

The hot topic of Software Defined Networking (SDN):

• Microsoft Leads Open Switch Software Effort - I didn't know that Microsoft was in this game, but I guess I will keep an ekye on their open switch software. 
• Broadcom Unveils OpenNSL Platform for Network Switches - Definitely a sign that SDN is moving forward with Broadcom pushing hard in this area. 
• Dell Proposes Open Network Switch Interface - And Dell talking SDN as well, and what they pushing forward with. 
• @Broadcom, I Am Going To Need Your Switches To Support Virtualized Containers So I Can Deploy My Own APIs Too · - My random response to the Broadcom switch. Just a little advice on where they should be taking things. 
• Broadcom opens up switch API library for third-party developers - One other industry source, just to give the story some perspective. 
• SDN Software Engineer at Verizon in Irving, Texas - Echoing what I'm seeing in the explosion of SDN related products, stories, and more. APIs penetrating all aspects of the technology stack.

A story I did on spreadsheets, sparked some interesting discussions, and finds this week:

• Get API Results Into A Google Spreadsheet By Pasting The Following Into A Cell · - A pretty cool approach to connecting API data to spreadsheets. 
• VBA-tools/VBA-Web · GitHub - Someone reminded me of the VBA tooling available for connecting Excel to APIs.I probably should keep a link to it in my research, as it is the OG way to do this. 
• API2Analyst // export - An API to Spreadsheet business intelligence from my API friends working in DC. 
• Going Beyond Excel As A Data Source For API Deployment And Focusing On It As An API Client · - This story kicked off much of the other spreadsheet conversations this week. We need to work on using Excel as client as well datasource for APIs. 
• How to Use the SEMrush API in Google Sheets - Another example of using an API in a Google Spreadsheet from this week. This time in an SEO context.

The important area of transparency:

• National Security Archive finds 40% E-FOIA compliance rate in federal government agencies - I am pleased to learn that FOIA has played such a significant role in open data efforts, but agree with Alex that we can do better. 
• 5 Reasons Citizens Want You to Invest in Financial Transparency - This kind of talk helps build the case for why we should support what Socrata is doing. 
• University of Chicago Police Would Have to Open Its Books if Bill Passes - Last week had more policing stories, and I think this came up as part of that. Convergence of open data, policing and transparency.

An interesting take on how educated about API versions:

• Dude, are you still on YouTube API v2? - A friendly reminder from Youtube about the upcoming deprecation of version of the API.

Wearables will be tracked on separatelky from IoT:

• The future of industrial IoT might be wearables - I can't help but think most of the successful Internet of Things implementations will exist within the industrial and professional landscape, not consumer realm.

Two interesting weather items:

• Iteris ClearAg Field Weather - A weather API with an agriculture focus. 
• Open Weather Data with the Weather Chaser - A valuable view into the world of weather data.

The API for Wikipedia sucked me in this week, and worthy of showcasing the wiki API tech behind it:

• RESTBase docs - I idid not know about RESTBase. I'm looking into adding it to my API deployment and management research. I just need to understand it better.

A handful of Women in Tech stories in my feed this week:

• #WomenInTech: Jessica DeVita of Microsoft - Nice. Way to go Jessica. Happy to see you showcased for your evangelism.
• Give Bay Area girls a head-start in tech - An interesting program for working with AI, in the bay area. 
• Serbian women edit Wikipedia together in new FemWiki project - I like the idea of pockets of women in different countries take control over Wikipedia. 
• Celebrating Rails Girls at SoundCloud - Important support from SoundCloud. Nike work! 

That concludes my report on what I read last week across the API space. I'm still working on pulling together a summary e-newsletter version, allowing people to get an executive summary of what I thought was important from the week--I am hoping it will be available next week. I'm also going to auto-generate some visualizations, and summary counts for each week. I'd like to see a tag cloud, and overall counts to help me understand the scope of news I cover each week.

As I did last week, I'm walking away with a better awareness of what is happening across the space. It isn't enough for me to read all of this API news in isolation, it helps to see it side by side with other news, allowing me to see and understand patterns that I may have missed. 

Thanks for reading. ;-)

 

Updated November 27, 2015: Links were updated as part of switch from Swagger to OADF (READ MORE)