Call it capitalist communitarianism: Some of the Net's biggest businesses have found a way to tap the open source model without giving away the store. The secret is a software protocol called an application program interface. An API is a published set of programming hooks that lets you interact directly with a company's open servers. In other words, you can mine company databases for free.
A new series by tech publisher O'Reilly explains how to use APIs to extract information from Amazon, eBay, and Google. The best part: There's no need to consult your Perl manual - these books offer dozens of handy scripts to automate tasks such as searching archives, product listings, and auctions in progress.
Exploiting APIs is not only legal, it's encouraged. True, many would say that letting users mine data is a bold step for a business to take: An API can attract more traffic to a Web site - and more traffic usually equals more revenue - but it carries the inherent risk you take any time you let strangers mess with your databases.
APIs remain a tough sell in many executive suites. Microsoft, which disclosed its Windows protocols only after being issued a court order, is said to be building an API for its online knowledge bases, with the hope of making it easy to find solutions to tasks without plowing through thousands of pages. But that's just a plan - it hasn't happened yet.
Still, if you've got the inclination - and enough skill to build a homepage - there's plenty out there for you to play with.
Amazon Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools, by Paul Bausch
Time-saver (page 123): Ready to sell your old books? A simple script lists titles you purchased from Amazon that currently have buyers on the site's Marketplace.
Dirty trick (page 126): Undercut the competition by gathering the highest, lowest, and average prices other sellers are charging.
eBay Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools, by David A. Karp
Time-saver (page 32): Make shopping more efficient. With a single click, this code finds auctions similar to the one you're looking at.
Dirty trick (page 316): Boost your cred with a script that reciprocates positive ratings posted about you. It also tosses in a few words of praise, such as "Quick to pay, friendly emails."
Google Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools, by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest
Time-saver (page 284): Menu-planning made easy. Type in the contents of your refrigerator to find recipes online that match the ingredients.
Dirty trick (page 225): No need to actually read books. This script returns a list of the top 10 titles bloggers are linking to and relevant Google News stories.
PLAY
Burton's Big Adventure
The Wall of Fame
A Kavalier & Clay Production
Google & Co. to Hackers: Come On In!
READ ME: The Travels of Marco Polo, by Marco Polo
Unplugged
New Gun in Town
What Would Jesus Play?
Chip Hop Shopping
Peek-a-Booth
Reviews
