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

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

2. Come up with an idea• What user pain-point are you

trying to solve?– Want 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

hallicrafters, yaesu, collins, drake, heathkit, ten-tec, elecraft, hammarlund, dentron, gonset, alinco, ameritron,

yagi, vibroplex…??

hallicrafters, yaesu, collins, drake, heathkit, ten-tec, elecraft, hammarlund, dentron, gonset, alinco, ameritron,

yagi, vibroplex…??

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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