[Owncloud] ownCloud API

[Michael Gapczynski]

On Thursday, June 28, 2012 05:29:09 PM Evert Pot wrote:
> On Jun 28, 2012, at 5:17 PM, Michael Gapczynski wrote:
> > There is no standard for a RESTful web API, but this does meet the general
> > expectations. Not all REST APIs that I've encountered require you to
> > communicate using XML, but some just use POST parameters. I think POST
> > parameters are always easier than generating XML. Then again, I'm not
> > quite
> > sure what an 'exported' API is.
> 
> If you use POST parameters for any other purpose than creating new objects,
> you cannot really call it a RESTful web api :) XML is certainly also not a
> requirement, but you should send over the entire entity you're replacing
> with PUT, or the entire entity you're creating with POST.
> 
> Developing a true REST api is definitely something you should look at
> though. It's more up-front work, but it forces you to design the API really
> well, which may result a much higher longevity.
> 
> Evert

Okay, I took a closer look at this IBM article [1] and I'll agree with you and 
Klaas that it isn't quite a REST API.

I would like to point out that with this definition Twitter and Dropbox don't 
have a true REST API, but are called REST APIs. I did use the Google Documents 
List API for the Google Drive external storage and that appears to follow the 
principles in the article. It was a little more difficult to use however in my 
opinion.

Klaas & Bartek - Since you both will be the first users of this API with the 
sync client and Android app what would you prefer for changing resources: POST 
parameters, XML (or other language), or something different.


Michael


[1] https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/library/ws-restful/