JavaScript has been one of the most talked languages this year. It rules not only on the client-side, but has also made significant inroads into server side architectures, especially if you consider the mind share that Node.js received this year. It will not be a surprise if API vendors put a JavaScript API on top of their list next year as part of their client libraries. Google, whose APIs are among the most integrated, has made a jump on the trend and released an Alpha version of its JavaScript client library for Google APIs.
JSON is popular, at least when it comes to API data formats. Of the new APIs we added to our directory, one in five supports only JSON. But how many support JSONP, which allows developers to load data directly on the client side no matter the originating server? There are 258 JSONP APIs out of a possible 1,724 JSON APIs. That’s only 15% that support an approach many developers will want to use.
In the past months we have covered real-time client push services and seen the introduction of real-time client push technology and APIs to a number of services such as Superfeedr and DataSift. This focus on real-time push to client applications, and in particular web browser applications, is very exciting. The initial assumption would be that this movement has been triggered by an advancement in technology, and to some degree that is the case, but it might surprise you to know that the ability to push real-time updates into a web browser isn’t new and has in fact been around for a number of years.
SlideShare, the YouTube of slideshows, is firmly entrenched as the place to go for presentations. Its embedded player is also highly visible across web sites. Compared to Audio and Video, presentations fall somewhere in between and one wondered if there was a way that developers could mix them all up. With the SlideShare Player API, the company has given developers a tool that could bring about some exciting new applications.
Real-time feed parsing company Superfeedr just increased it’s range of technology support which significantly increases the ease that developers can integrate with them. Developers can now connect to Superfeedr using only JavaScript. They appear to have covered all bases with this release by providing support for HTTP Streaming and WebSocket connections for real-time streams. Superfeedr aren’t alone in offering real-time client push but they may well be the first to offer it as an extension of an existing service.
The biggest online social network for business contacts has made its next move to increase adoption of its API. LinkedIn has released a Javascript API, which allows for accessing all of the company’s APIs directly from browser-based apps. And authentication, a difficult task for some developers, is all handled by LinkedIn’s library.
Web designers are rejoicing. Real fonts have finally come to the web and they’re easier to use than ever before. Gone are the days of Cufon and sIFR, as @font-face is finally beginning to shine. But the impending onslaught of fonts on the web may well be thanks to Google.
Get ready for slides and monkey bars. You can now access nearly two dozen Google JavaScript APIs in the AJAX playground. YouTube, Friend Connect and a host of options join Calendar, Blogger and, of course, Maps.
Last month Twitter CEO Evan Williams announced Twitter Anywhere, but it wasn’t exactly clear what it was. Now the microblogging platform, which looks pretty busy with all its announcements centered around its developer conference, is sharing more details about the API that is part display widget and part external login, all controlled via JavaScript.
A number of companies are making a push to move traditional desktop applications into the cloud. Programmers have not been left out of this revolution, with several sites offering IDEs in a web browser. Here are 5 online IDEs.
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