What is an API? Reading Assignment

Blockchain Business Course
#988

1) What is an API?
API is a set of rules that allow one set of code from one application to interact with another aplication’s set of code. Thus bridging two applications and enabling cross-application communication. It hides complexity from developers and extends the system to others.
2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?

Java API is a library of components that are installed with Java Development Kit and provide a simplified way of programming regular tasks. Twitter API is a web-based JSON API and returns data to the requesting client.

3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.

A “Push-to-Start” button in the car, no need for complex processes being started by me, I don’t even have to hold down the break nor the clutch pedal. This simplification is an abstraction, abstracting all the complex processes of igniting the motor and starting the pistons into a press of a button.

1 Like
#989

  1. An API stands for Application Programming Interface and is a system of commands, a shortcut, a component code, meant to hide complex code from developers.

  2. The Java API is a library of software components available to anyone who has installed the Java Development Kit.
    The Twitter API is a web-based JSON API that allows developers to programmatically interact with Twitter data. Unlike the Java API, which is included in the Java Development Kit, the Twitter API is a web-based API.

  3. Opening my fridge and taking anything I want from around the world. ex: garlic from China, cucumber from Spain, etc.

1 Like
#990
  1. API is the interface that the user communicates with. It abstracts away the complexity of the program to allow it to be more user-friendly.
  2. The Java API is library that can be installed, whereas the Twitter API is web-based and can be interacted with on the web.
  3. Abstraction is an integral part of modern life. In my daily life I encounter it often in my business on Amazon. I don’t need to know the vendor, I don’t need to know their location, I don’t need to understand the logistics of delivery, I don’t even need to give Amazon any information, it has my address and credit card number saved and Chrome has my username and password saved. I click a button and a hundred wheels go into motion, the result of which is my purchase showing up at my door in less than 24hours.
1 Like
#991

What is an API? Reading Assignment – Questions

1) What is an API?

An API is an application of “pre-loaded code and instructions” that helps programmers to construct software and the client to communicate with the server. It is the interface that users communicate with as it abstracts away the complexity of the program to allow it to be more user-friendly.

2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?

Java API:
A list of all classes that are part of the Java development kit (JDK). It includes all Java packages, classes, and interfaces, along with their methods, fields, and constructors. Similar to a user interface, which facilitates interaction between humans and computers. These prewritten classes provide a tremendous amount of functionality to a programmer.

Twitter API:
Twitter offers two APIs. The REST API allows developers to access core Twitter data and the Search API provides methods for developers to interact with Twitter Search and trends data.
–> Twitter has the search API, for interacting with search and trends, and REST API, for core data

In other words, the Java API is more a set of rules (manual) that allows you to transcribe code to work with Java while the Twitter API is a set of rules on how to interact with Twitter’s database coming from platforms on the outside.

3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.

APIs are essentially anything that makes life easier. For example, password managers automatically store our passwords such that we need not remember them every time and they can be pulled out automatically if needed.

Other examples of API abstraction include remotely connected door locks that can be opened at the push of a screen button at a distance; QR codes that automatically pull up specific information or execute a particular action by simply capturing it with our phone’s camera; Spotify playlists, that automatically compile lists of songs based on our personal preferences; Push/Start buttons in certain cars that allow them to turn off without manually doing so with a key and ignition; bank standing orders or direct debits; Etc.

1 Like
#992

  1. What is an API? How programs interact with eachother

  2. In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
    Java API - is included in the Java Development Kit - great for anything to do with list or sorting information
    Twitter API - on the JSON API - easier to use and search for specific items.

  3. The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life. Trading Luxury Timepieces abstract… Client requests a specific timepiece to be sourced, deposits are taken, watch is found and bought, shipping and banking are all done with a push of a button.

1 Like
#993

1.An API is a software interface which offers services whenever it is called.
2. Twitter api is web-based and covers interactions between it’s server and clients. The Java API on the other hand is a library.
3. When asking my former math professor for help on an exercise he’d promptly tell us the answer without any explanation. His responses boiled down to "Oh, that series converges at pi/2 if " and go to the next group. We’d have no idea how he reached that outcome, nor what steps he took, just that that was the answer of the exercise.

1 Like
#994
  1. API is a specification of all possible interactions with the software components.
  2. The main difference between the two API is Java API is a library of software components and Twitter API is web-based API.
  3. Making a bowl of cereal for breakfast: grab a bowl from the cabinet, put the bowl on the table, get a box of cereal, pour the cereal into the bowl or go into the fridge to get the milk, opening the milk and pour the milk into the bowl.
1 Like
#995

1) What is an API?
Application Programming Interface, a way of different applications and systems to communicate with each other

2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
Java API is a toolbox of components distributed in the JDK open to anyone that has it installed whereas Twitter API is a web based http request to services that Twitter hosts

3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.

My breadmaker… I love fresh bread but dont have time to make a loaf by hand, get all the ingredients, mix the right amount, in the right order, combining until the right consistency for the dough, then put it somewhere to rise, then put in the oven and cook before I can eat it… phew! what a task, no thanks…

The breadmaker simplifies this so that I can just put the right amount of ingredients in and press a couple of buttons and the machine will take care of the mixing, rising and baking, I can go do what I want and come back to a house smelling of lovely bread ready to cool and eat, yum!

1 Like
#996

1) What is an API?
Application Program Interface: set of code rules that allows the front end communicate with the back end or one set of commands that can make two different languages interfaces with each-other.

2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
Java - predetermined code after installing Java Development Kit.
Twitter API - web-based, user can access specific data from the user by making request over the internet.
3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.
When purchasing crypto or tokens via a exchange it hides the complexity.

1 Like
#997

1) What is an API?
An API is a set of possible interactions with a software component along with directions on how to make those interactions happen
2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
Twitter API is web-based while the Java API is not.
3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.
The cameras at my house turn on as soon as it is detected by my phone that I leave the property.

1 Like
#998

Is a set of rules that allows application to interact with other application like a bridge between them.
API’s take an overwhelming amount of complexity and define a relatively simple set of interactions that you can use instead of doing it all yourself!

Java API is a library of working code components to work with Java JDK and Twitter API is a web based API that allows to interact with twitter data bases.

I have a push to start button in the car and with my smart key i can doing some complex things for regular user like parking check water oil and more

1 Like
#999
  1. An API is defined as a specification of possible interactions with a software component.
  2. The Java API is a library of software components available “out of the box” to anyone who has installed the Java Development Kit.
  3. The Twitter API is a web-based JSON API that allows developers to programmatically interact with Twitter data.
1 Like
#1000

  1. API- Application programming Interface
    Preset Rules that take out complexity of doing each task individual.

  2. Java Api is generic , twitter api is specific interacts only with twitter

  3. ordered service in anyform

1 Like
#1001

  1. An API is a premade set of rules that takes away the complexity of having to manage and undertake each task manually.

  2. Java API is a library of software components through a development kit
    Twitter API is a web based API and you can have access by making requests over the Internet to services that Twitter hosts.

  3. Well as we are fan of blockchain technology that is my example: I live far away from my sister (different country, different currency) so when I have to send her some money the faster way is our Algorand wallet. :wink: so the procedure is faster and my sister could have her money in seconds.

1 Like
#1002
  1. APIs - Application Programming Interfaces - are a set of designed rules (or protocols) that explain how applications, devices, and databases communicate with one another. They act as an intermediary between an application and a web server that makes data transfer possible between them.

APIs work in the following way:

  • A client (user) initiates a call - aka a request - to retrieve relevant information from the server;
  • APIs then make a call to the server with that request;
  • The server then provides a response/outcome with the requested information; and
  • APIs then transfer the requested information available to a user.

  1. JAVA APIs are stored and exclusively available in the Java Development Kit, whereas Twitter APIs are web-based APIs where a user has to make requests with the twitter server to interact with their services.

  2. Abstraction is a method of systematically organizing the complexities of a system so that a user can interact with complicated actions in a simple way. An example of abstraction in my life will be going to the cafe and getting a cup of coffee. The coffee machine acts as an abstraction, i.e., I don’t need to know the mechanics of how the machine grinds coffee beans and uses milk to get a good cup of coffee. The barista acts as an API - he/she takes my instruction/request and then interacts with the machine (server) in order to get me a cup of coffee.

2 Likes
#1003

1 API means Application Programming Interface. Its an specification of possible interactions with software.

2 The main difference between Javas API and Twitters API is that Java´s API its included on Java Development kit, meanwhile Twitter API is a web-based API.
The interaction between those API are different because to have access to twitter´s API its necessary to make a request over the internet to services that Twitter host.

3 Something that we think is so simple as sending a message, many years ago would mean to write on paper and give to the messenger. Now days we have so many different platforms and ways to do so, and we never wonder how does it works, wich can be a long explanation on what’s going on behind it.

1 Like
#1004

[quote=“ivan, post:1, topic:6381”]
1) What is an API?
Application programming interface

2) In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
Java API is a library of software components available “out of the box” to anyone who has installed the Java Development Kit,
The Twitter API is a web-based JSON API that allows developers to programmatically interact with Twitter data

3) The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life.
Abstraction is just a way of organizing the complexity of a system so that complicated actions can be handled in a simple way. An example of an abstraction is apple pay QR codes.

1 Like
#1005

  1. API stands for Application Programming Interface; it is a way to programmatically interact with a separate software component or resource. Or in a more simpler word, it is a way to communicate with other softwares to get a job or process done faster.

  2. Java API is built within the Java Development Kit field and can be used without being connected to the internet, whereas; Twitter API is a web-based API and requires the internet.

  3. An abstraction from my daily life is using the app SHAZAM, when I hear a song and I want to download the song first if I don’t know who sang it or the title of the song I have to go through several processes like asking someone, playing the song if anyone could recognise it or actually typing the lyrics I can remember online so as to find the song, this is very tedious. But using Shazam, I could simply just make the app listen to the song and it will pop up the song for download. Easy Peasy!

1 Like
#1006
  1. API is Application Programming Interface, it’s a set of codes that allow interactions between frontend and backend
  2. Java API is included in Java development kit and the functions can be used by clients for development, whereas Twitter API is web-based and can only be accessed by requesting the servers
  3. When I purchase my clothing online, I just need to click order and fill out my info. I don’t need to know about the process of the ways fabrics are sourced, produced, labeled, putting in market and online.
1 Like
#1007
  1. What is an API?
    An API ( Application programming interface) is basically a way for computers and programs to interact with each other via a set of software components.
  2. In the article the author compares Java API to Twitter API. What is the main difference between these two APIs?
    With Java API you have to install the Java development kit on your computer whereas the twitter API is web-based so you can only access it over the Internet.
  3. The section in the article about abstraction is important, try to understand it and write down an abstraction from your daily life. An abstraction from my daily life is when I order my groceries on-line from the supermarket. When I log into my account to order anything , all my usually bought items appear and I don’t have to spend ages making a list or forgetting anything.
1 Like