5 ms·

Ask HN: Should I create an API for iTunes apps?

I spider iTunes to get content for my app directory. I'd like to make that content available to others through an API. Is this something that's of interest to anyone? The API will give developers access to iPhone app descriptions, price, links and other details available in the app store. It'll also include videos and tags that aren't. I'm looking for any feedback on whether this is of interest to anyone. I list the proposed features and benefits here: http://www.yappler.com/api note: I posted a similar question yesterday about coming up with the idea but what I'd like to know, is if the idea is worth continuing with?

tptacek 18y ago
You've worded this wrong. You meant to say, "Review my app: an API for iTunes". "Ask HN" only works when it's something HN people care about on its own merits.
- stcredzero 18y ago
  I think such an API would be of interest to iPhone entrepreneurs. I don't think it's best that he puts that out as a "Review my app" if he hasn't implemented it yet.
  - tptacek 18y ago
    Hrm. Maybe he should implement it, and then ask.
deleted 18y ago
[deleted]
jdg 18y ago
You've posted this, what, 3 times now? You may be asking the wrong crowd. Try e-mailing some of the app review sites etc. to see what they use currently and how it can be improved.
- tptacek 18y ago
  What other name did he post this under? I only see the one other time, which he mentioned in the post text. Also, I doubt he's asking the wrong crowd.
  - jdg 18y ago
    The same name he submitted this one under. See his response below. He also didn't mention that he'd already posted it previously until after I had submitted my response. Or I missed it because of the blind rage I felt when he posted it the third time. Just kidding. I do doubt that he is asking the wrong crowd -- at least, at first. "Would anyone be interested in me building this?" vs "Hey, I built this. Anyone have a use for it?" are two very different questions. Since there are already people with working solutions in place, and they're easy enough to find, your first initiative should be to either a) build it for yourself or b) find out what problems they already have and how to eloquently solve them. In short, he needs to find people that already have a need for it. As to whether or not they read HN, who knows. A direct email is a much better method of contact, though.
- MichaelApproved 18y ago
  The first time I posted it via link by mistake and deleted it. I felt like I worded the second time wrong. Apparently I worded it wrong this time too. I'm sorry if I seem spammy, I'm just desperate to get this post right for proper feedback. Most features I just build, keep if it's used and abandon if it's not. With an API I know people would be depending on me for their site. I'm trying to make sure it's the right direction so I don't end up having to abandon the project along with 1 or 2 users who adopt it. Sounds like no feedback IS the feedback. If it were a good idea the wording wouldn't matter so much.
  - jdg 18y ago
    I don't believe it's spammy, and if my comment felt that way please excuse the snark. It wasn't intentional. I believe it's less about how you get the post right and more about who you're asking. As I mentioned above, you need to talk to the people that are already using something similar to what you're... going to build? Since you're not getting much feedback here, let me be the bird of encouragement that is sitting on your shoulder right now. Find people who you think would have a need for this, and talk to them. Those people apparently are not on HN. Ask the app review sites how they keep up and where they get their feeds from. It's a start!
georgemandis 18y ago
Why not just release it as an open-source project?
- MichaelApproved 18y ago
  I would have to release the spider as the project. The trouble with that is users will still have to host and server over 350,000 images. They'll also need a server to run the spider from. Most hosts wont allow that.
nolanbrown23 18y ago
My company has created a free App Store API that we'll be releasing to the general public when we launch our mobile analytics in early June. If anyone is interested, you can find my company's URL in my profile and add your email to be notified when we launch.

tptacek 18y ago

You've worded this wrong. You meant to say, "Review my app: an API for iTunes". "Ask HN" only works when it's something HN people care about on its own merits.

stcredzero 18y ago
I think such an API would be of interest to iPhone entrepreneurs. I don't think it's best that he puts that out as a "Review my app" if he hasn't implemented it yet.
- tptacek 18y ago
  Hrm. Maybe he should implement it, and then ask.

deleted 18y ago

[deleted]

jdg 18y ago

You've posted this, what, 3 times now? You may be asking the wrong crowd. Try e-mailing some of the app review sites etc. to see what they use currently and how it can be improved.

tptacek 18y ago
What other name did he post this under? I only see the one other time, which he mentioned in the post text. Also, I doubt he's asking the wrong crowd.
- jdg 18y ago
  The same name he submitted this one under. See his response below. He also didn't mention that he'd already posted it previously until after I had submitted my response. Or I missed it because of the blind rage I felt when he posted it the third time. Just kidding. I do doubt that he is asking the wrong crowd -- at least, at first. "Would anyone be interested in me building this?" vs "Hey, I built this. Anyone have a use for it?" are two very different questions. Since there are already people with working solutions in place, and they're easy enough to find, your first initiative should be to either a) build it for yourself or b) find out what problems they already have and how to eloquently solve them. In short, he needs to find people that already have a need for it. As to whether or not they read HN, who knows. A direct email is a much better method of contact, though.
MichaelApproved 18y ago
The first time I posted it via link by mistake and deleted it. I felt like I worded the second time wrong. Apparently I worded it wrong this time too. I'm sorry if I seem spammy, I'm just desperate to get this post right for proper feedback. Most features I just build, keep if it's used and abandon if it's not. With an API I know people would be depending on me for their site. I'm trying to make sure it's the right direction so I don't end up having to abandon the project along with 1 or 2 users who adopt it. Sounds like no feedback IS the feedback. If it were a good idea the wording wouldn't matter so much.
- jdg 18y ago
  I don't believe it's spammy, and if my comment felt that way please excuse the snark. It wasn't intentional. I believe it's less about how you get the post right and more about who you're asking. As I mentioned above, you need to talk to the people that are already using something similar to what you're... going to build? Since you're not getting much feedback here, let me be the bird of encouragement that is sitting on your shoulder right now. Find people who you think would have a need for this, and talk to them. Those people apparently are not on HN. Ask the app review sites how they keep up and where they get their feeds from. It's a start!

georgemandis 18y ago

Why not just release it as an open-source project?

MichaelApproved 18y ago
I would have to release the spider as the project. The trouble with that is users will still have to host and server over 350,000 images. They'll also need a server to run the spider from. Most hosts wont allow that.

nolanbrown23 18y ago

My company has created a free App Store API that we'll be releasing to the general public when we launch our mobile analytics in early June. If anyone is interested, you can find my company's URL in my profile and add your email to be notified when we launch.