Apollo now has a powerful API!
When you write software, some features are very visible in terms of what your users see: we got a huge response when we added tags and tag management to our contacts sections, for example.
When we started to focus on our API, people wondered if Apollo's development had slowed down. The answer was obviously "no": we were simply focussing on something that users simply couldn't see.
We have now completed that work: I am happy to announce that Apollo's API is now available. See the documentation here: Apollo API Documentation
What is an API?
An API how your users can access and change data in your workspace using their own programs, rather than using Apollo's UI. If for example you want to see all the projects you can access, you can fetch the URL /projects which will respond with a list of projects in JSON format.
How do I enable it?
To enable Apollo's API for your workspace, you will need to go to Settings > API and click on the button "Enable API". From then on, users in your workspace will be able to use the API; they will need an authentication token: it's under Settings > Account > Authentication tokens (each user gets a different one).
The technical details
Anybody who hasn't lived under a programming rock will find it really easy to use Apollo's API. It users JSON to exchange data, and uses HTTP verbs (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE) to manipulate resources. If you are with us after this sentence, then you are pretty much ready to roll.
But! First, check our client libraries for Apollo's API: they are basically functions that will do the networking side of things for you, so that for example you can write $retval = $api->getProjects(); and you're set.
This client library is being ported to Python as we speak by one of our users. We will put it there as soon as it's ready.
It IS beta!
Please keep in mind that Apollo's API is still in beta. So, some calls might change before final release, based on your feedback. (Having said that, we think it's unlikely that they will change).
Enjoy!
10 comments so far
jaffa
Sat, 06/30/2012 - 20:31
Great.
Firebits
Sat, 06/30/2012 - 23:43
Important milestone and one that was necessary for me to switch to Apollo. Timing could not be better! Well done, the product appears to be coming along nicely!
Floris
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 17:11
Great news. This was sooo needed. Now the only thing I'm still waiting for is a gmail / google apps integration so we can see/edit/add contact data from gmail.
Pete
Tue, 07/17/2012 - 17:08
In another blog post – http://www.applicomhq.com/content/make-invoicing-automatic-always – you mentioned that the API would be Basecamp compatible...
"About Freshbooks, we will soon release a Basecamp-compatible API. This means that you will be able to integrate with pretty much any piece of software that integrates with Basecamp!"
...is it? I'm very keen to get the Freshbooks integration up and running in particular.
Tony Mobily
Wed, 07/18/2012 - 08:48
Hi,
That post was written a while ago!
Apollo's API is very Basecamp-ish. However, unfortunately it's not "compatible" as such (meaning that an existing program won't be able to just use it withoout any changes).
The good news is that we are actively working on Freshbooks integration as we speak!
Merc.
Firebits
Wed, 07/18/2012 - 21:33
How about Harvest? I like others prefer Harvest over Freshbooks. I would see this as an equally important addition to your integrations.
http://www.getharvest.com/
Andrea Di Clemente
Wed, 07/18/2012 - 23:03
Hi,
Harvest support is planned in the short term!
Merc.
Firebits
Wed, 07/18/2012 - 23:11
Excellent. Looking forward to this immensely!
M van Kooten
Thu, 08/09/2012 - 14:51
Are you working on a Zendesk integration to?
Tony Mobily
Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:04
Hi,
It's one of the options we are looking into!
Merc.