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JavaScript

Posted by Adam Flanagan
Adam Flanagan
8,022 Points

Help finding an API?

Hi there,

For a few hours I've been scouring the web, but to no avail. I need an API for a project that I'm currently working on. What I need is a news api to include in my app. Google used to have one, but they shut it down, any ideas?

Any thoughts much appreciated,

Adam

Paul Graham
Paul Graham
1,396 Points

What do you mean a news API? Like a way to fetch a news feed on another website? Is there a reason RSS isn't working for this?

Adam Flanagan
Adam Flanagan
8,022 Points

Hi Paul, basically I want an app that people can click on a topic, lets say technology, then there will be a list of technology stories not from blogs but from major news corps. such as CNN, FOX, BBC etc. etc. Would an RSS work?

Paul Graham
Paul Graham
1,396 Points

Any serialized format such as RSS or JSON would work at getting you the data, you'd only need to find those feeds and whether there are restrictions on usage. You could screen scrape sites that don't release a serial format but that's also a great way to get sued.

Adam Flanagan
Adam Flanagan
8,022 Points

So what would you recommend? Stick with agencies that provide feeds? But would the user have to sign up to anything?

Paul Graham
Paul Graham
1,396 Points

Hard to say exactly, I'd think anyone who is providing a public JSON API or RSS feed should allow remixing, but you should check those sites' terms of service before trying to release anything publicly. I'm not sure you'd need to consult a lawyer but at least try to make sure a particular site doesn't specifically say you can't republish their feeds.

Paul Graham
Paul Graham
1,396 Points

Users should never have to sign up for anything, but you might have to as a developer. Any site whose savvy to this will have clear information on their website about it.

1 Answer