API for Numista

Hello

Have the administration ever thought about creating API for Numista?
It will allow the user to develop some third-party application, or just create some user-friendly mobile site. Because, in my opinion, current mobile version of the site looks awful.

For example, I daily use mobile version of my coins catalog (on my own site), when someone ask me if I do have some specific coin, or when someone ask me for coin swap. But since I started to manage my collection using Numista, it is not very easy to do.

You can start with some simple functions, like: getting the list of your own coins, searching the catalog.
And then later add some more functions.

Hi,

API would be great! I personally would like to create app for exporting collection to Excel (since standard Excel output is very messy) API would make this possible. I have some experience with developing for office.

Regards, Tomas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface

   For anyone (like me) who does not know what an API is.  

For me the mobile version of Numista looks the same as the webpage of Numista. Exactly same.
 So I don't see what's wrong?
Or that's what's wrong, do you want mobile Numista to be totally different?
Sorry - just a bit lost.

What I mean is I get a list of my coins and can search catalogue in my mobile already.

KartWay

Once you enter from mobile device you should see mobile version of the site. But there is a link to regular desktop version, if you click it, you won't see mobile version any more. I think you should clean your browser's cookies in order to see mobile version again.

Anyway, what i'm talking about is that API will allow to develop some useful stuff, not only mobile application. tom1410 gave good example: exporting tools.

Ok, now I get what you mean. That's exactly what I'm using, the desktop version, but since it worked great in my phone I didn't feel the need to have changes in mobile version.  
I get what you mean now though, also the desktop one probably isn't most convenient in some of the phones.

I'd love to try creating a utility to create coin flip inserts from numista data.  An API that allowed downloading of images and information for personal use only would be awesome!

I quite like the API idea it could branch off into many tools to help Numista members.

Yes! Make it happen :)

It could require a login, so that user statistics could be tracked and abuse avoided.  User created utilities could simply require that you register and use your own user name and password :)

As it stands, one could make a utility that simply parses the html for information, but this would be inefficient and time consuming, not to mention a waste of bandwidth for numista!

I already thought about creating parser that will parse Numista pages and return information in form of JSON. But this approach has many drawbacks.
Besides, instead, of spending time on creating parser, it will be much simpler just to help Numista administration to create that API.
If administration is interested in that idea, then I'm ready to help.

Sounds good, please send a PM to Xavier asking his opinion/permission. It's his site so up to him.

No need, I'll be meeting with Xavier to discuss this.

this would be a huge step for Numista, good apps would help a lot of people.

Any updates?

I'm afraid at present the Administrator is not looking to expand on this idea.
There are other ideas that he wishes to implement sooner. However, this idea has not been ruled out 100%; it is not on the top of his priorities.

Quote: bam777I'm afraid at present the Administrator is not looking to expand on this idea.
There are other ideas that he wishes to implement sooner. However, this idea has not been ruled out 100%; it is not on the top of his priorities.

Can you still look in the mirror, Ben?

Yes, I can.

Quote: bam777Yes, I can.

Good. I was a bit worried.

Quote: bam777I'm afraid at present the Administrator is not looking to expand on this idea.
There are other ideas that he wishes to implement sooner. However, this idea has not been ruled out 100%; it is not on the top of his priorities.

I think this is a bad idea. API can bring many interesting and good third-party applications, expansions for Numista, just using Numista as very good database. And later Numista will be better without the administrative effort and intervention.

Regards, Tomas

It looks like creating API is unattainable goal for administration of the site. They even can't fix simple problem of messaging for 3 months.

Anyway, I will consider the possibility of creating parser that will emulate the API. It not really appropriate way to do such things, but if administration moves too slowly it's probably the time to take matters into my own hands.

Shalom, I am no-one here, however if you need some support or idea, get in touch,
I support you in spirit, for sure!  
Imre

If you need help with anything let me know, will help as I can!

So, I decided to implemented some few basic function, just for proof of concept.

All API methods return data in JSON format.

The methods are:
1) Receiving basic data of specific coin. Example.

2) Receiving list of users that want to exchange specific coin. Example.

3) Receiving basic user information. Example.

4) Receiving list of user's feedbacks. Example.

5) List of countries. Example.

I will update API documentation on that page.
I'm pretty sure that API still very buggy, as i told, i made it just for proof of concept.

If someone want to contribute, then i will publish the source code later.

Did you make reverse engineering for it? In that case it's not fit for me, I'm looking for API to import my own collection from csv, and upload pics..

Quote: "iamkarlson"​Did you make reverse engineering for it? In that case it's not fit for me, I'm looking for API to import my own collection from csv, and upload pics..

​Currently that API doesn't have such functionality.

Quote: "Megas"​

Quote: "iamkarlson"​Did you make reverse engineering for it? In that case it's not fit for me, I'm looking for API to import my own collection from csv, and upload pics..

​​Currently that API doesn't have such functionality.

Sad thing. Anyway, thanks a lot Megas, I start using the API since tomorrow.

New functions arrived to Numista API:

1) Listing inbox and outbox messages
2) Reading messages

Currently I'm working on adding new awesome feature: coin prices (have nothing in common with Numista's values that planned to be implemented for 2 years).

So, finally after a long work added function to get coin's price.

How does it work:
- System constantly aggregate selling prices on different platforms like numismatic shops, auctions, eBay etc.
- When you ask for the price, the API get all sellings in last 2 years and you receive: minimal/maximal price, number of sellings, average and median price.
- Currently there is no separation for coins of different years and/or quality.

API Documentation placed here.

P.S. Now you can access API through HTTPS protocol.

There is an Android app created without an API. You can check it out here
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic61054.html

But yes.. I would like to see an API

Messing around with API. Works good

Quote: "MihajloNesic"​There is an Android app created without an API. You can check it out here
​https://en.numista.com/forum/topic61054.html

​But yes.. I would like to see an API

​If you read attentively that topic, you may see:

Quote: "Cavaler"Since Numista doesn't yet have proper API, I use intermediate API kindly provided by user Megas, from here: http://qmegas.info/numista-api/

Quote: "Megas"​

Quote: "MihajloNesic"​There is an Android app created without an API. You can check it out here
​​https://en.numista.com/forum/topic61054.html
​
​​But yes.. I would like to see an API

​​If you read attentively that topic, you may see:
​

Quote: "Cavaler"Since Numista doesn't yet have proper API, I use intermediate API kindly provided by user Megas, from here: http://qmegas.info/numista-api/

​

​Oh! Fantastic!

I'm having more fun than I should



Edit: GitHub repo

Quote: "MihajloNesic"​I'm having more fun than I should
​
​
​
​Edit: GitHub repo

​Great sample!
Congratulations!

Unfortunately, the administration of Numista has blocked the IP address of this API service, thus at the moment it does not work.

We do not plan to go to confrontation with the administration of Numista and use various dirty tricks like proxy servers. We hope that the problem can be settled amicably.

Help by raising the problem on Numista's forum
_________________________________

This is the message on the webpage.
Because of this, my tools (such as random coin search) do not work anymore.
I do not see the point of Numista disabling this option. Maybe it has to do with copyrighted photos.
I want to believe that Numsita will have the official API for making great applications.

Thank you Megas for providing us the API

Hello MihajloNesic,
The IP address has been unblocked

Quote: "Xavier"​Hello MihajloNesic,
​The IP address has been unblocked

​Thank you Xavier!

I see the potential in this API. I'm currently working on a coin guessing game!

One thing I want to request. API should also give information about the picture owners, as there is a copyright on them. In other case, there can always be © Numista beneath the photos.

Quote: "MihajloNesic"​​One thing I want to request. API should also give information about the picture owners, as there is a copyright on them. In other case, there can always be © Numista beneath the photos.

​Once I fix API to support latest Numista design changes, I may add picture's copyright information.

Hi Megas!

Could you give me an example or two on how to use your API? It may be a simple question but it would be very helpful to me. Thank you

Quote: "elier.am85"​Hi Megas!
​
​Could you give me an example or two on how to use your API? It may be a simple question but it would be very helpful to me. Thank you

​Megas already gave a couple of examples. See the examples above.

Hello,

I've tested your API and before asking something, I would say to you : "Thank you for what you've done".

Did you put something like "search coin API" in your road map ?
Because actually searching for a coin, without the id, is a little bit complicated throughout your API.

I don't really know what's the main purpose of you API but searching at least on name and date could be really helpful for any API consumer.

What do you thing ?

Thanks.

Quote: "vulcaryn"​Hello,
​
​I've tested your API and before asking something, I would say to you : "Thank you for what you've done".
​
​Did you put something like "search coin API" in your road map ?
​Because actually searching for a coin, without the id, is a little bit complicated throughout your API.
​
​I don't really know what's the main purpose of you API but searching at least on name and date could be really helpful for any API consumer.
​
​What do you thing ?
​
​Thanks.

​Yes, searching coins is definitely in my roadmap. However I can't give estimation when it will be available.

Hello,

I started an API for Numista, which includes search and retrieval of coins from the catalogue.
https://en.numista.com/api/doc/

Please send me a message explaining how you plan to use the API and your traffic need (queries per day) so I can create an API key for you.