In response to this post:
EBay has a new developer evangelist (Jeffrey McManus) and today he started a weblog. [via The Scobleizer Weblog]
I found out that eBay are no longer Web Services laggards relative to Google and Amazon.
What is the eBay API?
The Application Programming Interface (API) is the heart of the Developers Program. Normally, users buy and sell items using the eBay online interface, interacting with eBay directly. But with the eBay API, you communicate directly with the eBay database in XML format. By using the API, your application can provide a custom interface, functionality and specialized operations not otherwise afforded by the eBay interface.
Using the API, you can create programs that:
- Submit items for listing on eBay
- Get the current list of eBay categories
- View information about items listed on eBay
- Get high bidder information for items you are selling
- Retrieve lists of items a particular user is currently selling through eBay
- Retrieve lists of items a particular user has bid on
- Display eBay listings on other sites
- Leave feedback about other users at the conclusion of a commerce transaction
Because the API is not dependent on the eBay user interface, it allows you to create stable, custom functionality and interfaces that best meet your business needs.
The definition of Web Services has just gotten simpler:
Web Services define technology that let's you buy and sell from eBay or Amazon without browsing either site.
Cool!