Careful Web

I excited with GData API from Google. I just tried they Python version and it looks KISS.

Google GData API mixes CRUD actions with Atom XML format. This means that all client-server messaging uses Atom feeds as data format. Google guys extended Atom specification with ability to make complex queries and implemented Atom Publishing Protocol for posting data to server.

For example document list, contact list, etc looks like usual Atom feeds. Main Google API enabled services:

• Google Docs;
• Gmail contacts;
• Notebook;
• Blogger;
• Picasa;
• Calendar;
• Base;

Full list is on Google API page.

I checked GData Python API with simple script, see code below:

# Google Docs example
import gdata.docs.service

# authentication
gd_client = gdata.docs.service.DocsService()
gd_client.email = 'username@gmail.com' #change this
gd_client.password = '' #change this
gd_client.source = 'exampleCo-exampleApp-1'
gd_client.ProgrammaticLogin()

# querying full docs list (feed)
feed = gd_client.GetDocumentListFeed()
# selecting first document to work
d = feed.entry[0]
# document properties
print d.title.text # document name
print d.content.src # link to document content (URL)

# for changing document properties we need use atom python module
import atom
# creating new document name
document.title = atom.Title(text='my best friends')

Conclusion: it is really easy to integrate with Google services.