Cloud sync APIs for mobile developers

APIDays Mediterranea, Barcelona, May 30, 2014
http://mediterranea.apidays.io/

Transcript

1. Cloud sync APIs for mobile developers Leah Culver, Dropbox APIDays Mediterranea 2014
2. Dropbox “Your [digital] stuff everywhere”
3. Wherever you are
4. Safe and secure
5. Share with friends
6. • Filesystem that just works • “The magic folder” Then
7. • Multi-device world • Mobile filesystem? Now
8. Dropbox APIs for mobile apps
9. Core API • REST-ish, OAuth 2.0, JSON • SDKs for Android, iOS, OS X, Python, Ruby, Java, PHP • Community-supported libraries for C#, JavaScript, Perl, etc. HTTP API for files
10. • List files
 /metadata/<root>/<path> • Upload file
 /files_put/<root>/<path> • Get a thumbnail
 /thumbnails/<root>/<path> • Share via a link
 /shares/<root>/<path> Core API
11. Core API is great. So what now?
12. • Cross-platform support • Sync across devices • Offline access (bonus!) Mobile API challenges
13. Sync API
14. Sync API • Just like Core API • Filesystem for mobile apps • Store and sync photos, videos, etc.
15. • iOS, Android, OSX • Handle offline caching and syncing • Notifications of changes • Updates in real time Sync SDKs
16. Image Grid Sample (demo)
17. Sample code
18. Great for files… but what about data?
19. Sync API file system-like interface Datastore API structured data Mobile APIs
20. Datastore API • Storage for structured data • Like a NoSQL database • Stored in the user’s Dropbox • Not files!
21. account→datastore→table→record→field→value Datastore API
22. Why not files? Monolithic → inefficient syncing Opaque → conflicts
23. Why not files? • Clearly defined structure • More efficient syncing • Advanced conflict resolution
24. Similar to Sync SDKs … • iOS, Android, OSX, JavaScript, Python • Handles offline caching and syncing • Notifications of changes • Updates in real time
25. Store data in user’s own Dropbox ! • User owns their data • Access to files/data outside your app • Free for developers
26. Dropbox 2048
28. 2048 • JavaScript game (now mobile too) • High score and game state
 saved via cookies • Very fun (and addictive!)
29. Dropbox 2048 • Save data in user’s Dropbox • Top 3 high scores • Current game state • Syncs between different browsers
31. pretty blue colors high scores
34. github.com/leah/2048 Code
35. Sync and Datastore API Version 3.0 • New datastore properties • Named datastores • Batching file-system operations • Better error handling • And more…
36. Local datastores (preview feature)
37. • Cross-platform SDKs • Both files and data • Users’ own Dropbox • Handles offline access, sync, and conflict resolution TL;DL
38. Questions? dropbox.com/developers leah@dropbox.com
39. Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/kky/704056791/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/eulothg/5906431611/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/povertybarn/5144441939 http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/10018150113/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mager/2659619029/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_grey/4582294721/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/adactio/12674602864/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/coofdy/11492948263/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/arts/42217172/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/drachmann/327122302/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/evergreenkamal/395448039/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliaholle/5888906660/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinothchandar/5148046888/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shandilee/5062466679/