For the company I’m working for I have been thinking of writing software that grabs currency rates from the Bank of Canada.
I’m truly impressed with the openness of the national bank, however, I do not agree with their concept and current (static) implemetation. It’s cleverly obnoxious and add to that, maybe handy for the casual user, but not for companies that need ‘real-time’ information or specific data for a specified range. This is where XML-RPC/SOAP comes in handy, but other protocols would do fine too. Give us the API and I assure we’ll be willing to pay a subscription fee.
Additionally this brings me to the other topic: why would we need RSS or Atom, aggregrators or even bloglines.
Note how many proponents of aggregrators say that it makes them ‘browse faster, skim headlines’ and ‘allows them to find information faster’. As if ‘reading headlines’ makes one informed. Reading the backflip of a book doesn’t mean you have actually read the book. Skimming booktitles at the library doesn’t make one more world-wise either. We see too many A-list bloggers get away with ‘just-a-link-here’ and ‘a comment overthere’. Don’t follow that crap: Form your own opinion.
Read. Understand, Elaborate and Ask.
You have to be very careful with those data.
For one they may be copyrighted.
Secondly, be very careful about the correctness of the value. Do not assume that the data is accurate and timely: Make sure you have a disclaimer in your application.
You have to be very careful with those data.
For one they may be copyrighted.
I remember that the CSV files (exports) are free of use, as long as they aren’t reselled to third parties.