jockeys silks on api ba

[Warwick Hunt]

everything seems to be ok but silks aint working?

any reason gary/anyone please...thx

[Captain Sensible]

Warwick the silks info isn't available via the API was basically included as part of the website only.

[Warwick Hunt]

so captain..in laymans terms ..what is advantages on api over normal ba?

thx

[Captain Sensible]

Generally speed and the fact you can write your own programs to interact with the betfair database direct, customising how you view the info on the page. At the moment you need to go thru loads of pages to find volumes traded, last price matched etc.

Google, ebay etc all have their own API's as it allows people to get the info they actually want rather than pounding the site and slowing them down. I'm sure betfair had hoped the api would've taken off in a different direction than it has. They'd prefer web makers to build access sites linking into betfair to generate more customers and revenue.

For programmers it means they don't have to scrape the site for the info and won't be affected by any changes to the actual website so any code they write will work regardless of any slight web updates.

For betfair it means more cash and the hope people won't slow the site down by making hundreds of requests to gather all the info they need from hitting the website continually.

Realistically for anyone using garys prog it should be an increase in speed over the website as you're not pulling down all the pictures and other useless stuff the site is full of everytime you want fresh prices. The only other advantages are what gary is prepared to program into the prog.