Developing Your Own Google-Based Applications

If you're a software developer or web designer, here's a URL you need to know: code.google.com. This is the address of Google Code, the home base for all of Google's developer services.

Note

API stands for Application Program Interface, a set of library-based routines that extend a programming language's functionality. SDK stands for Software Development Kit, a set of tools and utilities that enable programmers to create applications to run on a particular platform or work with an API. KML stands for Keyhole Markup Language, which is a programming language used for developing and storing geographic data.

As you can see in Figure 40.1, the Google Code home page links to all the APIs and programming tools that Google makes available for its various services. And just what tools are available? Table 40.1 provides the details.

Figure 40.1. Google Codethe home page for third-party Google developers.

Table 40.1. Google Developer Tools

Tool	URL	Description
AdWords API	www.google.com/apis/adwords	Develop applications that interact directly with the AdWords server to manage large AdWords accounts and campaigns
Blogger Atom API	code.blogspot.com/archives/atom-docs.html	Retrieve, create, edit, and delete Blogger blog posts
Google Calendar Data API	code.google.com/apis/gdata/calendar.html	View and update Google Calendar events from third-party applications and web pages
Google Data APIs	code.google.com/apis/gdata/index.html	Read and write data on the Web using XML-based syndication tools
Google Desktop SDK	desktop.google.com/developer.html	Integrate Google Desktop into third-party applications, add new file formats for Google Desktop to index, and create new Sidebar gadgets
Google Earth KML	earth.google.com/kml/kml_intro.html	Model and store points, lines, images, and other geographic features in Google Earth
Google Gadgets API	www.google.com/apis/homepage	Create gadgets for the Google personalized home page
Google Maps API	www.google.com/apis/maps	Embed Google Maps in your own web pages
Google Search Appliance APIs	code.google.com/gsa_apis/xml_reference.html	Develop custom connectors to feed source data into the Google Search Appliance
Google Toolbar API	www.google.com/tools/toolbar/buttons/apis	Create custom buttons for the Google Toolbar
Google Webs API	www.google.com/apis	Query the Google search index from third-party applications

If you're developing any application that involves web search or other services that Google offers, you should make Google Code your starting point. From here you can download all the APIs, tools, and documentation you need to incorporate Google technology into the applications you develop.

Note

The hottest type of Google application development today involves the creation of Google map mashups using the Google Maps API. Learn more in Chapter 41, "Creating Google Map Mashups."