Gmail API

This might be big, I was just done complaining about the user interface of the GMail web app. If this means that developers can now effectively create another interface on top of a real GMail API this has the potential to really change things. I can already envision several ways in how I could improve my inbox management and reduce the time spent sifting through emails.

Re: Gmail API

#6

Post by bpodgursky » Wed, Jun 25, 2014, 6:54 PM UTC

I like the idea of opening gmail up to developers via a public API, but I don't like that it comes at the cost of removing support for an open standard like IMAP. I'm worried that API access could be cut back or eliminated entirely in the future depending on developer uptake, leaving gmail entirely inaccessible to third-party applications.

Edit: I'm going off of this sentence:

>It will replace IMAP, a common but complex way for applications to communicate with most email services, limiting the number of apps that can work with Gmail

Maybe it's misleading, but it sounds like the plan is to drop support.

Re: Gmail API

#7

Post by ejain » Wed, Jun 25, 2014, 6:55 PM UTC

Nice, but I'm very reluctant to give any third-party access to my mailbox. Most sites I use let me reset my password by email, so this is like handing over the keys to the castle.

Re: Gmail API

#8

Post by hafichuk » Wed, Jun 25, 2014, 6:58 PM UTC

The article is light on the technical details. Here's the API: https://developers.google.com/gmail/api/

Re: Gmail API

#9

Post by jonathonf » Wed, Jun 25, 2014, 6:58 PM UTC

Two key bits from the first two paragraphs of the article:

"make it easier for other Internet applications to use information in your email"

"It will replace IMAP"

First one seems par for the course, the second one doesn't seem to be reflected in the Google blog post [1]. Certainly for the moment, thankfully, it looks like IMAP is staying:

"The Gmail API should not be used to replace IMAP for full-fledged email client access" [2]

[1] http://googleappsdeveloper.blogspot.com/2014/06/introducing-... [2] https://developers.google.com/gmail/api/

Re: Gmail API

#10

Post by rwbt » Wed, Jun 25, 2014, 6:59 PM UTC

bpodgursky wrote: post #6

I like the idea of opening gmail up to developers via a public API, but I don't like that it comes at the cost of removing support for an open standard like IMAP. I'm worried that API access could be cut back or eliminated entirely in the future depending on developer uptake, leaving gmail entirely inaccessible to third-party applications. Edit: I'm going off of this sentence: >It will replace IMAP, a common but comp…

I don't think IMAP support is going away. This is just a better API for devs to create apps for Gmail.