10 APIs to level up your Python development game

Expand your skill set with integrations for AI, development tasks, and more

Hey Grokking Python readers, and happy Thursday!

Welcome to a brand-new edition of Grokking Python! Today, we will talk about Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, which act as a bridge between two different software systems by providing communication through a set of established protocols. 

If you are a developer or software engineer looking to level up your game, then you should definitely check out APIs. They are a crucial part of many developers’ skill sets and are used for front-end and web application development, software engineering, and even data science. In fact, a lot of fields rely on APIs to make sure different software work together seamlessly.

But that's not all. Working with APIs is also a great way to build dynamic apps and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Plus, getting started with an API that aligns with your field or interests can help you gain real-world experience.

In this edition, we'll share a curated list of 10 APIs that may appeal to you or align with your interests. We'll also provide learning resources for these APIs to teach you how to work with them. All the courses use Python, so you can explore these integrations in a familiar programming language. 

A note for those just starting out

If you're just beginning with APIs, consider checking out a high-level overview covering different types and their functionalities. Additionally, APIs use built-in components like endpoints, resources, keys, and calls, all of which help them accomplish their goals. It’s worth reading up on these, too.

Now, on to the APIs!

1. Microsoft Computer Vision APIs

Microsoft has released its Microsoft Computer Vision APIs as part of Azure Cognitive Services, which provides cloud-based image and video analysis capabilities.

Key features of these APIs include: 

• Analyzing video in real-time

• Extracting text automatically

• Enhancing content discoverability

Start learning: Integrating Microsoft Computer Vision API with Python

2. OpenAI API

OpenAI's Natural Language Processing API, which is built on the advanced GPT-3 AI model, can perform various NLP tasks and even convert text to code using its "Codex" technology. This API, from the creators of the popular ChatGPT model, is used by companies such as IBM, Salesforce, Cisco, and Intel.

Key features of this API include:

• NLP capabilities such as language translation, text summarization, and question answering

• Integration with various programming languages and frameworks

• Customizable models for specific use cases

• Access to a wide range of pre-trained models and fine-tuning options

• Scalability and support for large-scale projects

• The ability to work with various types of text, including unstructured and structured text data

Start learning: Using OpenAI API for Natural Language Processing in Python

3. GitHub API

GitHub comes with a Rest API that helps developers automate repetitive tasks and achieve additional levels of functionality across their projects. The GitHub API utilizes the JSON format to pull information directly from GitHub and return it. Additionally, it enables multiple developers working on the same project to update pull requests and commits on branches of repositories automatically.

Key features of this API include: 

• Code management

• Collaboration

• Deployment

Start learning: Managing Your Codebase with the GitHub API in Python

4. Dropbox API

Dropbox provides various file management services, such as editing, sharing, and remote access, through its cloud storage platform. The updated Dropbox API v2 includes additional features like full-text search, thumbnails, and sharing files. Developers can easily access and save files on Dropbox using the Chooser and Saver components. Additionally, webhooks can be used to automatically notify users of any changes made to a specific file.

Key features of this API include: 

• Enabling specialized process flows

• Granting administrator functionalities permissions

• Interacting directly with Dropbox files

Start learning: Get Started with the Dropbox API in Python

5. Wise API

Wise is a London-based service for global bank accounts that offers seamless transfers between 50 different currencies. Wise aims to connect international customers and businesses by eliminating reliance on banks and their hidden exchange rate markups. They built the platform to streamline the currency exchange process and create new opportunities for fledgling businesses and world travelers.

Wise offers several different APIs in its developer suite:

• Payouts

• Banks

• Affiliates

• Receive money

• Open banking

Start learning: Sending and Receiving Money with Wise Payouts API in Python

6. Blogger API

The Blogger API allows users to manage their blog by providing functionality to create, update, and delete posts and also retrieve page view analytics. It operates on five key resources, namely:

• Blogs 

• Posts

• Comments

• Pages 

• Users

Start learning: Blogging Using the Blogger API in Python

7. AccuWeather APIs

AccuWeather is a technology that specializes in weather forecasting and reporting. They offer two types of APIs: the Core weather API and the MinuteCast API. The Core weather API includes features such as daily and hourly weather forecasts and current weather conditions. The MinuteCast API, on the other hand, gives a precise forecast for precipitation in a specific area for the next 120 minutes.

AccuWeather APIs are further subdivided into:

• Locations API

• Forecast API

• Current Conditions API

• Indices API

• Weather Alarms API

• Alerts API

• Imagery API (satellite imagery)

• Tropical API (monitors tropical storms)

• Translations (multiple language translations)

Start learning: Tracking Forecasts with the AccuWeather APIs in Python

8. Ticketmaster API

Ticketmaster is one of the world's most popular event ticketing platforms and offers a variety of APIs, including: 

• The Discovery API

• Partner API

• Inventory Status API

• International Discovery API

• Season Ticketing API

• Presence API for venues and ticket scanning.

The Discovery API and Inventory Status API are the most useful for general users.

Start learning: Surfacing Event Data with the Ticketmaster APIs in Python

9. Reddit API

Developers commonly use the Reddit API to build tools such as bots. You may undoubtedly have encountered a comment bot while browsing Reddit. These types of applications collect data from comments on specific domains and respond accordingly. These features are especially beneficial for moderation, community guidelines, and notifications for new posts.

Key features of this API include:

• Retrieving data for posts and comments

• Searching for posts and comments based on various criteria

• Submission of new posts and comments, including text, images, and links

• Management of a user's account

• Moderating a subreddit

Start learning: Getting Started with the Reddit APIs in Python

10. YouTube Data API

YouTube, the world's most popular video playback service, offers a range of APIs as part of its Google Developers Suite. These APIs are highly functional and well-documented and can be used to integrate YouTube functionality into your own app or website. The YouTube Data API, in particular, is useful for accessing information such as channel activity, comments and ratings, and search results.

Key features of this API include: 

• Searching for videos and channels

• Retrieving video and channel information

• Uploading and managing videos

• Retrieving video analytics

• Retrieving comments

• Managing live streams

Start learning: Integration With YouTube Data API in Python

Take the next step with APIs

We hope you enjoyed this edition of Grokking Python! Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced developer, APIs are a valuable tool that can help you take your skills to the next level. We've discussed some of the most popular and widely used APIs, and working with them can add great capabilities to your apps. But there are many more to explore.

If you’re interested in continuing your learning, the course Become an API Integrator is a great place to start.

Which API do you want to try next? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy learning!