[Doctah]

Since Omni dropped his mobile application, an API would allow a developer like me to really streamline the site for beautiful viewing on an Android/iOS mobile. Sure it's ok to browse on occasion on my phone, but with static layouts, sometimes it's rather annoying. It'd be great to see a really fluid layout for HackForums on a mobile device.

I really wasn't aware that the forums were hard to use on a mobile device :/.

[xFuze.]

Although I only joined today, I support this notion. It seems like a gigantic forum (the biggest one I've ever used) and an API seems like it would be a great utility for developers.

[Crake]

Since Omni dropped his mobile application, an API would allow a developer like me to really streamline the site for beautiful viewing on an Android/iOS mobile. Sure it's ok to browse on occasion on my phone, but with static layouts, sometimes it's rather annoying. It'd be great to see a really fluid layout for HackForums on a mobile device.

Omni doesn't want a mobile application. I developed one and before deploying it asked permission to distribute it (not that I actually needed it) but Omni quite clearly stated he did not people using my app.

[7oUP]

Not a bad idea at all. I think all sorts of forums should have this

[The LAD Bible]

Guide for use on mobile device:

Using: Samsung Galaxy S5

1. Enable screen rotation, please Google this is you don't know how... (facepalm)
   


2. Open browser and go to hackforums.net.
   


3. I just saved Omni alot of time.
   

[tweety]

tldr; Omni doesn't want people to fuck with his shit.

[BlueFish]

Note: The first two paragraphs are nothing related to the actual
suggestion. If you are willing to know how I came up with this and
how it may help me. Also, please forgive my bad English grammar
skills as English in not my foreign language.

Hello,
So I was in middle of planning for a project I was willing to create.
This project is a website where you can sell your signature space and
anyone can rent it for a set price. When someone rents it, it will
instantly change the signature of the user renting his sig. I had no
problem with that if the user puts the link I give him as an image in
his signature.

After sometime, a problem came up. Why will anyone rent a signature
space if they can't redirect a person clicking on it to their sales page?
At this point everything I made and did felt worthless, since that's the
whole point of creating this signature marketplace.

My question is, why doesn't HackForums have an API where I can
request the amount of posts, reputation or maybe change the
signature of a user.

I know it can be hard to code it, and maybe put the user's account at
risk if all the information needed to do a certain thing on the user's
account gets leaked. But we can have a monthly payment to get
access to the API, or a one-time fee. We can also have a person or
Omni look at the code so you can get an API key.

I want to know other user's opinions on this. And I hope Omni takes
this into consideration. After all, he will get paid for it. Also, I would
like to have Omni do a poll on this if users don't mind Omni
implementing it, if he ever considers implementing this.

Thanks for reading,
With regards,
Calypo.

EDIT: Regarding the signature problem, the user Dean Winchester helped me with it.
But I think we still need an API.

This is an excellent idea! I am more than interested if this were to be put into action. I like the sound of a per month fee opposed to an up front fee for the fact that it may deter many potential buyers/users (including myself).

Great thread!

[Nutar]

Thanks to everyone who supported the idea.

[Psifour]

I feel I should elaborate. I will most likely be leaving HF (and many other services) in the near future if proper APIs are not at least planned for. Lately I have realized I personally disagree with not having a convenient way to retrieve information from a service that you contribute to. Allow me to explain on a larger scale without limiting my explanation to just HF.

For any site/application that has a social aspect the users (and their user-created content) tend to be the draw for new users. For instance if Facebook didn't have as many users as it does I would have no logical reason to use their service. So it follows that the success for any social site/app is based on usage of their current members and their work. By itself this is not a problem as the exchange is more akin to a symbiotic relationship than anything else. The problem comes in when said service stores and tracks information about their users. You now have an unfair exchange in favor of the service provider. They are able to use your data for any purpose (within the limits of the law) without providing you any means to access said data in a convenient manner. At a minimum any social-focused service should provide you a programmatic means of monitoring your input to said data pool.

With all of that said there are times where you can (in good faith) limit access to said data. The first is when access to such data would be detrimental to the safety/security of users. This is solved rather easily by allowing users the ability to opt-out of the API. The security side is easily solved with the usage of something like OAuth which has had rather few security issues when compared with your average forum software. The second is when the creation of said API would require a significant restructuring of the back-end of a service. This case would never apply to a forum (unless someone writes a P2P PKI-enabled forum with no centralized server/back-end). In the cases it does apply the developers/providers should still endeavour to provide the best possible API they can without damaging the service they provide.

[Nutar]

I feel I should elaborate. I will most likely be leaving HF (and many other services) in the near future if proper APIs are not at least planned for. Lately I have realized I personally disagree with not having a convenient way to retrieve information from a service that you contribute to. Allow me to explain on a larger scale without limiting my explanation to just HF.

For any site/application that has a social aspect the users (and their user-created content) tend to be the draw for new users. For instance if Facebook didn't have as many users as it does I would have no logical reason to use their service. So it follows that the success for any social site/app is based on usage of their current members and their work. By itself this is not a problem as the exchange is more akin to a symbiotic relationship than anything else. The problem comes in when said service stores and tracks information about their users. You now have an unfair exchange in favor of the service provider. They are able to use your data for any purpose (within the limits of the law) without providing you any means to access said data in a convenient manner. At a minimum any social-focused service should provide you a programmatic means of monitoring your input to said data pool.

With all of that said there are times where you can (in good faith) limit access to said data. The first is when access to such data would be detrimental to the safety/security of users. This is solved rather easily by allowing users the ability to opt-out of the API. The security side is easily solved with the usage of something like OAuth which has had rather few security issues when compared with your average forum software. The second is when the creation of said API would require a significant restructuring of the back-end of a service. This case would never apply to a forum (unless someone writes a P2P PKI-enabled forum with no centralized server/back-end). In the cases it does apply the developers/providers should still endeavour to provide the best possible API they can without damaging the service they provide.

This is the best reply I have seen so far.

EDIT: Added your reply as quotes in the OP.

[Alg0rhyth3m]

I love that notion. @Psifour. Wounderful reply.

[Psifour]

This is the best reply I have seen so far.

EDIT: Added your reply as quotes in the OP.

I love that notion. @Psifour. Wounderful reply.

Thank you for the kind words. I have been working on this idea for awhile, but I figured it is close enough to done that I can start implementing it as a life-theory. The logic actually goes much much deeper than just social media. If anyone is interested in where this conclusion comes from I can write it up as a thread with proper references and such (the discussion would probably serve to help me fix the last few issues I am having with it).

[TRH4CK]

Actually I love this idea! But sadly that would be a lot of work for Omni as he's already busy with other things... But I could even pay for it aswell xD

[Nutar]

Actually I love this idea! But sadly that would be a lot of work for Omni as he's already busy with other things... But I could even pay for it aswell xD

It's a lot work for him, but if he thought of how it could help grow the community, it would be worth his while. Also, I think this idea got many replies and support from other members and It's time to hear reply from Omni. I hope he replies soon.

[.Nick.]

If this was to happen, we may be finally get the mobile app, we've been promised for 4 years...