Twitter API: Up and Running: Learn How to Build Applications with the Twitter API

Twitter is an online microblogging service that is all the rage these days–just talk to Anderson Cooper or Larry King. One can tweet from any computer or any mobile device, such as a smart phone connected to the Internet, sharing a message to the world in not more than 140 characters. Of course, Twitter can also do a few other things, such as share a photo, but all in all, very simple things. Since it was introduced in 2007, many have called for it to improve on these very simple things it does. Although Twitter has on occasion responded to collective behavior or demand by implementing improvements, this online service has largely remained as it began: simple.

It is a credit to Twitter that it has resisted making changes. Making the service less simple would also make it less versatile. The void of unanswered user requests for this service to do more, therefore, is filled by an ecosystem of third-party developers, using the Twitter API.

Kevin Makice’s //Twitter API: Up and Running// provides an introduction to using the Twitter API–the means to get at the rich Twitter data–to build web applications. This groundbreaking book is definitely for Twitter fans who want to do more than just answer the question, “What are you doing?”

This book has three main parts: an overview of the Twitter ecosystem and culture; background information on the languages and environment needed to create applications; and working code for a suite of sample applications meant to get the reader started on programming.

Twitter, as a channel for sharing individual status updates with the world, has brought value to the mundane. We have emerged into a world that is measured, and communicates, 140 characters at a time. With Kevin Makice’s //Twitter API: Up and Running//, this method of communication can only get better.

Reviewed by

Dominique James
Rating: 5 / 5

I was amazed by the amount of information in this book. It gives you a good overview of what Twitter is and other background information about the micro-blogging site. Then from there it takes you through Twitter apps, Web programming, and then on to using the Twitter API. It is a great book to learn more about Twitter and building your web app. I think anyone interested in building an app should definitely consider this book.
Rating: 5 / 5

The author did a pretty good job of explaining the Twitter API, some basic Web programming techniques (PHP, CSS), a whirlwind tour of current and past Twitter-related websites and some more or less useful sample applications.

However, the editor at O’Reilly should have talked the author into whipping the book into better shape before publishing it. First, in a book that has more than 400 pages on a pretty simple API, one would at least expect a section that explains how Twitter actually works. A sample flow of messages, responses, direct messages with illustrating screen shots. A bit of history maybe? Was Twitter like that from the beginning? What changed? When? Also, the publisher should have looked at the index and said: “Dude, this is okay for an auto-generated index, but if you want people to actually use the book to find something, put some more effort into it”. Again, not the authors fault, that’s the editor’s responsibility.

I’m giving 4 stars because the author’s writing is solid, but, man, a big minus point for O’Reilly to let this slip into the open without stricter review.
Rating: 4 / 5