Google Likes OAuth and 15 Resources to Get Started!
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is an “open protocol to allow secure API authorization in a simple and standard method from desktop and web applications.”
What does OAuth really mean?
Well, lets break the above description down into some key phrases and the pieces should come together.
- a “protocol” is a standardized method for the communication of two computers. For instance HTTP is the standardized way of a webserver communicating with your computer when you browse a website.
- “open” comes from the fact that this protocol is open source and can be viewed, downloaded, and maintained by anyone who is willing to take up the torch.
- “secure API authorization” is the functionality that OAuth.net gives to its stakeholders – the ability for a developer to download OAuth.net and secure their API access without having to write a unique (and possibly bug filled) authentication!
Brief History of OAuth
With its draft and proposal process starting in April of 2006, and the first lines of code made available in Augest 2007, OAuth.net is young but has seen some massive uptake.
Originally draft to solve problems integrating OpenID with twitter.com (the microblogging site we all know and love), OAuth had google’s interest from the beginning when DeWitt Clinton from Google (a “corporate member” of the OpenID Foundation) got interested, “if only as a stakeholder”.
With its contributors looking to have every major language covered, OAuth should allow any developer to take advantage of the strength of open-source in their API Authentication process!
The Google Story and 15 Resources to Get Started with OAuth when you
Google and OAuth?!
A year after first commits to OAuths repository we can now see the real fruits of DeWitt’s interest as Google has officially announced a “Hybrid Protocol” that combines OpenID identity management with OAuth’s authorization process. Google looks to be taking OAuth and its existing OpenID integrations to the next level and whether we know it or not, google will be running OAuth in the background soon! Read up on OAuth and Google on OAuthGoog which looks to be headed up by Eric Sachs over at oauthgoog.blogspot.com.
Final Thoughts & Credits
I caught wind of OAuth through Yariv Adan on the Google Data APIs Blog via the almighty ProgrammableWeb, and I’m excited to see what happens next!
With sites like Digg.com, Yahoo.com, Google.com, and the fanboys of each pillar of internet glory supporting OpenID OAuth will be finding its home amoung the giants of industry and the movers of global information.
15 OAuth Resources for Programming & Learning!
Having friends like Google and an older-brother like OpenID has its advantages. Massive Interest. There are already guides and tutorials and resources popping up for integrating OAuth into your (web)application. I’ve collected a few of them below to get you off to the races.
OAuth Basic Information and Documentation
- Official “Getting Started” on oauth.net – basic overview
- OAuth Basic Introduction Slides on slideshare.net – A simple outline of how OAuth works outlined in slides.
- A Beginners Guide to OAuth – part 1 / part 2 on hueniverse.com – A comprehensive post about how OAuth works, a visual map, and a thorough walkthrough of OAuth
OAuth Testing & Examples
- OAuth Playground on googlecodesamples.com – Code examples of OAuth on virtually all of the Google Data APIs
- OAuth Test Server on term.ie – get testing!
- OAuth Sandbox on mediamatic.nl – a sandboxed OAuth Testing Environment
OAuth in Ruby
- An OAuth Ruby Gem on rubyforge.org – try it out! let me know in comments!
- The Start of an OAuth Ruby Gem on code.google.com – seems a little stale (last entry into repository is last jan 08) but might be worth a compile!
- Developing OAuth Clients in Ruby on stakeventures.com – a great tutorial for getting OAuth up and running in Ruby
OAuth in PHP and PHP Applications
- oauth-php on code.google.com – PHP library for OAuth consumers and servers. Complete with an extensible OAuth store, including a full working implementation of a MySQL store.
- OAuth Component for CakePHP on cakebaker.com – Looks to be the definitive OAuth Component for CakePHP
- OAuth Component for CakePHP Tutorial on cakebaker.com – How to get OAuth working with CakePHP
- OAuth for Zend Framework on zend.com- OAuth Library built with the Zend Framework (great for stand-alone use!)
- OAuth and Drupal Services API on sumitk.net – for the Popular PHP CMS (peusdo framework) Drupal
OAuth on the iPhone!
- OAuth on the iPhone on immike.net – !
OAuth Feeds & Sites
If you find any more sites or anything that I’ve missed please drop me a line in the comments and I’ll be sure to revise and give credit! Thanks!
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