Application Programming Interface (API) according to internet search engines, is an interface implemented by a software program to enable interaction with other software, much in the same way that a user interface facilitates interaction between humans and computers.
APIs are implemented by applications, libraries and operating systems to determine the vocabulary and calling conventions the programmer should employ to use their services.
It may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes and protocols used to communicate between the consumer and implementer of the API.
In creating the Spark (a BlastSuites eCommerce product), we used a lot of APIs to complete the whole process of selling online.
One of these is the API for payment gateway.
Here, we need to have a merchant ID and integrate it with the Checkout Process of our own system.
We just send information (e.g. product name, amount, currency code, order reference number) to the payment gateway's URL and wait for the response if succeeded or failed.
We also used their data feed feature which is a way to determine if the sent message is received, processed, and successfully performed.
To sum it up, APIs of any third party software is a great way to develop a system easily and accurately.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
persistent shopping carts
Purchasing an item using eCommerce is the trend nowadays.
One of the reasons why people try to buy online is the convenience of searching for a product anywhere in the world.
Having a list of products already added to the shopping cart is the best way to remember what you want to buy.
While developing Spark, an eCommerce product of BlastSuites, we realized that we need to have persistent shopping carts.
Persistent shopping carts saves a customer's cart contents through cookies.
A cookie is a small text file stored on a user's computer and can be set to expire after a few minutes, number of days or even years unless they are wiped out by the user's browser.
If the online buyer bookmarks a product today by saving it to cart, he can still see his items tomorrow and he doesn't have to relocate the product again if he want to purchase it already.
This is a great feature that will increase sales and make the customers happy thinking that their products are still there in the cart.
One of the reasons why people try to buy online is the convenience of searching for a product anywhere in the world.
Having a list of products already added to the shopping cart is the best way to remember what you want to buy.
While developing Spark, an eCommerce product of BlastSuites, we realized that we need to have persistent shopping carts.
Persistent shopping carts saves a customer's cart contents through cookies.
A cookie is a small text file stored on a user's computer and can be set to expire after a few minutes, number of days or even years unless they are wiped out by the user's browser.
If the online buyer bookmarks a product today by saving it to cart, he can still see his items tomorrow and he doesn't have to relocate the product again if he want to purchase it already.
This is a great feature that will increase sales and make the customers happy thinking that their products are still there in the cart.
google it
Today is the generation where everything you need is in the net.
All questions lead to the answer, 'google it'.
If you want to know the definition of a newly heard word, you go to the web and 'google it'.
If you want to look for a place, you type 'google maps'.
If you want to search for a picture, you click 'images' on google site.
In fact, when you want to buy a product online, you also 'google it'.
Whether to compare it with other brands, or just determine the lowest price, you still rely on the internet to find the answers.
Thus, here in BlastSuites, we continue to add more features to our own eCommerce product, the Spark.
We added 'google search' to give the online buyers a chance to surf the net while browsing the product catalogue.
There, they can add items to cart and search a keyword in google search at the same time without opening another browser.
They may do quick googling and still stay in the found product so they would not lose their items.
It does not just saves time and energy, it also turn a normal visitor into an actual online buyer.
All questions lead to the answer, 'google it'.
If you want to know the definition of a newly heard word, you go to the web and 'google it'.
If you want to look for a place, you type 'google maps'.
If you want to search for a picture, you click 'images' on google site.
In fact, when you want to buy a product online, you also 'google it'.
Whether to compare it with other brands, or just determine the lowest price, you still rely on the internet to find the answers.
Thus, here in BlastSuites, we continue to add more features to our own eCommerce product, the Spark.
We added 'google search' to give the online buyers a chance to surf the net while browsing the product catalogue.
There, they can add items to cart and search a keyword in google search at the same time without opening another browser.
They may do quick googling and still stay in the found product so they would not lose their items.
It does not just saves time and energy, it also turn a normal visitor into an actual online buyer.
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