I'm returning to the world of web development via the Tessitura web API after a nine-month hiatus. I have a number of nagging questions. It'd be great to get some insight from other software developers. In no particular order:
1. The REST API allows a lot of fine-grained data access. While this allows flexibility, it seems to require more API calls in comparison with the coarser-grained SOAP API. This makes me think that the v11 REST API is not ready or intended for adoption by web developers. To what extent is the REST API ready for consumption by constituent-facing web applications?
2. As far as I can tell, the REST API does not expose constituent login and registration functionality, though it could conceivably be accomplished using the Constituent Service. Is it the intention of the REST API to use the Constituent Service for constituent login and registration, or will that belong to a yet-to-be-released service?
3. The REST API documentation mentions a variety of client libraries, but it doesn't go into detail. I feel like I should dig in via Reflector. In the meantime, could someone give me examples of how these may be used?
4. For the SOAP API, I've encapsulated calls behind a facade. The facade uses an old-fashioned "web reference". I have a separate repository / mapping layer to convert the DataSets to domain objects. Could anyone share some tips or best-practices for consuming either API?
5. Is there a lighter mechanism for consuming SOAP services, as opposed to the Visual Studio web-reference proxy class and DataSet responses?
6. Does anyone have a useful tool or technique for lazy-loading objects from the API?
7. Is there a better (or alternate) forum where web developers using Tessitura can talk and share their code and experiences? I would love to share my code and examples.
Hi Bryan,
Regarding question #7, this is a good place for those questions, since there are many licensee web developers on the forum, as well as Tessitura staff; in addition, there is another developer specific site that also includes vendors (as well as licensees and staff). I'll create a login for you and you'll be emailed the credentials shortly.
Regarding your other questions, I'm sure someone with more specific knowledge of the Tessitura APIs than I will weigh in soon.
Best,
Todd LantryTessitura Network webmaster
One more place for developers to get highly technical is the Web Developer Group on this site also; forgot about that for a moment!
Todd
Hi Todd,
I'm not doing much development yet but would like to start, especially as we move toward v12. If the developer specific site would be a good learning resource, I'd love to have access to it too!
Hi Matthew,
Everyone is welcome! There is a fair amount of crossover in the content between this site and the developer site, but some of the conversations are a little different as some of the vendors get more involved with the REST API, so I’ll add you to it and you can have a look around. Email coming to you soon…
Best, Todd
From: Tessitura Web Forum [mailto:forums-tessitura-web@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Matthew Echert Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 10:41 AM To: Todd Lantry Subject: Re: [Tessitura Web Forum] n00b questions about the web APIs
From: Todd Lantry <bounce-toddlantry3834@tessituranetwork.com> Sent: 5/3/2013 11:22:00 AM
Todd Lantry Tessitura Network webmaster
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Thanks, Todd! I'll definitely check it out.
Thanks, Todd! What an incredible resource developer.tessituranetwork.com is! That fits the bill.
I now see three forum-like venues to post software development questions: This web forum, the web developer group discussions, and the developer-specific site. When I post questions or ideas in the future, which venues are most appropriate for which kinds of posts?
Bryan
Yes—things are a bit spread out that way. This forum should be used for all types of web and API related questions/discussion—such as business practices, advice, etc. It does sometimes get a bit technical but for really weedy things we created the web developer group on this site.
The developer.tessituranetwork.com site came along later as a need/desire arose for vendors to have self-service access to the same documentation and discussion resources licensees have on this site, since vendors are restricted from having logins to www.tessituranetwork.com (by licensee request). The addition of the REST API and the changes in v11 added to that desire for a place to share resources and find documentation.
The idea is to replicate the atmosphere of the web developer forum at TLCC, where all kinds of developers sit at the same table and ask questions, share ideas, etc.
For licensees there are two sites, but we felt there was no reason to limit developer.tessituranetwork.com to vendors only—licensees can and should request a login there if they want; with the addition of the vendor developers, there could be an additional perspective that might not be seen here.
I hope that’s helpful,
From: Tessitura Web Forum [mailto:forums-tessitura-web@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Bryan Drenner Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 2:32 PM To: Todd Lantry Subject: RE: [Tessitura Web Forum] n00b questions about the web APIs
From: Todd Lantry <bounce-toddlantry3834@tessituranetwork.com> Sent: 5/3/2013 1:08:23 PM