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 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
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!
From: Todd Lantry <bounce-toddlantry3834@tessituranetwork.com> Sent: 5/3/2013 11:22:00 AM
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 Lantry Tessitura Network webmaster
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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