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Document Sample
Briefing-112 Briefing-112
An Introduction To Mashups An Introduction To Mashups
A UKOLN Briefing Document A UKOLN Briefing Document
What Is A Mashup? What Is A Mashup?
Wikipedia defines a mashup as “a web application that combines data from more than Wikipedia defines a mashup as “a web application that combines data from more than
one source into a single integrated tool” [1]. Many popular examples of mashups make one source into a single integrated tool” [1]. Many popular examples of mashups make
use of the Google Map service to provide a location display of data taken from another use of the Google Map service to provide a location display of data taken from another
source. source.
Technical Concepts Technical Concepts
As illustrated in a video clip on “What Is A Mashup?” [2] from a programmer’s As illustrated in a video clip on “What Is A Mashup?” [2] from a programmer’s
perspective a mashup is based on making use of APIs (application programmers perspective a mashup is based on making use of APIs (application programmers
interface) In a desktop PC environment, application programmers make use of interface). In a desktop PC environment, application programmers make use of
operating system functions (e.g. drawing a shape on a screen, accessing a file on a hard operating system functions (e.g. drawing a shape on a screen, accessing a file on a hard
disk drive, etc.) to make use of common functions within the application they are disk drive, etc.) to make use of common functions within the application they are
developing. A key characteristic of Web 2.0 is the notion of ‘the network as the developing. A key characteristic of Web 2.0 is the notion of ‘the network as the
platform’. APIs provided by Web-based services (such as services provided by platform’. APIs provided by Web-based services (such as services provided by
companies such as Google and Yahoo) can similarly be used by programmers to build companies such as Google and Yahoo) can similarly be used by programmers to build
new services, based on popular functions the companies may provide. APIs are new services, based on popular functions the companies may provide. APIs are
available for, for example, the Google Maps service and the del.icio.us social book available for, for example, the Google Maps service and the del.icio.us social book
marking service. marking service.
Creating Mashups Creating Mashups
Many mashups can be created by simply providing Many mashups can be created by simply providing
data to Web-based services. As an example, the UK data to Web-based services. As an example, the UK
Web Focus list of events is available as an RSS feed Web Focus list of events is available as an RSS feed
as well as a plain HTML page [3]. The RSS feed as well as a plain HTML page [3]. The RSS feed
includes simple location data of the form: includes simple location data of the form:
<geo:lat>51.752747</geo:lat> <geo:lat>51.752747</geo:lat>
<geo:long>-1.267138</geo:long> <geo:long>-1.267138</geo:long>
This RSS feed can be fed to mashup services, such This RSS feed can be fed to mashup services, such
as the Acme.com service, to provide a location map as the Acme.com service, to provide a location map
of the talks given by UK Web Focus, as illustrated. of the talks given by UK Web Focus, as illustrated.
Figure 1: Mashup Of Location Figure 1: Mashup Of Location
Of UK Web Focus Events Of UK Web Focus Events
This document is available at: This document is available at:
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/qa-focus/documents/briefings/briefing-112/> <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/qa-focus/documents/briefings/briefing-112/>
Tools For The Developer Tools For The Developer
More sophisticated mashups More sophisticated mashups
will require programming will require programming
expertise. The mashup expertise. The mashup
illustrated, which shows the illustrated, which shows the
location of UK Universities location of UK Universities
and data about the and data about the
Universities [4], is likely to Universities [4], is likely to
require access to a backend require access to a backend
database. database.
However a number of tools However a number of tools
are being developed which Figure 2: A Google Maps Mashup Showing Location are being developed which Figure 2: A Google Maps Mashup Showing
allow mashups to be created and Data About UK Universities allow mashups to be created Location and Data About UK Universities
by people who may not consider themselves to be software developers. Such tools by people who may not consider themselves to be software developers. Such tools
include Yahoo Pipes [5], PopFly [6] and the Google Mashup Editor [7]. include Yahoo Pipes [5], PopFly [6] and the Google Mashup Editor [7].
Allowing Your Service To Be “Mashed Up” Allowing Your Service To Be “Mashed Up”
Paul Walk commented that “The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by Paul Walk commented that “The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by
someone else” [8]. Mashups provide a good example of this concept: if you provide data someone else” [8]. Mashups provide a good example of this concept: if you provide data
which can be reused this will allow others to develop richer services which you may not which can be reused this will allow others to develop richer services which you may not
have the resources or expertise to develop. It can be useful, therefore, to seek to both have the resources or expertise to develop. It can be useful, therefore, to seek to both
provide structured data for use by others and to avoid software development if existing provide structured data for use by others and to avoid software development if existing
tools already exist. However you will still need to consider issues such as copyright and tools already exist. However you will still need to consider issues such as copyright and
other legal issues and service sustainability. other legal issues and service sustainability.
References References
1. Mashup (web application hybrid), Wikipedia, 1. Mashup (web application hybrid), Wikipedia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid)> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid)>
2. What is A Mashup?, ZDNet, <http://news.zdnet.com/2422-13569_22- 2. What is A Mashup?, ZDNet, <http://news.zdnet.com/2422-13569_22-152729.html>
152729.html>
3. Forthcoming Events and Presentations, UK Web Focus, UKOLN,
3. Forthcoming Events and Presentations, UK Web Focus, UKOLN, <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/>
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/>
4. University Locator, University of Northumbria,
4. University Locator, University of Northumbria, <http://northumbria.ac.uk/browse/unimapper/>
<http://northumbria.ac.uk/browse/unimapper/>
5. Yahoo Pipes, Yahoo, <http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/>
5. Yahoo Pipes, Yahoo, <http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/>
6. Popfly, Microsoft, <http://www.popfly.com/>
6. Popfly, Microsoft, <http://www.popfly.com/>
7. Google Mashup Editor, Google, <http://editor.googlemashups.com/>
7. Google Mashup Editor, Google, <http://editor.googlemashups.com/>
8. The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by someone else,
8. The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by someone else, Paul Walk, 23 July 2007,<http://blog.paulwalk.net/2007/07/23/>
Paul Walk, 23 July 2007,<http://blog.paulwalk.net/2007/07/23/>
Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management Oct 2007 Produced by UKOLN: a national centre of expertise in digital information management Oct 2007
For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/> For further information see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/>
