Hol api?

[tygre]

Hi there!

I wonder if HOL could provide some kind of API or access points so that game launchers, like the great iGame, could actually automatically get covers, genre, etc. from HOL?

I reached out to RCK few weeks ago but he may be in holidays at the moment (It's still August!)

Cheers!

[Radertified]

I'd love to see API access but I doubt it'll happen. I remember back in the day people abusing HOL and leeching everything. This is why the warning system was introduced.

I think the ideal situation would be for someone to maintain launcher packs instead. Screenshots and info for iGame, TinyLauncher, etc., ready to go according to the latest Retroplay WHDLoad pack, DamienD's WinUAE pack, or something similar. Download, unpack and you're set.

[tygre]

Hi Radertified!

Oh, I didn't know about the earlier abuses

The thing with "packs" are that:

1. Someone must maintain them (obviously! ), which takes time and could lead to delays/conflicts.
2. They may contain or miss some covers, meta-data, etc. for someone's particular games... while HOL is all-knowing

That's why I think that HOL would be the best: a unique, complete source of information...

Maybe HOL API could require some "unique key" either for iGame in general or for each iGame user, like does modarchive.org... But I do realise that it's a lot of work to maintain though so I would prefer a "simple" API to download some images and some of the meta-data.

Could somone maintaining HOL chime in?

Cheers!

[Radertified]

As I said, I'm all for it so if RCK (or anyone else) is willing to write the code, fantastic!

[tygre]

Hi there!

Just to mentioned that I talked with RCK and there could be an API in the future but not soon. Also, scraping HOL for some bits of information would be okay one time but not having multiple clients downloading the same info. again and over again... So will have to find an alternative!

Cheers!