Chapter 11: Advanced Topics
Integrating A Remote System with Movable Type
Problem
You want to integrate a remote system with Movable Type.
Solution
Use one of the supported web service protocols.
Discussion
Movable Type supports a number of means of remote systems integration.
Syndication
Before reviewing the "proper" web service protocols supported by Movable Type, it is worth mentioning the use of syndication for integrating Movable Type with other systems. Essentially syndication formats over the web (HTTP) are simple read-only web services. The most popular and widely deployed of these services are the RSS and Atom syndication formats. Both of these formats are represented in MT's default template sets and can be easily modified and extended using MT's template tags and engine.
BloggerAPI and Metaweb API
Movable Type supports two protocols, the BloggerAPI and the MetaWeblog API, which added features to the BloggerAPI. Both were early community efforts to encourage more client software development. These similar protocols are based on XML-RPC, a predecessor of SOAP, as the means of providing remote interface services.
See LINK for more information on Movable Type's support and extensions to the BloggerAPI and MetaWeblog API.
Need the URL where the XML-RPC protocol APIs will reside on 6A servers.
The Atom Publishing Protocol
While widely supported, the XML-RPC protocols couldn't adapt to the rapid pace of change in weblog software. Various incompatibilities and design shortcomings existed that made scaling, latency, authentication, and extensibility difficult and problematic.
To address many of the issues with the XML-RPC protocols, an effort to develop an application-level protocol for publishing and editing Web resources was formed as part of the Atom standardization effort.
The Atom Publishing Protocol (APP), as it was named, is still under development although its basic characteristics are fairly stable. Unlike the Blogger and MetaWeblog protocols, APP uses the Atom Syndication Format instead of the XML-RPC format.
The use of the Atom Syndication format creates a strong bond between syndicated content and Web services and lets both clients and servers easily extend messages like feeds.
Going forward as the standard solidifies, Movable Type will build upon The Atom Publishing Protocol for remote systems integration.
Where is the Movable Type Atom API interface or is it the same as TypePad?
