Who is using the Registry API?

Consultations
#1

The IATI Technical Team are exploring upgrading CKAN, the software which powers the IATI Registry. No decision has been made to upgrade at this time, we are merely scoping the implications in order to make an informed decision and plan any possible upgrade.

In a case where an upgrade does go ahead, there may be some changes to API functionality, which we are engaging with CKAN suppliers Open Knowledge Foundation to fully understand and - if necessary - establish migration processes.

In light of this, it would be good to understand which calls and API endpoints are being used by the community?

#2

Just to add, suspect this will apply to @siemvaessen and @bibhusan, as well as other developers I’m sure.

#3

Hi @dalepotter - yes please keep us / this forum updated on upgrading when/how. We discussed this with @Wendy as well. Thanks for keeping us in the loop & good luck with the upgrade …

#4

People may still use this repo: https://github.com/IATI/IATI-Registry-Refresher - which may or may not be affected?

#5

I think it would be helpful to outline the changes that would result from upgrading CKAN. As far as I understand it, given that the API endpoints are versioned and the changes are mostly backward-compatible (though they weren’t 100% backward-compatible in the last upgrade), it shouldn’t have much of an effect. But that would be good to check. My understanding is that the Registry already uses the CKAN Action API (v3), so there would presumably be limited changes.

In Bangladesh we are using the IATI Datastore to retrieve data. I assume there would be no effect on that, or that the Datastore would be adjusted as necessary to ensure continuity of service.

#6

As publisher ‘InterAction’s NGO Aid Map’, we are using several Registry API methods at http://iatiregistry.org/api/3/action/ to sync our contributers’ changes to NGO Aid Map data to the IATI registry each night. Definitely appreciate the heads up for possible future changes! Will stay tuned…

#7

Within Akvo’s RSR, we haven’t made use of the Registry’s API yet, but we’re planning to extend the functionality to fully automate publishing to the Registry through the API, and to check which of the generated IATI files in RSR are actually registered in the Registry.

This is longer term planning though, so for now no use of the API yet, but thanks for the heads-up.

Gr, Kasper

#8

I am using a version of this, yes, although it could benefit from an update now that the number of publishers is growing and updates can be done more efficiently. But it works for now :slight_smile:

#9

Hi!
Yes. Please, it’s very interesting to keep us updated if any backward compatibility could be affected.

In my case. I developed (and it’s still working) the IATI-RDA (REGISTRY & DATA ANALYZER) application that includes several registry connections using CKAN.

best regards.
Alberto Amaro

#10

Many thanks again to everyone for your comments - aside from gaining understanding things to be aware of in functionality, it’s great to know how the community the Registry API is being used.

As an update, we have been in discussions with Open Knowledge Foundation (the suppliers of the IATI Registry) and we would expect to upgrade from our current version of CKAN (v2.1.4) to v2.5.2. No upgrade timetable has been set and we will ensure there is a good amount of time for testing as part of the upgrade process.

However, an enabling step for this upgrade will be migration to a new server, which will involve some downtime next Thursday evening (UK time). Further information is outlined in a separate post however I wanted to post here as an additional flag.