Merger of Databib and re3data.org, first version of API available

On the occasion of the Research Data Alliance’s Fifth Plenary Meeting, we are pleased to report progress in the consolidation of the Databib and re3data.org initiatives into a shared registry and website and to announce the availability of an Application Programming Interface (API) to enable machine access to the merged registry.

The registry and collective effort are now known as re3data.org, while Databib has become the name of the editorial board of volunteers who review and enhance records for inclusion in the registry. The consolidated registry contains information for more than 1,130 data repositories that are accessed by over 5,000 unique visitors each month. On average, 10 new repositories are added every week.

A new REST-API is currently being beta tested that provides the full list of repositories and enables retrieval of full, structured records describing individual repositories. The interface aims to implement a RESTful application architecture. In line with the HATEOAS concept, the data can be discovered automatically and retrieved in XML by following hypermedia links. The interface, currently being beta, supports versioning and will be extended with future requirements. The schema and developer documentation for the API are available online. Feedback on the API and suggestions for new functionality for the API specification are welcomed by sending email to info@re3data.org.

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