This proposal aims to create a module that implements the GData protocol specification in Drupal. The Google data APIs provide a simple standard protocol, called “GData”, for reading and writing data on the web using either of two standard XML-based syndication formats: Atom or RSS. This module will handle all the basic stuff a developer shouldn’t have to worry about when developing modules that extend its functionality such as data transfer, protocol adherence, and authentication. It will expose its own API which will allow other developers to create modules that easily interact with information provided by Google’s many service APIs. Using this module, module developers who need access to this information need only concern themselves with what’s important: the data.

This module will benefit Drupal by providing developers with an easy way to interact with information provided by Google’s many service APIs without worrying about all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into accessing and modifying that information. This opens up a world of possibilities for integrating Google applications into Drupal. Some ideas that could be more easily implemented using the API provided by a GData module include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Using Gooogle’s Apps API to integrate various Google applications into Drupal, allowing it to be a competitor with other online groupware suites such as Microsoft SharePoint.
• Integrating Google Base Data into dynamic Drupal applications using Google’s Base Data API.
• Creating a Drupal front-end to Google’s Blogger service through its Blogger Data API, allowing for the administration of one or more Blogger sites through a Drupal interface.
• Allow users with a Google account to add their contacts to Drupal through Google’s Contacts API, enabling, beyond the simple importation of such information, the ability for social networks built on Drupal to connect users using their Contacts data

Download pdf Google Data APIs Protocol (GData Module)