Monday, December 4th, 2017

Use the Yelp API rooftop bar data, or build your own API, that was the question?

The Yelp Fusion API was a big challenge, compounded by large inconsistencies in their rooftop bar data, so we decided to build our own API.

First, we started by listing all the rooftops venues in Denver to add.

We then drew up some rough ERDs based on all the features we wanted to add.

Next, with “Productive Developer” mind, we cut the features in half, not half-assed, to one database for the Venues.

Afterwards, we narrowed down all the information we wanted to have for each venue.

Updated the ERD to the final one on the left.

We gathered our data, and built the API with Node.js, Express, Knex and deployed it to Heroku.

You can find it here:
https://thawing-anchorage-35743.herokuapp.com/api/locations

In conclusion, if you aren’t happy with the APIs that are out there, create your own!