Here’s a kick-ass project that’s just launched — a way to compare and rate APIs. Driven by Idealware. As Laura Quinn writes:

There’s been a lot of hubbub recently about the release of new APIs from Convio and Kintera. It’s exciting news, but hard to cut through the hype to figure out what precisely is being offered, and to who. Which API is better? Well, better for who? And to do what? … We need a framework that can help us compare the data exchange offerings of different vendors. (More at Idealware’s blog.)

Right on, Laura!

To restate why it’s exciting news, I’ll point you back to the good old Integration Proclamation, the petition I started a year ago to pressure software providers to open up and integrate with other tools. The Proclamation’s message remains as loud and clear as ever — progressive nonprofits and campaigns need their data to flow freely. The tools need to talk to each other. Good APIs (application programming interfaces) are what allow the tools to talk. So progressives need good APIs.

But as Laura says, separating good APIs from bad APIs is really hard to do, even for the most technically savvy software users. So the vendors can make crap APIs and pass them off as the greatest thing since sliced bytes. That’s why Idealware’s framework is so important — it can shine some light on the APIs and push the vendors to choose high standards, not hype.

Full disclosure — I’m also excited about this because I was involved with the API Framework idea from its inception, at last year’s NTEN conference. My focus shifted to one very specific integration (more on that soon, I promise). But Laura picked up the concept and, with Paul Hagen’s skillful help, is turning it into reality.

It’s been wonderful to watch this nugget of a good idea turn into a full fledged project. I wish Laura and Paul the best of luck!

It’s not exactly about progressive politics or technology, but I was interviewed for a pretty interesting piece on WNYC yesterday. Subject = freelance life. Since I run the Studio Guild collaborative office space here on 27th Street, I guess I’m qualified to talk about the ups and downs of being an independent.

Click this icon to listen to the MP3:

Three things to know, right off the bat:

1) If you just want to hear about Studio Guild, I come in at 3 minutes and 13 seconds.

2) Of the entire 45 minute interview I gave, the reporter, Ashley Milne-Tyte, chose probably my silliest quote.

3) I can’t help but completely forgive Ashley because she is, in fact, as charming and attractive as her voice would lead you to believe. Isn’t it great when lovely radio voices are attached to lovely people?

Enjoy it, all you bathrobed freelancers out there.

Not to be outdone by their arch-enemy Kintera, eCRM provider Convio has launched their own API suite, called Open. The news broke yesterday morning, along with a big PR push in the nptech sector. I personally got three emails about it from Convio staff, offering to talk it up.

Taking a page from my colleague Usha Venkatachallam, I’m offering a round-up of some quick reactions to the announcement from around the sector. On the whole, the reports are favorable but not glowing. Allan’s complaint about getting stuck in the registration seems like it might be the rule, not the exception.

Here’s what the blogs are saying.

Jason Zanon: The Great Awakening
“Open APIs have always been one of DIA’s bedrock assumptions. Since we’re not above glorying in converts, we’re excited to see the big commercial players starting to come around.”

Allan Benamer: Convio and Kintera Open Their APIs but Befuddle Coders
“If you happen to be one of those people who like to write code, you’re going to want to sign up for Kintera or Convio’s open API program. But guess what? You can’t get in. I tried. Really, I did.”

Michelle Murrain: Platforms Break Open!
“Kintera takes some important steps to open up their application. Convio takes more, bigger steps that appear to eclipse what Kintera has done.”

Judi Sohn: Convio Launches an Open Initiative
“This isn’t about two companies making similar moves into the now-hot Open API dialog at the same time. It’s about two companies hitting a similar target audience with very different mindsets and visions.”

A great quote just landed in my inbox, courtesy of my friend Michael Dorsey:

“I hope we shall… crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”

- THOMAS JEFFERSON

Nuff said.