some links / #2315

first some lazy explanation

with an API (application programming interface = Programmierschnittstelle) you can simply make some queries on a database (mostly) regardless which language you use. The API could be adressed via various programs or scripts (PHP, PERL, .NET, exe,...). Perhaps you have installed google desktop? This piece of software adresses google API to get the requested information like weather, news, ...
Principially it's like a function; you give some input (e.g. what information based on a few parameters you want to have) and you get some output (hopefully the answer you requested). The API can not also give you read-access, but can give you write-access to the database.

For streber this could be:

1. please give me a list of tasks of person with id 1234
2. please add some effort for person 1234 today from 12:00 till 14:00 on task 4321
3. please give me a list of task, which are more than 75% done
4. please give me a list of tasks, which are overdue
5. ...

of course you can secure the API with login/password or other codes. It's nothing more different than accessing the database via strebers PHP-codes itself, but in a more simpler way. That way you can solve some problems like:

• small time tracker (as explained above)
• regular task, like the ones I wrote in comment on repeating / regular tasks
• ...

almost forgotten:
And one of the best things, you can write a litte .NET programm, which synchronizes strebers database with Exchange (or Outlook). This is really cool and one key feature for a good PM-software. With this you can take your dates and tasks with your PDA, mobile phone, ... whatever can synchronize with your exchange or outlook (of course a plugin for iSync could be written, too!)