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Title: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Gavin Andresen on March 30, 2011, 03:04:24 PM So before deciding to do ClearCoin, I was thinking I was going to clone one or more of the PayPal shopping cart / payment APIs.
The advantage would that all of the existing shopping cart interfaces that know how to talk to PayPal would "just work" with bitcoins (the PayPal APIs can already deal with multiple currencies) -- just replace the https://api.paypal.com/ URL (or whatever it is) and specify amounts in BTC instead of USD or EUR. The short-term business model would be an E-Wallet for businesses (like PayPal). The medium/long-term business plan would be to get acquired by PayPal when PayPal decided they need to support bitcoin. If you don't like PayPal, then replace "PayPal" by "Google Checkout" or whatever other, popular payment processing gateway API is already being used by lots of websites. I still think this is a good idea, but I'm busy, so I'm throwing it out here and hoping somebody decides to do it. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Nefario on March 30, 2011, 03:09:21 PM It's actually a brilliant idea. Add on top of this a Point of Sale payment processing system(or not, whatever).
However I hate paypal API's soooooo I'm not the one for the job. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: jgarzik on March 30, 2011, 03:17:03 PM Yep, I've been thinking about this idea for a while. In general we need more merchant-friendly APIs (and more merchant-friendly depositories, like MyBitcoin).
PayPal even has a "sandbox" where developers can test their software against PayPal's API, without spending / losing real money. Bitcoin has testnet, and a PP-compatible API would be a perfect complement. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: trentzb on March 30, 2011, 03:59:41 PM I believe such a payment processing gateway and/or E-Wallet service would have to be non-anonymous for PayPal or any other similar service to take notice. Additionally the chargeback control issue becomes...well an issue.
I have contemplated implementing such a gateway/E-Wallet service however I am not yet sure how to deal with those concerns. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: comboy on March 30, 2011, 06:10:23 PM Are you sure there cannot be some copyright issues? After all designing API takes some work, and I'm not sure if that design is free. With all these methods names and exact same error numbers it's hard to convince somebody that it was just coincidence.
Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Mike Hearn on March 30, 2011, 10:00:35 PM Reimplementing public APIs is permitted by law because APIs are statements of fact, not creative works.
However, copying things like header files or documentation is not allowed, as they are protected by copyright. I used to work on the Wine emulator, so I am pretty sure it's safe ;) Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Jered Kenna (TradeHill) on March 30, 2011, 10:06:50 PM Is something like that a lot of work or pretty simple?
I'm talking about changing it to work with BTC not writing it from scratch. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Mahkul on March 30, 2011, 10:46:21 PM Is something like that a lot of work or pretty simple? I'm talking about changing it to work with BTC not writing it from scratch. To change it you would need the source code, which I believe is not open sourced? :) Probably writing a clone from scratch is required. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Mahkul on March 30, 2011, 11:26:00 PM I think this is very important. How about starting a bounty for that?
http://img.wallpaperstock.net:81/wallpapers/thumbs1/17292.png Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: error on March 30, 2011, 11:30:03 PM I used to work on the Wine emulator, so I am pretty sure it's safe ;) Wine is not an emulator! :P Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: comboy on March 30, 2011, 11:31:15 PM Reimplementing public APIs is permitted by law because APIs are statements of fact, not creative works. However, copying things like header files or documentation is not allowed, as they are protected by copyright. I used to work on the Wine emulator, so I am pretty sure it's safe ;) Hah, nice. Great to have you around :) Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Mahkul on March 30, 2011, 11:31:39 PM I used to work on the Wine emulator, so I am pretty sure it's safe ;) Wine is not an emulator! :P Unless he meant some piece of software that emulates Wine. ;) Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: [Tycho] on March 31, 2011, 12:19:04 AM The short-term business model would be an E-Wallet for businesses (like PayPal). The medium/long-term business plan would be to get acquired by PayPal when PayPal decided they need to support bitcoin. If it's a "business model", then you are expecting some profit, but how can you compete with mtgox's merchanting if he already offers 0% fee ?Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Anonymous on March 31, 2011, 12:32:57 AM The short-term business model would be an E-Wallet for businesses (like PayPal). The medium/long-term business plan would be to get acquired by PayPal when PayPal decided they need to support bitcoin. If it's a "business model", then you are expecting some profit, but how can you compete with mtgox's merchanting if he already offers 0% fee ?How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: [Tycho] on March 31, 2011, 12:47:29 AM How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... With a 2% fee, of course.This doesn't works against 0% Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: BitterTea on March 31, 2011, 02:08:29 AM How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... With a 2% fee, of course.This doesn't works against 0% Ease of use. If this were available, it could be a seamless transition from Paypal to Bitcoin. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Anonymous on March 31, 2011, 04:54:02 AM How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... With a 2% fee, of course.This doesn't works against 0% Invalid. Mt Gox api is not in the same ballpark as the paypal api. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Jered Kenna (TradeHill) on March 31, 2011, 12:20:47 PM How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... With a 2% fee, of course.This doesn't works against 0% Invalid. Mt Gox api is not in the same ballpark as the paypal api. Where does he make his money if he has a o% fee? Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: Nefario on March 31, 2011, 02:24:02 PM How can you compete with paypal when theres a 3% fee..... With a 2% fee, of course.This doesn't works against 0% Invalid. Mt Gox api is not in the same ballpark as the paypal api. Where does he make his money if he has a o% fee? Fromo using the funds to play on the money markets until they are withdrawn, same with mybitcoin. Just kidding. Title: Re: Project idea: clone Paypal API(s) Post by: BitterTea on March 31, 2011, 03:23:20 PM Where does he make his money if he has a o% fee? He doesn't have to have a 0% fee, 2% or 1% is acceptable. It would mainly be competing with Paypal, not MtGox. Besides, the MtGox "api" consists of javascript widget. In some applications, more seamless integration is beneficial, and performing calls to a web service could be more desirable. |
