Undocumented public API?

[pbojinov]

Just wondering, is the API a publicly available undocumented API or one that Amazon provided for free use. I'd be good to disclose this in the readme.

http://completion.amazon.com/search/complete?search-alias=aps&client=amazon-search-ui&mkt=1&q='+prefix+'&callback=AmazonAutocomplete.AmazonJSONPCallbackHandler_'+this._id;

[caroso1222]

Well, honestly, I didn't find any place in which this API was documented. When I came across this problem, a quick search on amazon autocomplete got me here and here. I then found out it was JSONP enabled thus driving me to build this plugin.

So, to answer your question, I'm not totally sure whether or not this is a publicly available undocumented API. I guess that if you got an affiliate subscription with Amazon, you'll be sending them a bunch of visitors anyways so they might not even care providing this service.

What do you suggest should I disclose on the README? The endpoint I'm calling to get the words? or a blog post explaining how the plugin works?

[pbojinov]

Right on, was just curious because I've been bitten in the back using undocumented API's in the past. Where the company just shuts down access one day and then everything breaks. Not saying this will happen for this Amazon API, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of this before integrating into your app.

I'd be good to mention in a disclaimer section at the bottom of the README.

[caroso1222]

You'll totally right. I'm absolutely going to mention this in the README. Many people have told me the same, some even suggesting Amazon would sue whoever is using its API. I'm assigning this to myself and closing the issue. Thank you for your contribution!

[apolzon]

I'd second this -- spent a while googling around to try to figure out exactly what Amazon API this plugin was supposed to be using, and in the end most results ended up pointing to either the undocumented affiliate API or Amazon CloudSearch, so some clarification that this is not a frontend for CloudSearch would definitely help alleviate some confusion as to the utility of this plugin.

[jiovanniro]

I'm new to developing and I am trying to use your plugin but I have not had success. If you wrote a blog explaining how to use it could you please send the link? Thank you!

[sw1w8rg]

Followed your instructions but the ajax feature does not work. Any suggestions?