Dropbox Announces Sync API for Third-Party Developers

Tuesday July 9, 2013 3:51 PM PDT by Jordan Golson
NewImageDropbox has announced a new advanced syncing API for developers that uses Dropbox technology to sync app data across devices.

The Datastore API is an extension of the existing Dropbox Sync API that allows developers to save files on Dropbox. With Datastore, developers can sync databases -- game saves or custom levels, for example -- across multiple devices and platforms, saving developers from needing to develop their own sync platforms.
Today, we're excited for you try out the beta release of the Datastore API — simple databases for your apps with Dropbox sync built-in! Use datastores to save your app's data — settings, contacts, or any other content that users create — and Dropbox will take care of all the syncing for you. People who use your Datastore-enabled app can be sure their information will always be up-to-date and available, no matter what device or platform they use.
Dropbox CEO Drew Houston said during a Q&A with reporters that there is no plan to change its business model, and it doesn't want to charge developers to use its sync platform.
“We’ve never taken money from developers and we don’t have any plans to,” Houston said. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Dropbox will never, ever do it (“It’s conceivable that there would be services in the future where there would be some cost associated with the developer”), but he added, “Because we have a strong core business model, I don’t think that monetizing developers will be an important thing for us for the foreseeable future.”


29 comments


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BlaqkAudio
73 months ago

Great now finish creating an android app

Already exists.

and mac app

Already exists.

or web based app (prefer web based)

Already exists.

so I can consider going back to an Android device again. Ooops was that out loud?

These have all existed for years. Maybe you should do basic research before you complain.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Radio
73 months ago
Great news

Cross platform functionality and will no doubt work better than iCloud.


iCloud has been a failure for app makers.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Razeus
73 months ago

Great now finish creating an android app and mac app or web based app (prefer web based) so I can consider going back to an Android device again. Ooops was that out loud?


Dropbox already has an Android app.
Rating: 3 Votes
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JGIGS
73 months ago

Already exists.

Already exists.

Already exists.

These have all existed for years. Maybe you should do basic research before you complain.


My bad. Could have sworn this article was originally about their mailbox app now being able to attach directly from your Dropbox account which came out today. I was referring to the Mailbox app.
Rating: 3 Votes
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wsc9005
73 months ago
It's nice to have iCloud alternative :p
Rating: 2 Votes
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ValSalva
73 months ago
IMHO, over the past five years the biggest advances in desktop computing have been Dropbox, Quad-core processors, and SSDs. Dropbox has changed the way I manage my data in a profound way. It's great to see them succeed.
Rating: 2 Votes
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jonnysods
73 months ago
Dropbox is superior to icloud IMO.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Skika
73 months ago

Great now finish creating an android app and mac app or web based app (prefer web based) so I can consider going back to an Android device again. Ooops was that out loud?


Am i missing something but doesn't Dropbox already have all of those for quite a while :confused:
Rating: 2 Votes
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numlock
73 months ago

I honestly do not see it being much different than Apple's original iDisk minus the automatic syncing. IDisk allowed you to share files among multiple platforms.


that description of dropbox is about as vague as the ones found in apples patents
Rating: 1 Votes
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alent1234
73 months ago

What does that have to do with anything?



Dropbox is nice, but its not better than iCloud
Two different kinds of services
Rating: 1 Votes
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