Dear Astro-COLIBRI Community,
We’re writing to inform you about some upcoming changes to our API access, which we believe are necessary steps to ensure the continued smooth operation of our platform and to safeguard its resources.
Over the past weeks/months, we’ve seen a significant uptick in the usage of our freely accessible API endpoints. While this surge in activity is a testament to the growing interest in our platform and the incredible work being done by our community, it has also highlighted the need for us to implement measures to prevent misuse and ensure equitable access for all users.
As such, with the next release of Astro-COLIBRI, we will be deploying restrictions on certain API endpoints, particularly those that are computationally and I/O intensive, such as “latest_transients” and “cone_search.”
What Changes Can You Expect?
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Authentication Requirement: To access these endpoints, users will be required to include a valid UID (User ID) of a registered user. This ensures that only authorized users are able to access these resources and thus helps to prevent the most common attacks.
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Usage Limits: Each registered user will be allowed a quota of 100 API calls per day. We believe this limit should be more than sufficient for typical use cases. However, we understand that certain users or use cases may require additional access, and we’re happy to discuss increases on a case-by-case basis.
How Will This Impact You?
For the majority of users, these changes should have minimal impact on your experience with Astro-COLIBRI. Only direct uses of our API endpoints are concerned. The latest versions of our smartphone apps will continue to function without the need for any intervention. In any case, we understand that any change can be disruptive, and we’re committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
What Do You Need to Do?
If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to create a user account on our platform. It’s a simple process, and we have a handy YouTube tutorial to guide you through it. Once you’ve created an account and verified your email address, you’ll be able to access your UID in the account settings of our graphical interfaces (web and smartphone apps).
If you want to use our API outside our graphical interfaces, you’ll simply send this ID together with your other parameters in your request to our API. We have already updated our documentation and interactive examples even though the new rules will only be deployed with the next major release. This should leave you the necessary time to adapt the integration into your workflow.
Your Feedback Matters
We understand that these changes may raise questions or concerns, and we want to hear from you. Please feel free to share your thoughts, feedback, or any issues you encounter on our user discussion forum. Your input will help us fine-tune these adjustments and ensure that Astro-COLIBRI continues to meet the needs of our diverse and vibrant community.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we work to improve and secure our platform for everyone.
Clear skies and happy exploring!
Fabian for the Astro-COLIBRI team
