API Lab

Application Programming Interface 

We got divided in to groups and got the task to choose a library with different graphics to experiment with. The goal was to implement something to the examples we chose to work with, find use cases , experiment, iterate and explore the library. Individually we got the task to choose 2 examples each to re-create/change in some ways and find use cases that are not to specific. 

This assignment was a real challenge for me. Mainly because I had never done something like this, but also I did not have so much knowledge in javascript. Another challenge was using GitHub as a way of sharing our work, to be honest, that was what took the most time for me to comprehend. I think I would have needed a whole lecture of only learning about GitHub, there are so many good things about GitHub and I did not know that so many people use it and now I understand why but I still wish I got some more information and guiding in GutHub. Because in order to use it in a way that it helps me, I have to understand how it works. But playing around with different animations and trying to create some kind of prototype went good, I had a very well good group that was helpful and we did a lot of experiments together in order to learn from one another. The biggest struggle during this project was the beginning – when we were supposed to download the codes from the library and understand them to the point that we could change them, create a GitHub repository and lastly find use cases without being to specific. We found different use cases but they turned out to be to specific according to our teacher which I can understand. When you are prototyping you are supposed to have an open mind about what it can be used for. Not choose something specific that can only be used in one way. We struggled with that a lot and that is something I personally struggle with otherwise as well. I always like to find the solution and the ”product” by skipping through the ”what’s the problem” and the prototype part. If I would reflect on what I could have done better it would be to experiment more and with more different examples because then I would have learned something new every time. I also wish I took more time to learn how to use GitHub because I really see the positive aspects of using that platform and I am glad that I got the opportunity to at least use it a little bit. I am however satisfied with the outcome and the learning that took place during this assignment. 

This project was very useful because it provides multiple opportunities to use it for: games, platform applications and interactive graphics are just a few examples. Using an already prebuilt code to change it and create new things with an existing base idea is not only time efficient but also inspiring. The examples provided from the library give inspiration and an understanding of how the code works along with making it easy to change the code and experiment with it.