API:Client code/Evaluations

This page holds evaluations of the client libraries listed on API talk:Client code according to API:Client code/Gold standard. Use the template at the bottom to add your own!

Before evaluating a library, here are some basic questions to consider: If so, the library is a good candidate for a full evaluation.
 * Has it been updated in the last 12 mo? Does it have a lot of open bugs/pull requests, especially compared to the number closed?
 * If not, consider noting this on the library's entry on API:Client Code.
 * Does it have documentation, code samples, and tests provided?
 * Does it, at the minimum, handle logins, cookies, and continuations? (Even "syntactic sugar"-type libraries should do at least 2 of these.)

=Python=

simplemediawiki
API:Client code/Evaluations/simplemediawiki

wikitools
API:Client code/Evaluations/wikitools

mwclient
API:Client code/Evaluations/mwclient

Pywikibot
API:Client code/Evaluations/Pywikibot

=Perl=

MediaWiki/API
API:Client code/Evaluations/MediaWiki-API

MediaWiki::Bot
API:Client code/Evaluations/MediaWiki-Bot

=Ruby=

MediaWiki::Gateway
API:Client code/Evaluations/MediaWiki-Gateway

mediawiki_api
API:Client code/Evaluations/mediawiki-ruby-api

MediaWiki::Butt
API:Client code/Evaluations/MediaWiki-Butt

=Java=

Java Wiki Bot Framework (JWBF)
API:Client code/Evaluations/Java Wiki Bot Framework (JWBF) = Template =

Library name
[Brief description]

Easy to install

 * Installation instructions are correct and easy to find


 * Library is packaged for installation through appropriate package library (PyPI, CPAN, npm, Maven, rubygems, etc.)


 * Platinum standard: library is packaged for and made available through Linux distributions

Easy to understand

 * Well designed--makes all intended API calls available with the intended level of abstraction with no redundancies


 * Platinum standard: makes the Wikidata API available


 * Well documented:
 * Code is commented and readable


 * Documentation is comprehensive, accurate, and easy to find


 * Deprecated functions are clearly marked as such


 * Platinum standard: Documentation is understandable by a novice programmer


 * Code uses idioms appropriate to the language the library is written in

Easy to use

 * Has functioning, simple, and well-written code samples for common tasks
 * Demonstrates queries


 * Demonstrates edits


 * Handles API complications or idiosyncrasies so the user doesn't have to:
 * Login/logout


 * Cookies


 * Tokens


 * Query continuations


 * Requests via https, including certificate validation
 * Courteous API usage is promoted through code samples and smart defaults
 * gzip compression is used by default


 * Examples show how to create and use a meaningful and unique user-agent header (as in https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User-agent_policy)


 * Platinum standard: generates a unique user-agent string given name/email address/repository location


 * Efficient usage of API calls


 * Can be used with the most recent stable version of the language it is written in (e.g. Python 3 compatible)

Easy to debug

 * Contains unit tests for the longest and most frequently modified functions in the library


 * Platinum standard: Unit tests for many code paths exist and are maintained


 * Terrible hacks/instances of extreme cleverness are clearly marked as such in comments


 * Documentation links to the relevant section/subpage of the API documentation

Easy to improve

 * Library maintainers are responsive and courteous, and foster a thoughtful and inclusive community of developers and users


 * Platinum standard: Project sets clear expectations for conduct for spaces where project-related interactions occur (mailing list, IRC, repository, issue tracker). It should:
 * State desired attitudes and behaviors
 * Provide examples of unwelcome and harassing behavior
 * Specify how these expectations will be enforced


 * Pull requests are either accepted or rejected with reason within 3 weeks (Platinum standard: 3 business days)


 * Issues/bugs are responded to in some manner within 3 weeks (Platinum standard: 3 business days) (but not necessarily fixed)


 * The library is updated and a new version is released within 3 weeks (Platinum standard: 3 business days) when breaking changes are made to the API


 * Platinum standard: library maintainers contact MediaWiki API maintainers with feedback on the API's design and function
 * Library specifies the license it is released under