A Community-Funded Developer API for RuneScape
We're proposing a partnership with Jagex to release a 3rd Party Developer API that is community funded and community maintained. This initiative will empower developers to build incredible tools and experiences for the RuneScape community while leaving Jagex to continue to do what they do best.
Partnership Model
We're proposing a collaborative partnership where Jagex provides game data through a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), and a core group of community developers handles all aspects of building, maintaining, and operating the API infrastructure. The codebase that powers the API will be closed-source and managed by this core team, ensuring proper governance and technical oversight, while the API routes themselves will be publicly accessible to all developers.
We're not asking Jagex to build an API for us - we're asking them to enter into a DPA that would grant us the necessary permissions to serve game data that is currently not available to developers.
Jagex already has an established pattern for this type of arrangement through their contributions to Wiki Sync. The Wiki team operates under a Data Processing Agreement that allows them to access game data that isn't publicly available via an existing API. Just as the Wiki team formed a core leadership team that manages the underlying systems while anyone is free to use the Wiki, we propose creating a core API team that operates similarly. This demonstrates that Jagex has successfully implemented DPAs with trusted community partners, and we believe a similar arrangement would work perfectly for a developer API. The partnership model ensures minimal Jagex involvement while enabling the core team to deliver powerful developer tools.
Community-Driven Development
This API will be managed by a core team of community developers and community-funded, ensuring that development priorities, feature roadmaps, and technical decisions are driven by the needs of the RuneScape community rather than corporate interests. The core API team will have full control over the API's direction, allowing it to evolve based on real developer feedback and community requirements.
By choosing the community-driven route, Jagex can work directly with a core group of developers who are genuinely committed to making the RuneScape community a better place. This stands in contrast to potential corporate partnerships where companies might seek to monetize Jagex's game data for their own commercial gain. A community-managed API ensures that the developers building tools and integrations are motivated by community benefit rather than profit, creating a more aligned and trustworthy ecosystem for everyone involved.
The core API team will handle all API development, documentation, support, and maintenance, ensuring Jagex's involvement is minimal and focused solely on data provision.
Developer Ecosystem
The API will provide developers with access to game data within the limitations of our DPA, enabling them to build innovative tools, applications, and experiences for the RuneScape community. We'll deliver a complete developer experience including SDKs, documentation, developer portal, and support resources based on the data access granted through the DPA.
We can implement essential safeguards like rate limits and API key requirements. These controls protect both the core API team's infrastructure costs and Jagex from being inundated with excessive data requests, ensuring sustainable and responsible data access. Developers will have the tools they need to build incredible experiences while maintaining proper usage boundaries.
This ecosystem will empower developers to create tools that enhance the RuneScape experience - from stat trackers and calculators to community platforms and integration services. The API will serve as a foundation for innovation within the RuneScape community, enabling developers to build solutions that directly address community needs.
Sustainable Foundation
This initiative will be community-funded through sustainable funding models, ensuring long-term viability without placing any financial burden on Jagex. The core API team will handle all infrastructure costs, maintenance, and operational expenses, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that can grow and evolve with the community's needs.
By following the established Wiki Sync pattern, we can create a developer API that serves the community's needs while allowing Jagex to focus on their core game development priorities.
The sustainable foundation ensures that the API can adapt and grow over time, responding to new community needs, technological advances, and evolving developer requirements. This long-term approach creates a stable platform for innovation that will benefit the RuneScape community for years to come.
Common Questions & Answers
Find out all the essential details about our proposal and how it can benefit the RuneScape developer community.
What exactly are we proposing?
We're proposing a partnership with Jagex to create a community-funded and community-managed Developer API. This would allow developers to access game data through a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), similar to how the Wiki team operates. The core API team would handle all development, maintenance, and operations while the API remains freely accessible to all developers.
How will this API be funded?
We're still exploring the best funding model for this initiative. While we don't have a specific funding solution finalized yet, we've seen the RuneScape community show up in incredible ways for similar community-driven efforts in the past. We're confident that whatever sustainable funding avenue the core team collectively agrees on will be successful in ensuring long-term viability without placing any financial burden on Jagex.
Who is on the core team?
We're currently in the process of building the core team and don't have a finalized list yet. We're actively reaching out to development-adjacent community managers for suggestions on who would be a good fit for this initiative. We're also open to Jagex's involvement in the selection of the initial core team, as their input would be valuable in ensuring we have the right people in place.
What is the core team responsible for?
The core team will be responsible for all aspects of building, maintaining, and operating the API infrastructure. This includes API development, technical implementation, documentation, developer support, ongoing maintenance, and handling all infrastructure costs. The team will also manage governance of the closed-source codebase, implement safeguards like rate limits and API key requirements, and ensure the API remains freely accessible to all developers while maintaining sustainable operations.
What data will be available through the API?
The specific data available will depend on what's granted through the Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with Jagex. We're hopeful that we can reach an agreement which expands past what is currently available through the current Runemetrics API. We'll deliver SDKs, documentation, a developer portal, and support resources based on the data access granted through the DPA.
How is this different from other API solutions?
Unlike corporate partnerships that might seek to monetize game data, this API will be community-managed and motivated by community benefit rather than profit. The closed-source codebase ensures proper governance and allows for essential safeguards like rate limits and API key requirements.
What safeguards will be in place?
The API will implement essential safeguards like rate limits and API key requirements. These controls protect both the core API team's infrastructure costs and Jagex from being inundated with excessive data requests, ensuring sustainable and responsible data access.
How do you plan to prevent abuse of these systems?
We plan to leverage the use of a developer portal which will assign individual API keys to developers. The API maintainers will actively monitor for misuse and can revoke API keys if they suspect someone operating in bad faith. We're also open to working collaboratively with Jagex if they identify any concerns and wish to report them to us. This system allows for quick response to any misuse while maintaining transparency and accountability.