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The following is a summary of a
talk given by Tim
Myers on October 22, 2020 during Filecoin Liftoff Week.
Filecoin node implementations expose APIs to provide developers a
convenient way to interact with the Filecoin blockchain. These
APIs allow developers to both query for information about the
chain, as well as issue commands that instruct the node to
execute transactions on the network.
While it is possible to interface directly with the nodes that
expose these interfaces, maintaining a full node can be
inconvenient, as blockchains can require large amount of storage
space, and the nodes themselves must always be kept running to
keep in sync with the network. This creates friction for
developers that just need access to the API.
To help developers get around this issue,
Infura has spent the last several years
building out API proxies for a number of decentralized networks,
including Ethereum, IPFS, and, as of Filecoin Liftoff Week,
Filecoin! Infura run nodes on behalf of their users, directing
API requests to those nodes behind the scenes. This reduces
the infrastructure that developers need to maintain themselves,
making it significantly easier to create services that build on
top of those APIs!
You’ll need to register with Infura in order to access their
Filecoin API. If you haven’t created an account yet, you can
sign up
here.
Once you’ve registered:
- Log into your Infura Dashboard
- Click the Filecoin icon in the navigation bar
- Click “Add Me to Waitlist”
In addition to proxying API requests, Infura provides users with
the ability to restrict API access, via keys, to isolate
individual projects. They’ve also compiled extensive and
fully-detailed documentation
for their Filecoin API, in the form of an OpenAPI specification
complete with sample requests and responses to help users get
started.
Services like Infura’s empower developers across the Filecoin
ecosystem, greatly reducing the friction involved in interfacing
with the network. These tools make it easier than ever to
leverage Filecoin as a platform, providing an accessible
entrypoint into the ecosystem while freeing creators to focus on
building out the next generation of storage services!
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of Bitcoin Insider. Every investment and trading move involves risk - this is especially true for cryptocurrencies given their volatility. We strongly advise our readers to conduct their own research when making a decision.