3rd party app using canvas API, how does one become a 3 rd party app, and set up with API key?

[mgibson2]

Hi - Im working on a 3rd party app in Canvas.  How does one become an official 3rd party app in Canvas - like you see in that long list of 3rd party apps.

Also my app involves calling the Canvas API - which involves having a canvas instance's API key of course. So how does that work for someone who wants to use my app? Do they have to give us their api key? or theres some way to set the api key on setting up a 3rd party app in canvas? Or some other way 3rd party apps get a hold of that key?

Thanks for your help, Mark Gibson

[BrianLester]

There may be another way but I think you'd have to ask each 'customer' to give you a developer key..

[mgibson2]

thanks - anyone know about this piece:

 How does one become an official 3rd party app in Canvas - like you see in that long list of 3rd party apps.

[matthew_buckett]

This list of external apps that is presented in Canvas comes from: https://www.edu-apps.org/ and you can apply to have your application appear in the list by completing the application form: https://www.eduappcenter.com/apps/new

[mgibson2]

thanks for info - so is the idea that you have your app all up & running before you apply to be an app? or is there some sort of sandbox area to test your app working in this way? my app is definitely a work in progress

[matthew_buckett · Accepted solution]

I don't know if you can submit an application before it's available in a testable state. The free teacher service available on https://canvas.instructure.com/ allows you to add custom LTI 1.1 tools and you can test a locally developed application that way, however if your application needs a LTI Developer Key or an API Developer Key you either need to run the open source version of Canvas (https://github.com/instructure/canvas-lms) or join the partners programme and pay for Instructure to run an instance for you (https://www.instructure.com/partner-details)