OK to use both API's

[KarlSteinbreche]

Hello, 

I understand there are 2 API's lets say the regular API:

Accounts - Canvas LMS REST API Documentation (instructure.com)

and Data Access Platform Library
instructure-dap-client · PyPI

Is it ok to use both, or is one going away?

Thanks!

Karl

[stimme · Accepted solution]

@KarlSteinbreche Your first link is to documentation for the API for Canvas itself. When you use those endpoints, you'll get current information about your accounts from the production Canvas application. Your second link is to documentation for getting bulk data about Canvas to use in your own data warehouse. The application that lets you get that bulk data is also known as Canvas Data 2 ( What is Canvas Data 2? ). The CD2/DAP data are not totally current, but the latency is pretty low. Making the right choice depends on your reporting needs, available technical infrastructure, coding experience, etc.

[KarlSteinbreche]

Got it, I had heard that the Canvas API was going away. I understand I can use either, depending on the need. 

[chriscas]

Hi @KarlSteinbreche,

I do not work for Instructure, but with 99.9% confidence, I can say the Canvas API is not going away.  There was a time where it looked like Instructure may replace the REST API with GraphQL instead (still an API, just a different language), but even that transition seems to have slowed or stopped completely.  There are so many users and vendors using the REST API that there would likely have to be a years long transition to completely remove it, which I just don't see happening in the near future.

-Chris