DevID Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Developer ID (devId)?
A Developer ID (devId) is a general permission for accessing AOL open services.
With your devId you can and use the APIs from your web site (namely, the specific web site you provide when you register for the devId. In accordance with the Terms of Service (TOS) , you can use the API to gain AOL open services on the specific site (URL) you registered. AOL 's OpenAuth API is the first to use devIds on dev.aol.com. In the future other APIs will use this approach. OpenAuth empowers third-party web sites and applications to authenticate AOL and AIM users through their Web Sites/Applications.
NOTE: When you navigate on dev.aol.com to other AOL APIs you may find additional Terms of Service (TOS) and information requests, depending on the nature of the API . Just follow the local rules of the road. Prompts guide you and all the specifics you need are clearly spelled out.
Where do I get a Developer ID (devId)?
You can obtain a Developer ID (devId) at http://dev.aol.com/keys . If you don't already have a user account on dev.aol.com, you just:
- Get your dev.aol.com User Account (you can get one for free by clicking Signup on the home page and getting a screen name and password)
- Get your devId at http://dev.aol.com/keys
If you already are registered on the site, obviously, you just go to http://dev.aol.com/keys .
What do I need to do to get a devId?
Getting your devId is easy and free. Anyone who is a registered user on dev.aol.com is eligible for a Developer ID. For a user account, if you do not have an AOL or AIM screen name, you will be prompted to get one (it's free and only takes a few seconds).
Once you have a user account on dev.aol.com, here's all you need to do to obtain your devId:
- Agree to the Terms of Service (TOS)
- Provide us with two bits of information about yourself (your name and email) and a couple of items about where/why you want to use the devId.(the destination URL , namely, the URL of the website where you want to use this devId and what you want to use it for).
AOL will issue you a Developer ID (devid) and/or confirm the application of your pre-existing Developer ID specifically for use on the specific site you registered.
- Get an ID for each site
- The URL must match so that Open Auth calls will work
- You can edit the ID to change the URL if required.
Are there any Usage Caps or other Limitations on how I use the devId?
Ye, there is a daily and monthly limit. See the Terms of Service (TOS) for details.
Is there an example of what I can do with my devId?
Once you obtain your devId for the OpenAuth API , you can build identity-based web sites and leverage AOL 's installed member base to boost your own. All you will have to do is:
- Use the OpenAuth login API on your site to allow a user to login with an AOL or AIM screen name and obtain an authentication token
- Write a few lines of code to validate the authentication token and retrieve the user's identity
What if I have questions or need help to get my devId?
Go to http://dev.aol.com/contact and give us a shout.