API Tutorial - Learn how to create a Notion Wiki for Guild Wars 2 (part 1)
Updated: Dec 21, 2022
Understanding APIs, Postman, and Notion for Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Introduction
Guild Wars 2 is an incredibly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) with millions of players around the world. With the help of APIs, it is possible to create a Notion wiki that contains all the necessary information players need to know in order to make the most of the game. In this blog series, we will look at how to create a Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2 using APIs.
This blog series is written in such a way that you don't need to be a programmer to follow along. We will provide step-by-step instructions with screenshots, making it easy for anyone to create their own Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2.
This blog post provides background knowledge on APIs, Postman, Notion, and Guild Wars 2. In the second post, we will look at how to set up the Guild Wars 2 API. The third post will provide a tutorial for getting started with Notion's API. And the last post will show how to bring all of this information together into a complete Notion Wiki system.
What is Guild Wars 2? 🐉
Guild Wars 2 is an MMORPG developed by ArenaNet. It is set in the fantasy world of Tyria, where players create characters to explore the world, complete quests, and battle monsters and other players. The game features an open world with a rich narrative, dynamic events, competitive player-versus-player combat, and cooperative group gameplay. Players can customize their characters with a variety of weapons, armor, and skills, and can join Guilds to cooperate and compete with other players. Guild Wars 2 also features an in-game economy, allowing players to purchase and trade virtual goods.
Play for free: https://www.guildwars2.com
What is an API?
An API, or application programming interface, is a set of protocols and tools used to build software applications. APIs allow developers to access and manipulate data from other programs, websites, and databases. APIs can be used to create a Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2, as they provide an efficient way to access information from the game’s servers and create pages in Notion.
There are various types of APIs that can be used to create a Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2. Some APIs are available to the general public and can be used without authentication or payment. Other APIs require authentication, such as an API key, in order to access the data. Finally, some APIs are paid services and require a fee for use. Be sure to read the terms of use for any API before using it.
Finding an API for a specific topic is relatively easy. A good place to start is to search for “[topic name] APIs” on a search engine. This should bring up a list of available APIs. Additionally, there are several websites that specialize in listing APIs, such as ProgrammableWeb and RapidAPI. These websites can provide a comprehensive list of available APIs.
When making requests to an API, the response from the server is usually in the form of JSON data, so it’s important to understand how to read and write in this format when using APIs.
With some practice and a bit of creativity, you can create amazing things with APIs.
Understanding JSON Data
JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It is a way for servers and apps to send data to each other.
While APIs provide the means to communicate between different systems, JSON is the language that is used to format the messages being exchanged. JSON lets developers create or read data that computers can understand. It is lightweight and becoming more popular because it is easy to read and write. The structure of JSON is based on two data structures: the object and the array; it is also a language-independent format, which means it works with any programming language.
JSON data is composed of key-value pairs (KEY : VALUE) separated by commas, and organized into a tree-like structure. The keys are strings (i.e., wrapped with quotation marks) that represent the data, while the values are the actual data stored. This data can be of any type, such as numbers, strings, objects, arrays, and even other JSON files, making JSON a very powerful and versatile tool for storing data.
Example
John Doe is a fictitious character designed to help you better understand JSON data. He is a 30-year-old father whose favorite colors are blue, green, and red. His address is 123 Main St, New York, NY. His only child's name is Sarah. The JSON data below captures all of this information in an intuitive structure.
{
"name": "John Doe",
"age": 30,
"favourite colours": [ "blue", "green", "red" ],
"address": {
"number": 123,
"name": "Main St",
"city": "New York",
"state": "NY"
},
"children": [
{
"name": "Sarah Doe",
"age": 12
}
]
}
In JSON, values can be represented in various data types, including strings, numbers, arrays, and objects.
A string is a sequence of characters enclosed in quotation marks. In JSON, all keys must be strings. In our example, most of the pairs contain strings, such as name: "John Doe" and address.city: "New York" .
A number is a numerical value that can be a whole number or a decimal. In our example, we use numbers for age and address.number .
An array is a list of values enclosed in square brackets. In this example, we use arrays for both favourite colors and children. The values of an array are indexed, starting at zero. To retrieve the first colour, we say address[0] and address[2] for the third colour.
An object is a data structure inside another data structure. Nested objects can be retrieved by using the dot notation. This involves naming the parent object and then a period (.) followed by the name of the property you wish to retrieve. In our example, this means that you can access the name of the first child in the array by saying children[0].name .
Once the data is read, it can be manipulated and used in various ways. With practice and a bit of creativity, you can create amazing things with JSON data.
What is Postman?
Postman is a powerful API development and testing tool that helps users make API calls, build and test API requests, and validate API responses. It simplifies the process of working with APIs and allows developers to quickly create, debug, and test API requests. Postman offers an intuitive user interface, allowing users to easily write and send API requests, view responses, and store and share API requests. It also has comprehensive documentation and tutorials to help users get started. Postman is a great tool for developers working with APIs, and is essential for creating a Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2.
Download for free: https://www.postman.com/downloads
What is Notion?
Notion is a powerful cloud-based tool for creating and managing content in a wiki-style format. It allows users to easily organize and connect content, create and manage databases, and collaborate with others. Notion is highly customizable and user-friendly, making it an ideal platform for creating a wiki for games like Guild Wars 2. It provides an intuitive way to structure and design content, which makes it easy to keep track of information and access it quickly.
Sign up for free: https://www.notion.so/signup
Conclusion 💯
Now that you have a better understanding of APIs, Postman, and Notion, you are ready to start creating your own Notion wiki for Guild Wars 2. In the next post, we will look at how to set up the Guild Wars 2 API and then move on to a tutorial for getting started with Notion's API. Finally, we will bring everything together into a complete Notion Wiki system. Head over to Part 2 — Getting Started with the Guild Wars 2 API.