DOA API
This simple HTTP API allows you to check and see if somebody is dead or alive, according to
nndb.com. This feature is for widget developers and hackers. This feature was inspired by recent posts on
Boing Boing featuring browser add-ons for tracking public figures.
Given this example:
http://search.nndb.com/search/alive.cgi?whom=Osama+bin+Laden
The server would reply in text/plain, all on one line:
Osama bin Laden: Alive http://www.nndb.com/people/669/000023600/
Encoded in the URL is the key
whom. Its value should be set to an appropriately encoded name as found in a person's
NNDB Profile. Hint: Use the
NNDB Search Engine to check the spelling of a name.
If the name you want to specify is not unique (example: Paul Simon), you can pass the entire NNDB URL
like so.
If you make an ambiguous request, you will get multiple results.
You can make multiple requests at once by sending multiple whom keys:
Really Long Silly Example
The maximum number of names you can request is eight (8). In this example, 9 names are provided but only the first 8 are returned.
If a name is not found, the server will reply:
?name not found
With no arguments, Abe Vigoda is the (obvious) default choice.
Other commands:
Please don't use this service more than once an hour. See also: Dead Pool RSS
Posted: March 12, 2005
