Dashboard and Pro API Release

TLDR:

We mentioned in our blog post about API access that we would be rolling out improvements to user management that allowed us to give unlimited API permissions in a more accessible format. Those are now available: our new dashboard functionality allows users to login and manage their API keys in one place, as well as the ability to grant authorized access to a “pro” URL that mirrors the same functionality as our free open API. 

Introduction

Back in February, SMAT introduced some rate-limit changes to our API to counter some abusive request activity. In spite of this change, we are still focused on providing access to and partnering with legitimate users—particularly academics, independent researchers, and journalists—to get them the data they need. To better support that purpose going forward, we have built a dashboard application that allows our users to manage their access all in one place.

Functionality

When a user logs into the dashboard, they will see a list of all the tooling they have access to. This view will be an improvement over the old system of users needing to track and bookmark our hosted tooling URLs, and will better facilitate moving quickly between them. Similarly, it will also be a one-stop location for any future tools that SMAT releases.

We’re also adding new API key functionality, which allows us to know our users beyond a simple IP addresses and apply their permissions accordingly. Users will be able to access their API JWT keys from the Account Settings page. From this page, users will be able to view and copy their active API JWT keys and reissue or rotate their keys.

Finally, we’re also adding a new endpoints feature which will allow legitimate users to use their API keys to access a Pro API, which has no rate limits on requests and mirrors the functionality of our open API before the change in February.

import
jwt_token = <YOUR TOKEN HERE>
pro_api_host_url = <PRO API_URL HERE>

r = requests.get(
    f"{pro_api_host_url}/content",
    params={
        "site": "win",
        "term": "Trump arrest",
        "since": "2022-01-01",
        "until": "2023-03-18",
    },
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {jwt_token}",
    },
)

data = r.json()

For more on how to use our new Pro API endpoints, read more here:

https://docs.smat-app.com/docs/guides/pro-api

Conclusion

For the last few months, we’ve been focused on implementing a safer solution to API access — one that allows us to understand our trusted user base while also facilitating access beyond whitelisting IP addresses. Our new dashboard and Pro API solution does that and more by providing our users a single page to manage their API keys and all their tooling access.

If you’re like to learn more about these changes or would like to discuss your level of access, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.