Hi!

I'm writing an application which browses through a movie collection and creates a simple user interface where you can see the IMDB-score, genre, read the plot and such things.

I would like to add subtitles to this software so that when you choose to extract, or play a movie you can also choose subtitles.

Since subscene has a large database of subtitles available - is there an API I can use to access the database? It would be great to have a simple http-xml API much like many "web 2.0" sites like facebook, flick, delicious, twitter...

I would really like to avoid parsing the html/java-script code.

hello.

i have no idea what you mean, lol, but i'll direct this topic to our webmaster's attention. regards.

I think what he want to say "that he made a program which used to find subtitle files from the database of your site subscene "..... like the program name "minilyrics" which search for the songs lyrics without enter the web... for example "if you watch a movie and you don't have the sub file in your pc. that program he made search over your site database for the subtitle file which work perfect with the copy of the movie which you watch it .. and in the same time the program search for information about the movie which play from IMDB site Database"

I think he ask you to give him the permission to enter your database site

Cheers

ProAngeL

Hi Lilia, thanks for directing. We have considered setting up an API, but current havent got time for it. We first need to complete a long todo-list :)

A.

hehe, sorry for not making it too easy for you. But it sounds like you have gotten the idea right!

 You should let the users do the development work for you and enourage them by providing an API. :-)

I guess I'll try another database meanwhile. Looks like there is an extensive API for opensubtitles.org. Do you know of any other good subtitle databases I might want to add support for?

Hey.

I Know this is an old thread, but it would still be pretty cool with a API.

If you still don't have the time, do PM me, and i might be able to find some time to assist you (i'll provide credentials to assure you, if needed ;) ).

Since sub scene is properly the best place for subs, it is annoying that my Media Center only accesses one unnamed we bite for subs.

I'd like to use API too  :-) If subscene's developers could support API, I'll write a desktop Java application for you, of course it's free and would be open source if everybody wouldn't care about my programming style. I love your work  :-)  And since it's Java, it can work cross platform. Currently I use html parser  :-(

http://guy8th.blogspot.com/2011/04/subscence-client-11.html

Hi Zeromessage, I have been in correspondence with Hux about making an API. He is willing to help which is great. We now need to define the interface for the API.

We will post a notice once something is online.

Thanks!

Thank you admin,

It would be great if we could work together. Currently I have an idea about voting. If the user downloads a subtitle and sees it is good/bad, he can vote it (we can do it via API).

There is my email address in my profile. You can contact me at that address.

I'll be waiting  :-)

I believe it would be best if we had a look (and a friendly chat) with our friends over at opensubtitles. They already have a working API that has been widely used for years. I think it would be pointless to develop our own API.

http://trac.opensubtitles.org/projects/opensubtitles/wiki/XMLRPC

One thing we have to keep in mind though: Every API will draw people away from our website, which in turn reduces any possible income to finance the whole operation. OS has exactly the same problem, by the way. I don't have  a clue how the percentages are between web users and API users on OS, but I would bet it's by far in favour of API users.

APIs are very convenient and allow automated downloads and even uploads but I am not so sure that this is what we really want. On OS, that led to dozens of duplicate subtitles for the same film. Not exactly helpful...

In addition, the whole idea of a subtitle community is kind of lost with automatic subtitle download from within the video player. We need to think about that aspect very carefully. Subscene is the most visited subtitle site in the world right now, so we must do something right. Let's make sure we don't ruin that.

I understand that. For me, when I wrote that desktop application, I just did it for my hobby. And I thought that it would be easier with API than using html parser.

I didn't think about what you said. But you're right.

However, whenever the API becomes necessary, and if you publish it, I will write an application  :-)

Just to clarify things:

I am not against an API. I just wanted to point out that an API will have consequences, and that we should think about that before we decide anything.

An API is an application programming interface that would allow other software (like mediaplayers) to download subtitles automatically without using the website.

I'd be interested in the opinion of all community members. Some questions are:

1. Would you like to be able to download subtitles automatically from within your player?

2. What are the consequences for subscene?

3. What will happen to the subtitle community if most people don't have to visit the website any more?

4. What do you think about automatic subtitle uploads? Any dangers or problems?

5. Do you have any alternatives or any other ideas and thoughts about the whole topic?

Thanks in advance

I am against that totally, please don't do it.

Subscene will go down.

I say that let things as usual.

Are people lazy to that degree! They even don't want to make a little search! Or clicking!

Despite being a translator, I wouldn't visit the website much if I could use my media player to download subtitles.  I love laziness and I bet that many users and visitors love it too!

Therefore, I think that the API will harm subscene community and perhaps it will lose its place as the leading subtitle community.

rogard:

I believe it would be best if we had a look (and a friendly chat) with our friends over at opensubtitles. They already have a working API that has been widely used for years. I think it would be pointless to develop our own API.

Opensubtitles friend here! We already have an extensive range of applications in use as well as more being developed. There’s also an app on the iPhone that works with the site, just check out the “Developing”  and “Programs using OS” sections in the forum. If any help is needed I’m sure the developers wouldn’t mind helping you guys out with any queries.

If you use the hashing system, then I think you’d need hell of a lot more administrators than you currently have.  Well, unless you use a different system that’s better.

Why don’t we (subscene & opensubtitles) just merge together just the way big companies do? A rhetorical question, I’m just dreaming!

rogard:

In addition, the whole idea of a subtitle community is kind of lost with automatic subtitle download from within the video player. We need to think about that aspect very carefully. Subscene is the most visited subtitle site in the world right now, so we must do something right. Let's make sure we don't ruin that.

True. But would you ban the internet to keep the libraries open? At the same time I understand your predicament and wouldn’t want subscene to become desolate!