Take Your Users for a Spin

Today, the Uber API team is excited to announce the public release of our Request endpoint. With the Uber API’s initial launch last August, we made it easy to surface information about Uber products within third party applications, but getting a ride always required deep-linking to the Uber app. With the Request endpoint, you can now build applications that incorporate the entire Uber experience.

The first Uber app was delightfully uncomplicated, with just one button to request a black car. The API team has taken a similar approach, and with just one endpoint, developers now have the ability to programmatically request an Uber.

We are eager to make this endpoint available because we know how satisfying it is to create technology that impacts the physical world. Putting this power in the hands of developers has our imaginations running wild. Should an Uber be waiting immediately after your last meeting of the day? Will someone create a way to request a car with just a simple SMS? We have no idea what you might build, but we cannot wait to find out.

The endpoint works by accepting 3 HTTP commands for creating (POST), reading details about (GET), and canceling (DELETE) a request. Once a user has authorized an app, the only parameters needed to make a request are an Uber product identifier and the latitude and longitude pairs of the pickup location and destination. From there, you can poll for real-time trip details or cancel the trip if needed.

Because requests are fulfilled by actual driver-partners, using the Request endpoint is a unique experience, and we’ve set up guidelines and restrictions to ensure quality user experiences that do not disrupt our driver-partners. We’ve created an API Sandbox that simulates a request for development and testing. We also have an initial set of restrictions as we roll out this endpoint, such as only allowing app owners and admins (as defined in our developer portal) to request an Uber via their app to start. Developers can request rate limit increases to make their apps available to a larger audience.

To celebrate this launch, Uber will be hosting its first hackathon on ChallengePost. The challenge begins today, March 17, and you will have until May 17 to submit an application that takes advantage of our Request endpoint. Winners will be announced in June, and our team will be dishing out some awesome prizes, including a trip to Uber HQ in San Francisco to brainstorm with our CEO, Travis Kalanick, and the API team*. See how you can participate at http://uberhackathon.challengepost.com.

We believe developers are going to create some really powerful integrations with the Request endpoint and we plan to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with our API. The team has quite a few endpoints, services, and SDKs in the works that we cannot wait to roll out in the near future, so follow us @Uber_API for updates.

To get started, check out the Endpoint Documentation and Tutorials sections of our developer website, create an application (Uber rider account required), and start building. Support is available if you need help, want to report a bug, or have suggestions.

See official hackathon rules for full details.

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