SAS Bowl VI, SAS APIs
Post game wrap up
We stuck to API = Application Programming Interface for the SAS Bowl VI questions, and it was a ringing success. Highlights included yours truly singing ABBA, thanking my spouse for our emerald anniversary, and the roman numeral question I M LIVID (see screenshot to the right).
This was the second time we enabled the chat feature. I highly recommend following the conversation and joining in moving forward. It was refreshing to see some competitive/supportive banter between SAS Community stalwarts @MichelleHomes, @TomKari, and @ronan among others. I highly recommend checking out the Chat feature (located below the leaderboard) during the next event.
Congratulations to our winners: @elayne, @ProcWes, and @snoopy369 with 17, 17 and 16 correct answers, respectively. They really know their APIs.
Want to catch the replay? The entire event is in the recording below.
Next Up
In honor of Valentines day, we'll celebrate with SAS Bowl VII, The Matching Game. This edition will feature table joins and data merges, proc psmatch, marriage proposals, and love-themed graphics. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, at 10 AM ET. Stay tuned to the Community for more details. Tell your sweetheart about the event and play as a couple. See you there!
SAS Bowl VI, SAS APIs -- Kickoff
What is an API? According to The Free Dictionary, there are 130 separate claims to the acronym. Among the more interesting:
- Avian and Pandemic Influenza - remember that flu scare?
- Associated Press International - International arm of the AP
- AssassinPokémon Initiative - An anti-Pokemon organization; so 2013, and the content is not really worth a link here
- Arithmetic Polynomial Interpolation - who doesn't like a good math theorem?
- American Pirate Industries - not sure what the deal is here; only place I see this term is on The Free Dictionary; I'm just intrigued by pirates, so it's on the list
- Arab Payments and Securities Settlement Initiative - they're missing some letters in the acronym, but I was drawn in by the definition
One important definition is missing in the above list: Application Programming Interface. Hopefully, this is familiar to you. If not, rest assured SAS has APIs.
SAS APIs, a quick introduction
Well, what are APIs? Why are they important? How do I use APIs? Let's take this use case to explain:
Santa Claus creates a model in SAS for determining how likely a child is to be naughty or nice. The elves chip in and create an application for gathering information on children. The elves' application code uses SAS APIs to connect to SAS and interact with Santa's model. When child information is entered into the application, APIs enable communication between the app and SAS and return a naughty or nice decision.
Utilize SAS APIs to build applications. Access the APIs using SAS code or the open source programming language of your choice. The possibilities are endless.
We'll feature SAS APIs in the sixth edition of the SAS Support Communities trivia event, The SAS Bowl. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 10 AM ET.
Where can I find more info on SAS APIs?
SAS Bowl VI materials
- Using SAS Viya REST APIs to access images from SAS Visual Analytics - SAS Users blog post
- Using SAS Cloud Analytics Service REST APIs to run CAS Actions - SAS Users blog post
- Using SAS APIs - SAS On Demand webinar
Other resources
- SAS User blog posts on SAS REST APIs
- SAS Community articles on SAS REST APIs
- developer.sas.com - SAS developers portal
SAS Bowl and event details
For those who may be new to the SAS Bowl, you can find game history and specifics in this Community memo. There you'll also find links to previous events, which include recordings.
Add the game to your calendar or download the article attachment for an event reminder. No pre-registration is required. On game day, access the game URL, provide your SAS Support Communities username (so we can identify you when you win), and show off your SAS and worldly knowledge while competing for bragging rights and SAS Community game gear.
Join the game. (on game day only)
See you January 19th!
