Page:Untangling the Web.pdf/81

 Google Hacks

Google hacks–a term usually associated with the published by O'Reilly Publishing—are tips, tricks, techniques, and scripts that make Google more powerful and useful. Some are extraordinarily simple, such as being conscious of word order, while others are either so complicated ("scraping the code") or trivial (Googlisms) that I doubt many of you will ever need them.

Because there is so much interest in Google hacks, I thought I would catalog links to the best sites on the web for finding more information about Google hacks as well as bring the best Google hack techniques together in one place.

First, a word about Google APIs, which are used to create many Google hacks. API stands for Application Programming Interface. Google offers its own free APIs developers' kit, which provides documentation and example code for using the Gooqle Web APIs service. That's fine if you are in a situation that permits downloading, installing, and running code from the web, but that is not always an option. However, many Google hacks either do not require an API key or, if they do, are available, thanks to the kindness of strangers, on websites.

. Taken directly from the book of the same name by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest, the complete list of 100 hacks is here, but only a few have details about how to use them. Google Hacks . Much better source of Google hacks from Tara Calishain's website. Google hacks are listed by date and you can search the site. Researchbuzz . Everything you need to know about Gooqle's API service. Remember, this process involves registration, downloading software, and other interaction with Google, so it's not for everyone. Gooqle API FAQS Rh