Beta Tesco API NOT Yet Ready - Waiting for 'Martini' Readiness

Dear Tesco API Developer

This is an update to let you know the status of the beta edition of the Tesco API is not quite ready.

The underlying ‘Martini’ grocery platform on which the beta API relies is still being tuned up, and the side effect of this work is that the sand keeps shifting beneath the beta API’s feet.

Of course we need to make sure that the new grocery service is not only fully functional but performs really well, so these final adjustments are vital before we start moving customer accounts across. The grocery web service is core to Tesco.com so you can imagine that every member of the production team is involved.

Until the ‘sands stop shifting’ there is little I can do to launch the beta API. However I can still tempt you: If you would like to take a look at the new objects available (or rather, existing objects with many new extended properties), you can. Using your SOAP client such as Visual Studio 2008 (free Express, Standard or Pro editions), set up a new service endpoint at http://www.lansley.com/tescoapibeta/tescoapibeta.svc where the nightly builds are being tested. Don't try and log anyone in though - nobody is on 'Martini' just yet so it won't work.

Have a look particularly at the new product object which should satisfy just about any product information desire:

.ProductId =262612635
.BaseProductID =61358077

.Name =Flora Buttery 500g
.ProductType =QuantityOnlyProduct
.ExtendedDescription =(manufacturer can enthuse about product here)
.ImagePath =http://img.tesco.com/Groceries/pi/349/8722700187349/IDShot_90x90.jpg
.MaximumPurchaseQuantity=99
.NoteForPersonalShopper = (when sending to basket this note is shown to shopper)
.OfferPromotion =Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
.OfferValidity =valid from 26/8/2009 until 1/9/2009
.Price =1.5
.PriceDescription =(£3.00/kg)
.Quantity =1
.Rating =0
.StorageInfo =
.UnitPrice =3
.UnitType =kg
Nutrients count: 19
Nutrient =Energy
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =261kJ/63kcal
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Protein
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =trace
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Carbohydrate
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0.1g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient = - of which Sugars
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0.1g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Fat
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =7.0g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient = - of which Saturates
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =1.6g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient = - monounsaturates
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =2.0g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient = - polyunsaturates
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =3.4g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =- omega 3 fatty acids*
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0.6g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =- omega 6 fatty acids
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =2.8g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Fibre
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Sodium
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0.1g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Salt (based on sodium)
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =0.2g
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Vitamin A
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(10% RDA) 80 µg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Vitamin D
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(15%) RDA) 0.75 µg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Vitamin E
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(20% RDA) 2 mg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Vitamin B6
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(25%) RDA) 0.5 mg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Folic Acid
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(25%) RDA) 50 µg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Nutrient =Vitamin B12
SampleDescription =Typical values per 10g
SampleSize =(25% RDA) 0.25 µg
ServingDescription =-
ServingSize =-
Ingredients count: 12
Ingredient =Water
Ingredient =Buttermilk (10.5%)
Ingredient =Salt (1.5%)
Ingredient =Lecithin
Ingredient =Flavourings
Ingredient =Citric Acid
Ingredient =Vitamin E
Ingredient =Vitamin B6
Ingredient =Colour: Beta-Carotene
Ingredient =Vitamin A
Ingredient =Folic Acid
Ingredient =Vitamins D and B12


Now the second piece of news is that I am now on holiday, returning 14th September, by which time we will, I’m sure, be in a much better place concerning the API. I'm going to hurl myself around on a mountain-bike in the Wicklow mountains (south of Dublin), a beautiful part of Ireland where they seem to have forgotten to install any mobile phone masts.

Before I return to the UK, though, I am hoping to have available for you a set of test accounts linked to the new service which you can use to actually try out the beta service. These test accounts, when they become available, will be announced in the Forum and you can try them at the above endpoint.

Once the beta API service is fully ready for action, it will be hosted on techfortesco.com and our Microsoft Azure endpoint at http://tesco.cloudapp.net

In the meantime, you can use these latter endpoints for your application development using the CTP API (documented at http://www.lansleytech.com/tescoapiweb/reference.htm) - you’ll just get ‘more’ once the beta API is working and we’ve moved customer accounts across to it.

So, apologies for any inconvenience but let’s end on some good news: If you signed up at TJAM to join the Tesco affiliates scheme, we are now ready to accept your registration - see the Forum for instructions: http://www.techfortesco.com/forum