How Non-Programmers Can Populate Databases Using External APIs

If you're a non-programmer who wants to populate a database with data from an external API, it might seem like an impossible task. But with the right tools, it's entirely possible! Follow this guide to learn how you can achieve this without any coding skills.

Overview

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) can provide you with real-time and historical data from various sources. This data can be valuable for building insights and analytics. Tools like FCSAPI and InsightEase offer detailed financial data for users, but without the need for coding, let’s focus on how a non-programmer can leverage these APIs to populate a database.

Introduction to API Population

To build a database with data from an API, you need a backend service to handle operations like schema definition, data pipeline, and scheduling. Building such a service can be complex for non-programmers, but there are simpler tools available that can help you achieve this goal.

Using Online Database Tools with API Connectors

For non-programmers, using an online database with built-in API connector is the best approach. One such tool is Acho Studio, which offers an API parser to configure each API endpoint effectively.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Acho Studio

Paste the API URL into the URL input box or enter the parameters.

For dynamic date expressions, insert values into the boxes to request data beyond the specified date, for example, from 2021-01-01 to {year}-{month}-{day}.

After configuring the API endpoint, you should see a preview pop-up containing a snippet of the data feed.

Once the initial sync is complete, the data will be stored in a tabular database that will sync with the resource.

When the API updates, the resource should update its content, and your database will reflect this change.

Within the database, you can freely transform the data into your desired table format using built-in SQL-based actions.

Once your table is built, you can use it to power applications like dashboards, spreadsheets, or embedded tables on your website.

After establishing the connection, regularly check and maintain the pipeline to ensure timely data transfer with no delays or interruptions.

Conclusion

By leveraging online database tools like Acho Studio, non-programmers can easily populate databases with data from external APIs. This process allows you to access valuable data without the need for extensive coding knowledge. Whether you're building a dashboard for analytics or supporting applications with real-time financial data, these tools make it easier than ever.