Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PublicAPIs VS CloudShell

Compare PublicAPIs VS CloudShell and see what are their differences

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PublicAPIs logo PublicAPIs

Explore the largest API directory in the galaxy

CloudShell logo CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.
Not present
  • CloudShell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

PublicAPIs features and specs

  • Wide Variety
    PublicAPIs provides access to a broad range of APIs across different categories, making it easier for developers to find the APIs they need for various applications.
  • Centralized Resource
    Having a centralized resource for public APIs helps developers save time by not having to search multiple sources to find the API they need.
  • Free Access
    Many of the APIs listed on PublicAPIs are free to use, making it accessible for developers who may be working with limited budgets or on hobby projects.
  • API Documentation
    PublicAPIs often includes links to detailed documentation for each API, providing developers with the information they need to integrate and utilize the APIs effectively.
  • Community Contributions
    PublicAPIs allows for community contributions, enabling a mechanism for the API repository to grow and stay up-to-date with the latest APIs.

Possible disadvantages of PublicAPIs

  • Quality Variability
    The quality of APIs listed can vary significantly, with some being well-maintained and others potentially outdated or lacking comprehensive documentation.
  • Limited Support
    PublicAPIs itself does not usually offer support for the APIs listed, which can be a disadvantage if developers encounter issues and need assistance.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Reliability
    Developers depend on third-party providers' reliability and uptime, which can affect the performance and stability of their own applications.
  • Potential Security Risks
    Using third-party APIs can introduce security vulnerabilities, especially if the APIs are not from trusted sources or if they do not follow best security practices.
  • Rate Limits
    Many public APIs impose rate limits, which can restrict the number of API calls a developer can make within a given time frame, potentially impacting application performance.

CloudShell features and specs

  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudShell

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.

Analysis of PublicAPIs

Overall verdict

  • PublicAPIs is generally considered good due to its wide selection of APIs, ease of access, and the ability to discover new tools and services. Its open-access nature encourages creativity and rapid prototyping.

Why this product is good

  • PublicAPIs is a beneficial resource as it provides a curated list of freely available APIs for developers. It helps accelerate development by offering access to a diverse range of APIs, from weather and finance to gaming and machine learning. This can be particularly useful for both learning purposes and developing projects without the need for substantial investment in proprietary APIs.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for free or open APIs to integrate into their projects.
  • Students and educators who need practical API examples for teaching and learning.
  • Startups and hobbyists seeking to build prototypes without incurring additional costs.

Analysis of CloudShell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PublicAPIs and CloudShell)
APIs
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Web App
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CloudShell seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PublicAPIs mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PublicAPIs yet. Tracking of PublicAPIs recommendations started around Mar 2021.

CloudShell mentions (12)

  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue this command to enable the API: gcloud services enable youtube.googleapis.com Confirm all the APIs you've enabled with this command:... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud command-line tool [CLI]) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue the following command to enable all three APIs: gcloud services enable geocoding-backend.googleapis.com... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Getting started with the Google Cloud CLI interactive shell for serverless developers
    While you might find that using the Google Cloud online console or Cloud Shell environment meets your occasional needs, for maximum developer efficiency you will want to install the Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) on your own system where you already have your favorite editor or IDE and git set up. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Cloud desktops aren't as good as you'd think
    Here is the product https://cloud.google.com/shell It has a quick start guide and docs. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • I do not have a personal laptop. Should I use my school's library computers to start learning or just wait until I get a laptop?
    If you are worried about creating other accounts etc - you can just use your gmail account with https://cloud.google.com/shell and that gives you a very small vm and a coding environment (replit or colab are way better than this though). Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PublicAPIs and CloudShell, you can also consider the following products

API List - A collective list of APIs. Build something.

GitHub Codespaces - GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

The Unsplash API - No-limits, do-what-you-want API for access to 200K+ HD pics.

CodeTasty - CodeTasty is a programming platform for developers in the cloud.

Abstract APIs - Simple, powerful APIs for everyday dev tasks

Dirigible - Dirigible is a cloud development toolkit providing both development tools and runtime environment.