San Francisco 'opens' city data to app developers

The city of San Francisco today announced the launch of DataSF.org, an effort to build a publicly accessible database of machine-readable, API-accessible government data that could be used by developers to create new applications. So-called mashup apps are becoming increasingly popular as developers mix and match Web sites like Google Maps and platforms like the iPhone to build information-rich applications. For instance, developers could use the DataSF.org database to combine city crime data and apartment listings to help renters find a safe location or integrate restaurant inspection data into a review site to rate restaurants by their health code ratings. At least one app is already available. EcoFinder is an iPhone application that helps residents recycle based on their location. It was built using recycling data released by the city's Department of Energy.