Drupal.org API: Get Contribution Records, No More Parsing!

Introduction: The Challenge of Tracking Drupal Contributors

When delving into the history of a Drupal project, tracking down all contributors can sometimes feel like a treasure hunt. Traditionally, one might parse commit messages to compile a list of individuals who have lent their skills and time. However, this method can be incomplete, as some contributors receive credit through contribution records rather than direct commits. This is where the Drupal.org API steps in, offering a more comprehensive and efficient solution. This article will guide you through the process of leveraging the Drupal.org API to access contribution records, ensuring a complete picture of project contributors and eliminating the need to parse commit messages.

The Problem: Missing Contributors in Commit Parsing

The primary issue lies in the limitations of commit parsing. While commit messages are a valuable source of information, they don't always capture the full scope of contributions. Users might be acknowledged through contribution records, which often encompass tasks like documentation, issue triage, or community support. If a project relies solely on commit parsing, it risks overlooking these crucial contributions. This can lead to an inaccurate representation of the individuals who have helped shape the project and foster a sense of inequity among community members who have contributed. We need a method to get these records properly.

The Solution: Drupal.org's JSON:API for Comprehensive Data

Fortunately, Drupal.org provides a powerful tool: the JSON:API. This API allows you to query contribution records directly, providing access to a wealth of data that goes beyond commit messages. Using the JSON:API, you can filter and include specific data points, such as contributor usernames. This direct access streamlines the process of gathering contributor information, enabling a more accurate and complete overview of project participation. The API is a modern method to get information, which is always useful and gives more reliability in comparison with the commit method.

Step-by-Step Guide: Accessing Contribution Records

This section will walk you through the process of using the Drupal.org API to retrieve contribution records. We'll break down the necessary steps, from constructing the API request to interpreting the results. By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to efficiently gather contribution information for any Drupal project. Let's dive in and see how easy it is to find contributors using this amazing method.

Constructing the API Request: Filtering and Including Data

The core of the process involves crafting a targeted API request. The URL will look something like this:

https://www.drupal.org/jsonapi/node/contribution_record

This URL serves as the entry point to the contribution records. To retrieve specific information, you'll need to use filters and include parameters. The primary filter is field_source_link.uri. This filter lets you specify the node ID of the project or release you're interested in. For example, to find contributors to a specific project page, you would use:

?filter[field_source_link.uri]=https://www.drupal.org/node/{nid}

Where {nid} is the node ID of the project page. The include parameter is another crucial element. It allows you to include related data, such as the contributor's user account information. You'll need to include the field_contributors relationship and then the field_contributor_user from that relationship. The resulting includes would be:

&include=field_contributors.field_contributor_user

Sparse Fieldsets: Getting Specific Data

To optimize your request and retrieve only the data you need, use sparse fieldsets. This technique helps to reduce the amount of data transferred and improves efficiency. Sparse fieldsets allow you to specify which fields you want to include from each resource type. Here's how you can implement sparse fieldsets:

• For the root resource (node--contribution_record), only include field_contributors.
• For paragraph--contributor, only include field_contributor_user.
• For user--user, only include the display_name field.

Your URL would then include the following parameters:

&fields[node--contribution_record]=field_contributors

&fields[paragraph--contributor]=field_contributor_user

&fields[user--user]=display_name

Example API Request and Response

Putting it all together, here's an example of a complete API request:

https://www.drupal.org/jsonapi/node/contribution_record
    ?filter[field_source_link.uri]=https://www.drupal.org/node/3560441
    &include=field_contributors.field_contributor_user
    &fields[node--contribution_record]=field_contributors
    &fields[paragraph--contributor]=field_contributor_user
    &fields[user--user]=display_name

This request fetches contribution records for a specific node (in this case, node ID 3560441). The response will be a JSON object containing the data you requested. The key sections to look for are data and included. The data section contains the main contribution records and the relationships. The included section contains the related data, such as the contributor's display name, which is what we need to get from this useful API.

Decoding the JSON Response: Extracting Contributor Names

Once you receive the JSON response from the API, the next step is to parse it and extract the contributor names. This process typically involves iterating through the included array and retrieving the display_name attribute for each user. This section will guide you through the process of parsing the JSON response to extract valuable contributor information.

Parsing the Response: Identifying the User Records

The JSON response from the API is structured to provide related data in an