[vaporstun]

I am a little turned off by the fact that I have to log in to view this information. What is the point? Is this now Facebook?

I'm interested in the API but don't feel as though I should have to alert Dropbox, by being forced to login, that I am interested in it in order to learn more.

[nicksergeant]

Really? Going a bit far, I'd say. Logging in on the web is a fairly trivial task, and I'd argue that there's a good business reason to gauge interest in a consumer API before dumping a ton of man hours into building it.

[vaporstun]

Right, and they can gauge interest easily and anonymously without requiring me to tell them specifically that I am interested in it.

I value my privacy and find it silly that I have to log in. They offer no information as to why I must log in, I am just hit with a log in page. If this were under an NDA or something and it was an agreement into which I entered willingly, I would not be so opposed. As it is, they are simply farming my data and I don't like giving that up freely.

I think there is the growing problem that most people are increasingly willing to divulge their personal information, specifically online, and then have a backlash at anyone who doesn't feel comfortable doing so. It's trivial you say, just as it would be trivial for me to be forced to show identification whenever I get on a bus, but that doesn't mean I am going to be alright with doing so. Like the argument that only people who have anything to hide advocate for privacy. This example may sound a bit extreme but it is essentially the same argument.

Anyway, you're entitled to your own opinion, but I don't think it's going too far to be perturbed at giving up some of my privacy to look at an API.

[kordless]

Loggly's site and app are on two completely different stacks. The app is what you log into, and most of it sits behind authentication. I'm speculating here, but if we were to do some type of semi-automated documentation, it would PROBABLY sit behind authentication as well, as it would live in the app side of the house. Not because we wanted to 'track' someone. We can do that when you write a program and then test it! :P

I'm certainly not speaking for Dropbox here, but my point is that there do exist reasons why a company might want you to log in to see documentation. Maybe you are on a beta trial of V3.0 of the APIs, and need to see alternate docs, or some of the examples require you to have a hash that is used in examples, or...etc.

Seems to me you are being a bit pedantic. I doubt seriously that Dropbox is going to violate your privacy.

[evilduck]

What's the penalty for lying to Dropbox with useless email information?

[varenc]

This is only why its in beta...