Twitter API - Don't Bother

As a web programmer I used to have the general idea that where web programmers go, so goes the web. But as time goes by, I realize now that is far from true. Because web programmers are hooked on automation.

I look at any manual operation and wonder how to get that same operation done, many times over, in some automated way that takes little or no effort. What can I say? That always gets me excited.

So when I came across the Twitter API, my first thought was that this sounded like fun. So I started using the API to repost just about everything I posted on my websites to Twitter. I mean, why would Twitter even offer that function if not for that use. If I wanted to make a manual tweet, why not just go to Twitter and do it?

Well, now that Twitter’s very broad perception of spam, posts made with the API include nofollow links and the posts themselves are not available in Twitter search.

So the next time you post to your blog and are content in knowing that post is being sent to your Twitter account, rest assured the only positive effect it will have is that it will be made available to your real hard core followers who visit your twitter page.