What API does the Magento Mobile Store native app use?

Question

I'm curious to know if the Magento Native App uses the REST API, Soap v1 or Soap v2?

How is it able to access data with regards to features like configurable products while I can't do the same using the Soap v2. For example, I can't get the configurable attributes for a configurable product, while the mobile app can do that.

Answer 1

Well....neither. The Native mobile app uses the module Mage_XmlConnect to get the needed data. It makes calls to the controllers in this module.

A bit off topic:
(almost) all the controllers inherit Mage_XmlConnect_Controller_Action so (almost) all calls pass through this action Mage_XmlConnect_Controller_Action::preDispatch().
Most of the actions just load the layout and display it, so if you want to know how some data is rendered look in the blocks of this module.

• Alana Storm: FYI: Old article from Inchoo on this very subject. inchoo.net/ecommerce/magento/…
• epicwhale: Thanks, I'm looking into it. If I had to build a native app or a mobile site that is remote and consumes magento's catalog, would you suggest that I pick the XmlConnect approach over using Soap?
• Marius: I don't know if I'm the right person to answer this since I have no experience with a magento mobile app (and very little experience with mobile apps in general), but what I can say is that the SOAP service is veeeery slow. Before taking a decision, I would investigate how the XmlConnect module works, since 'mobile app' is the reason it was built for.
• epicwhale: Is there no documentation on XmlConnect besides the inchoo url? I'm definitely trying to avoid SOAP for reasons beyond speed (like it lacking certain features) - for e.g this - stackoverflow.com/questions/17659446/…
• Pankaj Pareek: @Marius .. Do I need to use XmlConnect for developing app for my magento store ?

Answer 2

REST is the best to go for. While you are going to build a magento app with high-profile security, SOAP is the best one to serve your purpose.