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Earn Money by Building and Selling APIs with ChatGPT
Learn to leverage ChatGPT to create and sell APIs on the world's largest API marketplace, Rapid.
Learn to leverage ChatGPT to create and sell APIs on the world's largest API marketplace, Rapid.
In this guide, we will build an API capable of producing QR codes. We will do this using ChatGPT, a powerful AI tool developed by OpenAI. It can generate human-like responses to various inputs and even write code for us, making it ideal for this project. After making the API, we will sell it on Rapid API Hub.
Rapid is a platform that offers developers to deploy and sell their APIs on a subscription basis, with the potential to generate a substantial monthly recurring revenue stream. Without further ado, let's get started.
Step 1: Coding with ChatGPT
Open ChatGPT and put in the command to code a Python Flask API server. We must be clear and concise regarding the functionality of the API so that ChatGPT can generate the code precisely to our specifications. In this instance, we must specify that the API should accept a GET request with a URL in string format and convert it into a QR image code.
Once ChatGPT has generated the code, copy and paste it into a code editor such as VSCode, saving it as a new file named qr.py.
Step 2: Testing the Code on Local Server
Next, open your terminal and run the command python qr.py.
This will initiate the server. To test the server, open the URL provided by ChatGPT.
When you open the URL, it will generate a QR code image like this:
Modifying the URL value will produce a new QR code, demonstrating that the API functions flawlessly.
Step 3: Modifying the code to allow for downloadable QR codes
We can further enhance the functionality of our API by modifying the code to make the QR code images downloadable. So, prompt ChatGPT to rewrite the code to make the response image downloadable.
Replace the previous code with the new code in your VSCode and relaunch the API on the local server. With this update, the QR code will be automatically downloaded each time a new URL is entered.
Step 4: Deploying the API
Now that our API is ready, it is time to deploy it to the cloud. For this demonstration, I will be using PythonAnywhere, but you may use any other platform, such as Heroku, Google Cloud, or Amazon. After signing up, you will be directed to the dashboard.
Click on "Open Web App" and create a new web application. Select Flask and choose the desired Python version.
Scroll down and click "Go to directory" to access the flask_app.py file.
Copy and paste the Python code from the VSCode into this file, then save it. Next, click "Web," reload the server, and open the API in a new tab. You may encounter an error at this point, but ignore it as it is simply because our application lacks the root URL.
Finally, copy the demo request query parameters from ChatGPT, which are /qrcode?url=https://www.example.com/ and paste them into the address bar. This will download a QR code image, confirming our API is live and fully operational.
Step 5: Selling on Rapid
The final step is to publish our API on Rapid. Open Rapid API Studio and do a quick sign-up if you haven’t already.
Fill out the necessary details about your API and click on the "Hub Listing" section and provide additional information, including the base URL generated by PythonAnywhere.
Next, add the endpoints and query parameters and save them.
Click on "View in Hub" to see your API’s page on the API Hub. Here, we can test the endpoint to ensure our API is functional. As you can see, it generates a QR code in response, indicating that our API works splendidly.
Now, return to your Studio project and open the Monetize section. Here you can create pricing plans for your customers and adjust different usage quotas for each plan.
Fantastic! Our API is now live and operational; every time someone subscribes, we'll receive payment. Let's make some money with our awesome API!
Wrap up
With ChatGPT, you can create highly efficient and potentially profitable APIs in no time. Don’t just stop at QR Codes. Think of any good API idea, roll up your sleeves, and start building using the same process.
