Another random bit of code I wrote this weekend is a set of scripts which retrieve data out of the Google universe. So far these scripts support authenticating and fetching Google Calendars, a Google Reader OPML file, and the Google Bookmarks xml file. If you'd like to get the source with bzr:
bzr co http://mccormick.cx/dev/google-services-backup/
Or download a zipfile from here:
http://mccormick.cx/dev/google-services-backup-4.zip
The code is GPL.
I like Google's services, and use several of them, but I was motivated to write these scripts after reading the following:
- Bruce Schneier on cloud computing, and what it means for control over our data
- Bruce Schneier's "An Expectation of Privacy" which touches on similar issues
- This poor fellow's story of the unexpected suspension of his Google account
"Remember when Facebook recently changed its terms of service to take further control over your data? They can do that whenever they want, you know.
We have no choice but to trust these companies with our security and privacy, even though they have little incentive to protect them."
-- Bruce Schneier