Today we are excited to release the first public version of the Gowalla API. Starting now, developers can build applications that use Gowalla data in fun and interesting ways. All of the technical details can be found by browsing the API Explorer, reading the documentation, and visiting the gowalla-dev Google Group. User-created and curated content is central to Gowalla. Every spot in our database is created by hand, on location, by the community — reflecting the real interests and creativity of the users. The recent addition of user-curated trips continues the theme of highlighting and promoting your favorite places. The Gowalla API takes the creative potential to the next level. We’re eager to see what this community creates next. The Gowalla API enables tons of fun stuff. Here are a few free ideas:

• Indiana Jones Map — Convert your road trip into an animated, epic adventure.
• Sidebar Badge — Show off your top ten spots with a sidebar badge for your blog.
• Conference Games — Encourage conference attendees to explore the city and get to know each other by tracking their check-ins and rewarding those who get off the beaten path.
• LunchVote — Can’t agree with your co-workers on a lunch spot? Stuck in a rut with the same five restaurants? Use LunchVote to decide on a nearby restaurant and track your history.
• Gowallahashing — Inspired by XKCD’s Geohashing, algorithmically pick a random spot every day for a given area, to encourage serendipitous challenges and meetups.