Google+ has no plans to release an API this year

Speaking at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the head of Google+, Vic Gundotra said that the social network still hasn't had an API, even 7 months after launching, because users' streams could easily be overwhelmed. According to TechCrunch, Gundotra did not guarantee that an API for Google+ will release at the end 2012. In addition to looking out for users, he is also looking out for developers. He says, "I just don’t want to do it because I’ve seen other [platforms] open APIs, develop an ecosystem of third-party clients, and then shut down the API. I’m going to release that API when I’m confident we’re not going to screw over developers.” Gundotra was critical of Facebook placing ads in photo albums and said that not too many people have turned off social search. 

Vic Gundotra says don't hold hopes for an API

Gundotra explains the reason behind overflooding from third party apps in users' streams. He says that when an application is not ranked high enough in a stream, the app pushes out too many posts, which can hide authentic content coming from users. He said that when Google opens up the Google+ API, they're not going to revoke access. When moderator, Guy Kawasaki said that developers constantly adapt to Facebook's changing API, Gundotra came back with, "We hold ourselves to a higher standard".

Gundotra also may have contradicted himself by saying that opening up the API may make Google+ seem less like a ghost town. He said, "“We get these messages that we’re a ghost town” but developers are still eager for access. Well guess what? If users could cross-publish posts to Google+ the way that apps like Path allow syndication to Facebook and Twitter, maybe the network wouldn’t feel so dead. Overwhelmed might be better than underwhelmed."