google_play_search is a Ruby gem that provides search functions in google play store.
Installation
$ gem install google_play_search
Or with Bundler in your Gemfile.
gem 'google_play_search'
Usage
# only 1.8.7 need this
require 'rubygems'
require 'google_play_search'
gps = GooglePlaySearch::Search.new
# it will return app arrary. default is first page
# default every page returns 24 apps
gps.search("bird")
# you can search next page app arrary
gps.next_page # current page will be change to 2
# you also can search the page what you want
gps.search("bird", :page => 3)
gps.next_page # current page will be change to 4
# you can see current page (return page numer)
p gps.current_page # 4
# you can see current_page (return page numer)
p gps.kewyword # "bird"
# if you search another keyword use same instance
gps.search("tiger") # current page will be change to default 1
###Configuring
gps = GooglePlaySearch::Search.new(:language=>"en", :category=>"apps", :per_page_num=>10,
:price => 0, :safe_search => 0, :sort_by => 1)
language
: search language. Default:en. (can be "en", "zh_CN", "ja", "ko", "fr")category
: search category. Default:apps. (can be "apps","music","movies","books","magazines"). some country don't support "music","movies","books","magazines" yet.per_page_num
: app numbers in every page of search result. Default: 24price
: app price. Default: "0" - All Price. Can be "1" - Free App. "2" - need paid App.safe_search
: search safe mode. Default: "0" - search safe off. Can be "1" - low safe mode. "2" - moderate safe mode. "3" - strict safe mode .sort_by
: app list sort by. Default: "1" - sort by Relevance. Can be "0" - sort by popularity
###Search Result
app_list = gps.search("bird")
# android app id (like "com.rovio.angrybirds")
p app_list[0].id
# android app name (like "Angry Birds")
p app_list[0].name
# android app url (like "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirds")
p app_list[0].url
# android app developer (like "Rovio Mobile Ltd.")
p app_list[0].developer
# android app logo url (like
# "https://lh3.ggpht.com/6c2H-PDJk5Sax4WaIiTQgovdqvfNZZbtoQyktOgd_uW-Hh09idFdej14LPqalvVz9LA=w78-h78")
p app_list[0].logo_url
# android app short description
# (like "Use the unique powers of the Angry Birds to destroy the greedy pigs' fortresses!
# The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the greedy pigs who s...")
p app_list[0].short_description
# android app average review rating (like 4.6)
# type is float
p app_list[0].rating
# android app price (like "$2.99")
# type is string
p app_list[0].price
Note
As google play site have access limit. So if you use this gem search app very often. Some times will return nothing.