Sandhog allows developers to easily use some of the MTA’s webservices by abstracting the interaction through the Sandhog object.
For example, you can get the status of the L train with the following code.
$status = new Sandhog();
echo $status->service->status('l');
You can query Sandhog for every subway, major bridge, tunnel, bus, LIRR line, and MetroNorth line. Check out example.php
.
- Don’t worry about navigating unruly XML. Just use
$data = new Sandhog();
and you’re good to go.- Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about bridges vs tunnels vs subway. Just use
service->whatever()
.
- Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about bridges vs tunnels vs subway. Just use
- Don’t worry about bad/dirty data. Sandhog automatically strips away any HTML because it likes to make your life easier.
service->
status() // returns the status of a subway line, Metro North Train, bridge, or tunnel
name() // returns the name of a subway line, Metro North Train, bridge, or tunnel
text() // returns any text explaining the status. this usually occurs when the status() != good service
plannedworkheadline() // returns the headline summarizing any planned work (protip: this only works with subways)
date() // not exactly sure what this is referring to since the feed is allegedly updated every 60 seconds
time() // see above
What’s a Sandhog?