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How do I extract data from a Jira database using the API in order to process it in another application?

Nick Kampa

I would like to extract data from a Jira instance database and have been advised that the most sensible solution would be to use the API, as it would still allow my connection to work even if my Jira instance is updated.

Could you tell me how this might work and what form of data I can get out?

Thanks, Nick.

Accepted answers

Nick Kampa

There is no one answer, but thanks to your comments I have several options, so I am going to close this thread and look forward to reading some new ones.

Best wishes, Nick.

All comments

Radu Dumitriu

If you extract data from the JIRA db to another application, it's ok, no matter what data it is (of course, normal DB isolation rules apply, e.g. dirty read, commited, serializable).

Jira has caches, it's true, but modifications are always commited into the database then entered in the caches, so from that point of view you will be safe. That API caution should be employed ONLY when you are modifying data.

Nick Kampa

Thanks, Radu. Your caution is noted.

What I am looking for is a machanism to use the API to read data (no writes) at various periods of time (hourly/daily). How is this done with the API? I do not know what to expect.

Radu Dumitriu

If you bypass the API, you can use any ORM you like (Hibernate / myBatis, etc). Since you are doing only reads, your solution of not using API is safe.

The solutions using the API would be : 1/ direct integration with the services JIRA offers (REST/SOAP) if these are covering your needs 2/ create your own services into that JIRA to get your data 3/ raise a read-only "zombie" JIRA on the same DB (needs some digging) and exploit it.

There may be others ...

Nick Kampa

Hi Radu, that sounds great. I'll pass it on to my technical colleagues to evaluate the best solution.

Do you happen to know if bypassing the API is relatively future-proof of changes to Jira config versions?

Regards, Nick.

Grob

Hi, I've been looking at extracting data for reporting, and I think you need to think through all the options, and why you are doing it.

People asking for reporting fall into two broad groups - those who don't know what the front-end can do, and those who do and have established that they cannot get what they need. The first thing to do is get your administrators to look at the reports you want to establish what group the reports fall into. I think it is important to get the question clearly defined before you go any further, as a lot of my users ask for reports which turn out to be of little use, because they don't really understand the question.

You then have to decide what the most appropriate route is:

1. Use the front-end

2. Specific reporting plugins

3. Write an external application that pulls Jira data via SOAP, REST or XML

4. Extend Jira output if 3 is not enough

5. Use a generalised reporting plugin (for example, EasyBI, Tempo)

6. You can access the database directly (Last resort, can be painful to set up and maintain)

Nick Kampa

Hi Alice, the thing is I have access to Business Objects and want to use its reporting tools to create regular reports that are currently done by hand.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. regards, Nick.

Grob

Ok, Business Objects is a good way to approach point 6. It will be powerful, but you need to be very careful, because:

It lets people write reports that stress the database. Use a copy of the live data somehow (Regular nightly backup, replication, etc)

You will need to do data mapping. That will need to be checked and updated on upgrades, and possibly even just changes to data.

It can bypass all the security, unless you build that into your data map (not an issue for some people, huge for others)

It lets people write reports that are not useful because they can do what they think they want, without really understanding the data.

I would definitely talk to your administrators if you want to do this - you'll need their help with all of the worries above.

Nick Kampa

I've got several standby DBs to use, so thanks for that. I also have colleagues who are very close to the data, so have a validation plan as well.

What I'd be really keen on is a method of extracting the data I need via the API so I don't have to check the data mapping on upgrades. Is that a possibility?

Bob Swift

JIRA Command Line Interface can be used to get information from JIRA (download or OnDemand) using actions like getIssueList for instance.

Nick Kampa

Thank you all for your answers so far; they have been very thought provoking. I will post an outcome when I have one.

Best wishes, Nick.

Nick Kampa

There is no one answer, but thanks to your comments I have several options, so I am going to close this thread and look forward to reading some new ones.

Best wishes, Nick.

Ajay Verma_xabu0g

@Nick Kampa

can anyone help me , how to find out the time difference between two Jira Status in Qlikview\Qliksense . How i can develop the data model to achieve this requirement ?

Thanks

Ajay

Nic Brough -Adaptavist-

You will want to start at https://developer.atlassian.com/server/jira/platform/rest-apis/ and look specifically at the functions for querying the issue history.

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