02. Your Project

Your Project

Before you can get started rendering maps, using services, and generally being a really cool individual, you need to have your own Google Developer Project.

If you don’t already have one, you can go to the Google APIs Console and create your own project. This is free and will allow you to generate your own API key to use within your site.

  1. Visit https://console.developers.google.com
  2. Sign in with your Google - i.e. yourname@gmail.com. If you don't have one, you can go to accounts.google.com to create one for free.
  3. Click on "Select a Project" and then "Create a Project" in the upper right side of the screen.
    Create a Project Menu
  4. Name your project something descriptive, such as "Udacity-Maps-Project" or "Emily-likes-buffalo-wings". Select whether you'd like to receive updates (usually a good idea) and select whether you agree to the terms of service.
    Name your project
  5. Click the "Create" button.
  6. Click on the "Google Maps JavaScript API" under "Google Maps APIs"
    JavaScript API Menu
  7. Click the "Enable" button
  8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the following APIs (highlighted in yellow) which we'll use in this course:

    List of Available APIs
  9. Click the “Credentials” menu item on the left of the screen
  10. Click the “Create Credentials” button
  11. Select “API Key” from the options that appear. The other credentials available are used in other types of applications which we won't be covering in this course, but feel free to read the information under "Help me choose" if you'd like to learn more!
    Credential Menu
  12. Select the “Browser Key” button
  13. Name your API Key something descriptive, such as Maps_API_Udacity_Course. It should reflect your intended use of the key. Click the “Create” button
    Name Your API
  14. Repeat steps 10 and 11 for “Server Key,” if you will be making server-side requests.
    You can access these keys at any time by visiting the “Credentials” sub-menu under the “API Manager” menu
  15. Get mapping!

Now that you have an API key, and the Google Maps APIs are enabled, you are ready to proceed with the course!

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