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Bindle API

Build romantic applications for the transient community. The Bindle API provides access to over 45,000 active wanderers, our proprietary 47-factor Bindle Compatibility Score, and the only dating platform where "owns a shopping cart" is a green flag.

💕
Over 3 Million Matches Made
12,000 unlicensed marriages officiated. Legal in zero states, but love doesn't need a jurisdiction.

What you can build

Quickstart

Start matching wanderers in under 5 minutes.

1. Get your API key

Sign up for a free Bindle Developer account. Payment accepted in aluminum cans, bottle caps, or traditional currency.

2. Install the SDK

bash
# npm
npm install @vagibond/bindle-sdk

# pip
pip install bindle-api

# Truly committed? Carve this into a bindle stick:
curl https://api.bindle.vagibond.com/v1/matches/nearby \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"lat": 37.7749, "lng": -122.4194, "radius_miles": 2}'

3. Find your first match

javascript
import { Bindle } from '@vagibond/bindle-sdk';

const client = new Bindle('your_api_key');

// Find potential matches nearby
const matches = await client.matches.nearby({
  lat: 37.7749,
  lng: -122.4194,
  radius_miles: 2,
  min_compatibility: 0.65
});

console.log(matches);
// {
//   "matches": [
//     {
//       "id": "usr_hobo_42",
//       "display_name": "Railroad Rita",
//       "age": 47,
//       "compatibility_score": 0.87,
//       "distance": "0.3 miles",
//       "location_type": "Under bridge (south side)",
//       "verified_assets": ["shopping_cart", "tent_2_person"],
//       "bindle_contents": 12,
//       "rail_routes": ["UP_Pacific", "BNSF_Transcon"],
//       "last_active": "2024-01-15T08:30:00Z"
//     }
//   ]
// }

Authentication

All API requests require authentication. We accept multiple payment methods for API access:

Prefix Type Payment Method
bdl_live_ Production 2 aluminum cans/month or $4.99 USD
bdl_test_ Sandbox Free (fake hobos only)
bdl_premium_ Rail Baron 5 cans/month or $9.99 USD
🪵
Barter Payment Processing
To pay via recyclables, mail your cans to: Bindle HQ, Under the Burnside Bridge, Portland OR 97209. Please crush cans for efficient processing.

Rate Limits

Love takes time. So do API requests.

Plan Swipes/day Compatibility Checks Ceremonies
Wanderer (Free) 5 10 0
Rail Baron (2 cans) Unlimited Unlimited 1/month
Boxcar King (5 cans) Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited

Matching API

GET /v1/matches/nearby

Returns potential romantic matches within a specified radius. Results are sorted by Bindle Compatibility Score.

Query Parameters

Parameter Type Description
lat float Your latitude (or best guess)
lng float Your longitude
radius_miles float Search radius (default: 2, max: "next_train_stop")
min_compatibility float Minimum Bindle Compatibility Score (0.0-1.0)
has_cart boolean Filter by verified shopping cart ownership
willing_to_share_beans boolean Only show matches open to communal dining

Response

json
{
  "matches": [
    {
      "id": "usr_hobo_42",
      "display_name": "Railroad Rita",
      "age": 47,
      "gender": "female",
      "compatibility_score": 0.87,
      "compatibility_breakdown": {
        "dumpster_preference_match": 0.92,
        "cardboard_box_compatibility": 0.85,
        "bean_sharing_willingness": 0.95,
        "rail_route_overlap": 0.78
      },
      "distance": "0.3 miles",
      "location_type": "Under bridge (south side)",
      "verified_assets": ["shopping_cart", "tent_2_person"],
      "looking_for": "Someone to share a fire barrel with",
      "deal_breakers": ["No tent", "Won't share beans"]
    }
  ],
  "total": 23
}
POST /v1/matches/swipe

Swipe on a potential match. If both users swipe right, a match is created and both parties are notified via carrier pigeon (or push notification).

Request Body

json
{
  "target_user_id": "usr_hobo_42",
  "direction": "right", // "right" = interested, "left" = pass
  "super_swipe": false, // Costs 1 extra can
  "message": "Nice cart! Is that a Safeway or Costco model?"
}

Response

json
{
  "swipe_id": "swp_abc123",
  "is_match": true,
  "match_id": "mtch_xyz789",
  "suggested_meeting_spot": {
    "type": "fire_barrel",
    "location": "Under I-405, near the good dumpster",
    "lat": 37.7751,
    "lng": -122.4189
  },
  "celebration_message": "It's a match! May your bindles intertwine."
}
GET /v1/matches/compatibility/{user_id}

Get detailed Bindle Compatibility Score breakdown for a specific user. Our algorithm analyzes 47 compatibility factors.

Response

json
{
  "overall_score": 0.87,
  "factors": {
    "lifestyle": {
      "dumpster_territory_overlap": 0.92,
      "preferred_bridge_orientation": 0.88,
      "cardboard_box_dimensions": 0.75,
      "fire_barrel_sharing_style": 0.90
    },
    "travel": {
      "rail_route_compatibility": 0.78,
      "freight_vs_passenger_preference": 0.95,
      "travel_pace": 0.82
    },
    "culinary": {
      "bean_brand_preference": 0.91,
      "mulligan_stew_recipe_similarity": 0.67,
      "dumpster_dive_schedule": 0.89
    },
    "assets": {
      "combined_cart_capacity": 0.85,
      "tent_compatibility": 0.92,
      "bindle_stick_craftsmanship": 0.78
    }
  },
  "recommendation": "Strong match. Your dumpster schedules align perfectly.",
  "warnings": ["Slight mulligan stew recipe conflict - discuss before cohabitation"]
}

Inventory API

Manage bindle contents programmatically.

GET /v1/inventory

List all items in your bindle. Useful for asset verification and compatibility calculations.

Response

json
{
  "items": [
    {
      "id": "itm_001",
      "name": "Lucky Harmonica",
      "category": "entertainment",
      "condition": "well-loved",
      "shareable": true,
      "estimated_value_cans": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "itm_002",
      "name": "Slightly Dented Can of Beans",
      "category": "food",
      "expiration": "best_guess_2019",
      "shareable": true
    },
    {
      "id": "itm_003",
      "name": "Bindle Stick (Oak)",
      "category": "essential",
      "craftsmanship_score": 0.89,
      "shareable": false
    }
  ],
  "total_items": 12,
  "estimated_total_value_cans": 23
}
POST /v1/ceremony/officiate

Officiate an unlicensed Bindle Ceremony between two matched users. Generates a commemorative certificate (not legally binding in any jurisdiction).

Request Body

json
{
  "partner_1_id": "usr_hobo_42",
  "partner_2_id": "usr_hobo_87",
  "ceremony_type": "fire_barrel", // or "boxcar", "under_bridge", "jungle"
  "vows": {
    "partner_1": "I promise to share my beans and never hog the fire barrel.",
    "partner_2": "I promise to let you have the good side of the cardboard."
  },
  "witnesses": ["usr_hobo_23", "usr_hobo_45"]
}

Response

json
{
  "ceremony_id": "cer_love2024",
  "status": "completed",
  "certificate_url": "https://cdn.bindle.vagibond.com/certificates/cer_love2024.pdf",
  "legal_status": "Not recognized in any jurisdiction",
  "romantic_status": "Eternally bound by the sacred fire barrel",
  "combined_bindle_inventory": 24,
  "message": "May your bindles always be full and your fire barrels always warm."
}
💍
Ceremony Statistics
12,000+ ceremonies performed. Average ceremony length: 4 minutes. Most popular vow: "I promise to share my beans."
POST /v1/assets/verify

Verify ownership of assets like shopping carts and tents. Verified assets appear with a badge on profiles, increasing match rates by 340%.

Request Body

json
{
  "asset_type": "shopping_cart",
  "brand": "Costco", // Premium brand, +15% match rate
  "condition": "three_wheels",
  "photo_url": "https://your-server.com/my-cart.jpg",
  "acquisition_method": "found" // "found", "inherited", "traded", "other"
}

Verifiable Assets

Asset Type Match Rate Boost Verification Method
shopping_cart +340% Photo + serial number (if visible)
tent +280% Photo with dimensions
bindle_stick +120% Craftsmanship assessment
fire_barrel +500% Location verification + photo

Compatibility Factors

Our algorithm analyzes 47 factors. Here are the top 10 most weighted:

Factor Weight Description
Bean Sharing Willingness 12% Critical for long-term compatibility
Rail Route Overlap 11% Can you travel together?
Dumpster Schedule Sync 10% Avoid territorial conflicts
Cardboard Box Preferences 9% Size, brand, condition standards
Fire Barrel Etiquette 8% Sharing vs. hoarding warmth
Hygiene Expectations 7% Relative to hobo standards
Political Views 6% On rail yard security, gentrification
Musical Taste 5% Harmonica compatibility crucial
Cart Maintenance Style 5% Neat vs. chaotic organizers
Mulligan Stew Recipe 4% Can be dealbreaker if incompatible

Pricing

FREE
Wanderer
For casual romantics
$0/forever
  • 5 swipes per day
  • Basic compatibility score
  • View matches within 2 train cars
  • Text-only messaging
Start Free
PREMIUM
Boxcar King
For serial romantics
5 cans/month
  • Everything in Rail Baron
  • Unlimited ceremonies
  • Premium dumpster alerts
  • VIP fire barrel access
  • Asset verification badge
Go Boxcar King

Changelog

v2.5.0 January 12, 2024 Feature
  • Added "Jungle Junction" group matching for community events
  • New compatibility factor: "Tolerance for harmonica at 3 AM"
  • Ceremony certificates now include QR code (links to nothing legal)
v2.4.0 November 20, 2023 Feature
  • Asset verification system launched
  • Shopping cart photo validation using AI (checks for wheels)
  • New payment option: bottle caps (exchange rate: 3 caps = 1 can)
v2.3.0 September 5, 2023 Fix
  • Fixed bug where compatibility scores exceeded 100% (love has limits)
  • Improved rail route matching for BNSF lines
  • Ceremony endpoint no longer crashes when both partners say "I don't"