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This is a bit strange. I migrated my blog from Tumblr about a year ago, and at the time there was an easy-to-use XML API to retrieve posts -- presumably the one that powers the many "hacky third party tools that purport to do it".

I suppose it is disconcerting that Tumblr don't just let you export your data from the dashboard, but it's not at all difficult to do, and it's not at all hacky.

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It's not difficult or hacky to you - but you read and comment on HN.

Totally agree with both of you.

Tumblr is one of the simplest api's I have ever worked with, though. To decide not to use it because there isn't some one-click dashboard csv export or migration tool.. that's such a weird decision. That's like saying I don't want to use [redacted social networking site] because it doesn't feature [one-click-tool] to move to [alternative redacted social networking site]. I mean, I guess. But, if your concern is about ownership of the data and you're treating their service/app as a datasource, I'm sorry but you're going to have to get your hands a little dirty to export that data into your preferred format.

bear in mind, it's Gina Trapani writing this. She should know how to use an API.

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