Using google data API

Question

I want to learn google contacts API to manipulate my gmail contacts. I have two gmail accounts, one is for my regular use, the other for test purpose. However, when I run the example code(I wrote it based on contacts_example.py), I find that I can use the first account, but not the second.

Here is a snippet of the code:

try:
  gd_client = gdata.contacts.client.ContactsClient(source='GoogleInc-ContactsPythonSample-1')
  gd_client.ClientLogin(user, pw, gd_client.source)
except gdata.client.BadAuthentication:
  print 'Invalid user credentials given.'
  return

When I run it I get this, and I swear my password is right.

Please enter your username: [email protected]
Password:
Invalid user credentials given.

Any idea what can lead to this error? I think it has something to do with my test account, but I am not sure what is it.

Answer 1

There is an account setting in Google which makes this work.

Go to https://myaccount.google.com/ on your account that doesn't work and under the "Account settings -> Signing in" section there is a thing called "Less secure apps". Click on "Turn on". It should now work.

The direct page for this is https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureapps

I hope that helps