API playgrounds are some of the most useful tools that a developer can have. The playground moniker may not resonate with everyone, but having the ability to mess around with code in a place where I’m not going to break anything sounds fun. If that sounds fun to you as well or you just need some practice with the DFP API, Google has a treat for you.

Google announced Monday that the DFP API has a new playground that’s built on App Engine. It also uses the new ads Java client library. The main advantage here is that you can now build DFP API test networks in the playground before pushing it out into the real world.

The new playground also uses OAuth 2.0 authentication when using the Java client library. It comes with an automatic token refresh. It also uses a push queue that makes API calls in the background and returns results using the Channel API.

The only possible downside to the playground is that only test networks are available. You will not be able to see old sandbox networks while you’re testing things out. To make up for it, this particular project is open sourced so you can integrate the DFP API with App Engine.

So all of this is making you want to try your hand at some API development, right? Good thing is that it’s super easy to set up a test network in the new playground. The only prerequisite is that you have Google account, but everybody probably has one by now.

First, you just have to hit up the DFP playground Web site. From there, you’ll sign in and authorize the app to make DFP API calls on your behalf. After all that is taken care of, you’ll see a page that asks you to create a test network. Just click on the button and voila, you have a new test network set up and ready to go.

If you want to know more, check out two upcoming Hangouts with Google Developers on related subjects. The DFP Mobile Developer Office Hours will take place on June 12 at 12 p.m. PST and the AdWords API Office Hours will take place on June 13 at 2 p.m. EST.