Here is an R function that exports data from redcap through the API within R. This function, along with new options provided by the redcap API system, applies the metadata to the data via factor levels and variable labels (in Hmisc R package). Will Gray wrote it. Thank him if you see him. This is now maintained on Will's github account.
Scott Burns has written an introduction to redcap's API. His examples use python.
-- JoAnnAlvarez - 26 Aug 2014