Unlock the Secrets of Great, Lasting APIs • Mike Amundsen & Casey Rosenthal

Discover the secrets of creating great, lasting APIs with a developer-focused approach, emphasizing security, reversibility, and iteration, and learn how to apply these principles to various industries and domains.

Key takeaways
  • Security is an emergent property of API development and should not be an afterthought.
  • APIs are often seen as just the external interface and can span multiple services.
  • Reversibility is a key concept in API development and enables easy experimentation and mistake correction.
  • Design and implementation are critical, and security is an integral part of both.
  • Versioning APIs is essential, especially when changes can break the API.
  • Frank Gehry’s architectural sketches and iterative design approach inspired the concept of “throwaway design” in API development.
  • The book is designed to be developer-focused, covering design, prototyping, testing, and deployment.
  • API design should consider the complexity of the services being connected and the need for reversibility.
  • APIs are often developed independently, but should be architecturally designed to work together seamlessly.
  • Identity management and access control are vital components of API security.
  • Versioning APIs requires careful planning to avoid breaking changes.
  • API design should prioritize iteration and reversibility to accommodate changing requirements.
  • The book is written for individual developers, with practical examples and case studies.
  • APIs are not just limited to web development, but can be applied to other areas, such as IoT devices or existing systems.
  • The book’s language is kept accessible and straightforward, focusing on practical applications.
  • API development should be transparent, with clear documentation and feedback mechanisms.
  • The book’s examples and exercises aim to help developers develop a sense of reversibility in their API design.
  • APIs are essential for enabling connections between services and creating complex systems.
  • The book is designed to be applicable to a wide range of industries and domains.