how to evaluate an api

HOW TO EVALUATE AN API!(without writing a line of code)

Adam DuVander @adamd :!!!

Ultimate Developer Event 2014

Your Typical Developer

Claire Thompson

Claire Thompson

Felipe Venâncio

Ray Devlin

Ray Devlin

API Sniff Test

D Documentation

API Survey

API Sniff Test

D Documentation

API Sniff Test

D Documentation

C Client Libraries

API Sniff Test

D Documentation

C Client Libraries

B Blog Posts

API Sniff Test

D Documentation

C Client Libraries

B Blog Posts

A About Page

Ray Devlin

Areas for Full Evaluation

Control

Reliability

Security

Longevity

Infrastructure APIs

Content APIs

Application APIs

CONTROL

Can We Build It?

Tom Hughes-Croucher Em

Yes We Can! But do we need to?

Can We Touch It?

Dave Lawler

Their Biggest Competitors

API C1 C2 C3

Their Biggest Competitors

API C1 C2 C3

C0

Look for Standards/Conventions

Lucene Query Syntax

(apis OR api) AND nordic

topic:apis AND country:sweden

days:[1 TO 3]

Client Library Abstractions

db.get('collection', 'key')

db.put('collection', 'key', { “data”: “goes here” })

Client Library Abstractions

db.get('collection', 'key')

db.put('collection', 'key', { “data”: “goes here” })

Data Export

Data Export

your data in

your data out

Bulk Downloads

Bulk Downloads

RELIABILITY

Twitter’s SXSW Downtime

API Survey

What Downtime?

Goals of a Status Page

Be Transparent

Be Helpful

Be Proactive

Provides Status Updates

Shows Current API Health

Shows Current API Health

Shows Current API Health

Shows Recent Issues and Downtime

Shows Recent Issues and Downtime

SECURITY

Their Systems

Scott Schiller

James Stewart

Security Standards

Eran Sandler

Privacy

Process for Data Access

Thom

as Guest

Shares Best Practices

Data Ownership

LONGEVITY

LaptopMag

LaptopMag

API Business Models

John Musser — bit.ly/apibizmodels

33+ Dead GoogleAPIs

– @adamd at Ultimate Developer Event

“If longevity comes up short, fall back on control.”

PERSONALITY** BONUS **

Ray Devlin

Felipe Venâncio

4+ Ways to Evaluate an API

Control: Look for as much as possible

Reliability: Transparent, proactive, helpful

Security: Systems, processes, best practices

Longevity: Does the biz model make sense?

Personality: Let me show you mine @adamd