how to evaluate an api
TRANSCRIPT
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