Lorinda BrandonDirector of Solutions Strategy

at SmartBear

@LindyBrandon

APIs are not a new phenomenon.

The API (r)Evolution

This team built

Web

applicatio

ns usin

g APIs

in 1995

Back then, APIs were just a construct. It was just how we

built software.

But now, it’s an entire industry!

The power of APIs now lies in external and global

opportunities.

The true power of APIs

External APIs extend our virtual reach through partners

Often for free!

Public APIs turn our local development teams

into global development teams.

In other words – free, public APIs…

Turn this…

…into this!

Free APIs = Free Love

It’s all about sharing and re-use

But you have to be smart about who you’re sharing with.

Here comes the“Safe Sex”

part

Twitter API

YouTube

DocuSign

FacebookConne

ct

Code responsibly!

Your app is your responsibility, even the parts you didn’t code!

It’s great to innovate.

It’s great to cooperate.

It’s great to collaborate.

But while you’re having fun, you

have to be careful!

Because it’s your app on the line!

No one wants to be that guy.

So, what can you do to protect yourself and others?

There are 8,652 APIs listed on ProgrammableWeb

Including…

• 173 Travel• 182 Music• 320 Mapping

Research Know Your Choices

Defend Define Your Thresholds

• Response times

• Critical functionality needs a Plan B

• Code defensively

Test Make Sure It Works

• Include third party APIs in your test plans

as if it’s your own code

• Add to regression tests

Monitor Find Out First

• Your users are probably on Twitter too

• Be the first to report

• Ensure performance

So what did we learn today?

We all need to start using protection when we’re in the sack with

third-party APIs.

For us, that protection is SoapUI, which allows you to functionally test and

security test your APIs, then use those tests to monitor them as well

That way, there are no surprises.

Thank you!

#APIStrat

(And be safe)