Dustup at OSCON – Missing the API Bigger Picture?

Dustup at OSCON – Missing the API Bigger Picture?

Fellow Cloud pontificator Randy Bias caused quite a stir at O’Reilly’s Open Source Convention (OSCON) this week. Basically, he suggested that the OpenStack crowd capitulate to Amazon Web Services (AWS). Instead of building competing APIs, Randy opined, OpenStack should follow in Eucalyptus’s footsteps and simply comply with the AWS de facto API standards.

His reasoning: AWS has already sown up the Public Cloud marketplace. No sense for OpenStack to keep beating their collective heads against that wall. Instead, OpenStack should go after the Private Cloud space. Because APIs are central to the Hybrid Cloud story, being able to connect OpenStack Private Clouds to AWS or other AWS-compatible Clouds is where the money is.

OpenStack-based Public Cloud providers like Rackspace are sure to disagree, but I think Bias is on to something. AWS clearly dominates public IaaS. Hybrid Clouds are unquestionably where the money is, for any consultant or service provider serving the enterprise market. I would also go so far as to say that OpenStack is well behind AWS, and losing ground – so playing a “can’t beat ‘em so join ‘em” game makes sense.

Fair enough, but I think there’s a larger, more strategic issue here that both sides of the Cloud API discussion appear to be missing. We’ve outgrown the old notion of API as a tightly coupled, procedural interface. We’ve been through the fire of Web Services as we struggled to achieve loose coupling with contracted interfaces. And now we’ve come out on the other side, calling our software interfaces APIs once more. But have we learned anything?

What we really want from our software interfaces is deep interoperability. We want them to abstract the underlying software capabilities, not only to support different implementations at the same time, but also to support changing implementations over time. Web Services took us part way there, but they needed intermediaries to abstract multiple implementations and rigorous repository-based governance to handle versioning.

Hypermedia-Oriented Architecture (HOA), the architectural style that REST was meant to be, takes us further. Hypermedia take care of interface discoverability, helping to resolve the agility issues that plague typical APIs.

True, HOA needs work. There are still missing pieces to the deep interoperability puzzle. But as the OSCON API dustup indicates, people aren’t even thinking about hypermedia-driven discoverability when they’re thinking about APIs. Stop chopping down trees, folks, there’s a whole forest out there to figure out!

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
Clean Energy Adoption

Inside Michigan’s Clean Energy Revolution

Democratic state legislators in Michigan continue to discuss and debate clean energy legislation in the hopes of establishing a comprehensive clean energy strategy for the

Chips Act Revolution

European Chips Act: What is it?

In response to the intensifying worldwide technology competition, Europe has unveiled the long-awaited European Chips Act. This daring legislative proposal aims to fortify Europe’s semiconductor

Revolutionized Low-Code

You Should Use Low-Code Platforms for Apps

As the demand for rapid software development increases, low-code platforms have emerged as a popular choice among developers for their ability to build applications with

Global Layoffs

Tech Layoffs Are Getting Worse Globally

Since the start of 2023, the global technology sector has experienced a significant rise in layoffs, with over 236,000 workers being let go by 1,019

Clean Energy Adoption

Inside Michigan’s Clean Energy Revolution

Democratic state legislators in Michigan continue to discuss and debate clean energy legislation in the hopes of establishing a comprehensive clean energy strategy for the state. A Senate committee meeting

Chips Act Revolution

European Chips Act: What is it?

In response to the intensifying worldwide technology competition, Europe has unveiled the long-awaited European Chips Act. This daring legislative proposal aims to fortify Europe’s semiconductor supply chain and enhance its

Revolutionized Low-Code

You Should Use Low-Code Platforms for Apps

As the demand for rapid software development increases, low-code platforms have emerged as a popular choice among developers for their ability to build applications with minimal coding. These platforms not

Cybersecurity Strategy

Five Powerful Strategies to Bolster Your Cybersecurity

In today’s increasingly digital landscape, businesses of all sizes must prioritize cyber security measures to defend against potential dangers. Cyber security professionals suggest five simple technological strategies to help companies

Global Layoffs

Tech Layoffs Are Getting Worse Globally

Since the start of 2023, the global technology sector has experienced a significant rise in layoffs, with over 236,000 workers being let go by 1,019 tech firms, as per data

Huawei Electric Dazzle

Huawei Dazzles with Electric Vehicles and Wireless Earbuds

During a prominent unveiling event, Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications powerhouse, kept quiet about its enigmatic new 5G phone and alleged cutting-edge chip development. Instead, Huawei astounded the audience by presenting

Cybersecurity Banking Revolution

Digital Banking Needs Cybersecurity

The banking, financial, and insurance (BFSI) sectors are pioneers in digital transformation, using web applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) to provide seamless services to customers around the world. Rising

FinTech Leadership

Terry Clune’s Fintech Empire

Over the past 30 years, Terry Clune has built a remarkable business empire, with CluneTech at the helm. The CEO and Founder has successfully created eight fintech firms, attracting renowned

The Role Of AI Within A Web Design Agency?

In the digital age, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in web design is rapidly evolving, transitioning from a futuristic concept to practical tools used in design, coding, content writing

Generative AI Revolution

Is Generative AI the Next Internet?

The increasing demand for Generative AI models has led to a surge in its adoption across diverse sectors, with healthcare, automotive, and financial services being among the top beneficiaries. These

Microsoft Laptop

The New Surface Laptop Studio 2 Is Nuts

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a dynamic and robust all-in-one laptop designed for creators and professionals alike. It features a 14.4″ touchscreen and a cutting-edge design that is over

5G Innovations

GPU-Accelerated 5G in Japan

NTT DOCOMO, a global telecommunications giant, is set to break new ground in the industry as it prepares to launch a GPU-accelerated 5G network in Japan. This innovative approach will

AI Ethics

AI Journalism: Balancing Integrity and Innovation

An op-ed, produced using Microsoft’s Bing Chat AI software, recently appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, discussing the potential concerns surrounding the employment of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism. These

Savings Extravaganza

Big Deal Days Extravaganza

The highly awaited Big Deal Days event for October 2023 is nearly here, scheduled for the 10th and 11th. Similar to the previous year, this autumn sale has already created

Cisco Splunk Deal

Cisco Splunk Deal Sparks Tech Acquisition Frenzy

Cisco’s recent massive purchase of Splunk, an AI-powered cybersecurity firm, for $28 billion signals a potential boost in tech deals after a year of subdued mergers and acquisitions in the

Iran Drone Expansion

Iran’s Jet-Propelled Drone Reshapes Power Balance

Iran has recently unveiled a jet-propelled variant of its Shahed series drone, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s drone technology. The new drone is poised to reshape the regional

Solar Geoengineering

Did the Overshoot Commission Shoot Down Geoengineering?

The Overshoot Commission has recently released a comprehensive report that discusses the controversial topic of Solar Geoengineering, also known as Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). The Commission’s primary objective is to

Remote Learning

Revolutionizing Remote Learning for Success

School districts are preparing to reveal a substantial technological upgrade designed to significantly improve remote learning experiences for both educators and students amid the ongoing pandemic. This major investment, which

Revolutionary SABERS Transforming

SABERS Batteries Transforming Industries

Scientists John Connell and Yi Lin from NASA’s Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety (SABERS) project are working on experimental solid-state battery packs that could dramatically change the

Build a Website

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

Are you wondering how much it costs to build a website? The approximated cost is based on several factors, including which add-ons and platforms you choose. For example, a self-hosted

Battery Investments

Battery Startups Attract Billion-Dollar Investments

In recent times, battery startups have experienced a significant boost in investments, with three businesses obtaining over $1 billion in funding within the last month. French company Verkor amassed $2.1

Copilot Revolution

Microsoft Copilot: A Suit of AI Features

Microsoft’s latest offering, Microsoft Copilot, aims to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. By integrating various AI capabilities, this all-in-one tool provides users with an improved experience that not

AI Girlfriend Craze

AI Girlfriend Craze Threatens Relationships

The surge in virtual AI girlfriends’ popularity is playing a role in the escalating issue of loneliness among young males, and this could have serious repercussions for America’s future. A

AIOps Innovations

Senser is Changing AIOps

Senser, an AIOps platform based in Tel Aviv, has introduced its groundbreaking AI-powered observability solution to support developers and operations teams in promptly pinpointing the root causes of service disruptions