The Rise of APIs — Lessons from the Cloudstock Conference

The Rise of APIs — Lessons from the Cloudstock Conference

SAN FRANCISCO — Cloudstock: You might have seen the ads on our site for this cloud programming event. We did an advertising campaign on CodeGuru and several other sites. The result was a sold out show. Obviously, I’ll give CodeGuru credit for helping sell out the show.

At Cloudstock, there were a number of companies pitching what they do and showing how it related to the Cloud. The one common theme was that online companies offer APIs and services to extend what they do. Among the companies at this cloud developer event were LinkedIn, Amazon, eBay, SalesForce, and more.

[login]

Regardless, it was an interesting event.

A Look At APIs

There was one session I found interesting. It wasn’t presented by a huge Internet company, but rather by a developer from a smaller site called ProgrammableWeb. The focus of the presentation was on the use of APIs and Mash-ups.

Mash-ups became very popular several years ago. Mash-ups are simply the use of APIs and Web Services from more than one company into a single application or solution. It was the “big thing” to get developers to build mash-ups. Today, mash-ups are simply a given. There isn’t a lot of hype around mash-ups anymore; rather people simply build with them.

In the presentation, John Musser talked about APIs and their use. One of his early comments centered on the change of perspective. In 1995, people were asking why they needed a web site. By 2000, people were stating that, “Of course we have a web site.” In 2005, the question changed to, “Why do we need an API?” Like the change in attitude about having web sites, the change in attitude today is, “Of course we have an API.” Today if you are on the web with a service or offering, then it should be clear that an API can benefit what you are doing.

The importance of having an API can be dependent upon what you are doing. For some sites such as Amazon, eBay, and Google Maps, APIs are critical. For example, 60 percent of all listings on eBay.com come from their API. For Google Maps, the API is what drove their adoption quicker than MapQuest. Google’s product was growing at 400 percent vs. MapQuest’s 20 percent.

The Benefits of APIs

Musser stated that the benefits of APIs are several. You can make money using an API. The previously mentioned API from eBay helps them with 60 percent of their listings. Since eBay makes money from selling products that are listed, this increases their revenue.

A second benefit is that APIs can save you money. For example, by using APIs from online storage services, you can reduce overhead costs. As an example, it was indicated by Musser that SmugMug saves $500,000 a year by using Amazon S3 Storage services via their API.

An API can help you build your brand. By making it easier for others to incorporate your services into their applications, you increase the potential visibility of your service. As mentioned, Google Maps had 400 percent growth while, at the same time, MapQuest grew 20 percent. Whose API do you think was more accessible?

While you might not think about it initially, you also can gain portability by using an API. An online API can let developers tap into your system from a variety of sources and platforms. This can make it easier for your solution to be extended to other platforms. Musser presented an example of NetFlix, which is available on 200 devices as a result of their open API.

Making a Good API

In his presentation, Musser also mentioned what makes a good API. Of course, it doesn’t matter how good your API is if the underlying service is bad. You have to first make sure that what you are providing access to is worthy of an API.

If you do have a valid underlying API, then you should create a simple, open API, and you should make it’s very easy to adopt. Ease doesn’t just mean easy to access, but it also means clear in how it can be used. As Musser stated, you don’t want to make a developer have to ask about the rights to use your service. Even more important, you don’t want to create such complex licensing or usage rules that a developer has to get legal input to know if they can use it. Keep it simple.

Another key to making a good API is to provide appropriate choices. The more protocols and standards you can support, the broader adoption might be for your API. Additionally, supporting a variety of data formats (such as XML, JSON, RSS, vCard or Atom) can also make adoption easier. You should consider your audience when considering the various data formats to support.

Finally, you should provide clear, easy developer support. Developers are the ones using your API, so the easier you make it for them to understand and use the API, the better chance they will.

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
Poland Energy Future

Westinghouse Builds Polish Power Plant

Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have come together to establish a formal partnership in order to design and construct Poland’s inaugural nuclear power plant at

EV Labor Market

EV Industry Hurting For Skilled Labor

The United Auto Workers strike has highlighted the anticipated change towards a future dominated by electric vehicles (EVs), a shift which numerous people think will

Soaring EV Quotas

Soaring EV Quotas Spark Battle Against Time

Automakers are still expected to meet stringent electric vehicle (EV) sales quotas, despite the delayed ban on new petrol and diesel cars. Starting January 2023,

Affordable Electric Revolution

Tesla Rivals Make Bold Moves

Tesla, a name synonymous with EVs, has consistently been at the forefront of the automotive industry’s electric revolution. The products that Elon Musk has developed

Poland Energy Future

Westinghouse Builds Polish Power Plant

Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have come together to establish a formal partnership in order to design and construct Poland’s inaugural nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania.

EV Labor Market

EV Industry Hurting For Skilled Labor

The United Auto Workers strike has highlighted the anticipated change towards a future dominated by electric vehicles (EVs), a shift which numerous people think will result in job losses. However,

Soaring EV Quotas

Soaring EV Quotas Spark Battle Against Time

Automakers are still expected to meet stringent electric vehicle (EV) sales quotas, despite the delayed ban on new petrol and diesel cars. Starting January 2023, more than one-fifth of automobiles

Affordable Electric Revolution

Tesla Rivals Make Bold Moves

Tesla, a name synonymous with EVs, has consistently been at the forefront of the automotive industry’s electric revolution. The products that Elon Musk has developed are at the forefront because

Sunsets' Technique

Inside the Climate Battle: Make Sunsets’ Technique

On February 12, 2023, Luke Iseman and Andrew Song from the solar geoengineering firm Make Sunsets showcased their technique for injecting sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the stratosphere as a means

AI Adherence Prediction

AI Algorithm Predicts Treatment Adherence

Swoop, a prominent consumer health data company, has unveiled a cutting-edge algorithm capable of predicting adherence to treatment in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other health conditions. Utilizing artificial

Personalized UX

Here’s Why You Need to Use JavaScript and Cookies

In today’s increasingly digital world, websites often rely on JavaScript and cookies to provide users with a more seamless and personalized browsing experience. These key components allow websites to display

Geoengineering Methods

Scientists Dimming the Sun: It’s a Good Thing

Scientists at the University of Bern have been exploring geoengineering methods that could potentially slow down the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet by reducing sunlight exposure. Among these

why startups succeed

The Top Reasons Why Startups Succeed

Everyone hears the stories. Apple was started in a garage. Musk slept in a rented office space while he was creating PayPal with his brother. Facebook was coded by a

Bold Evolution

Intel’s Bold Comeback

Intel, a leading figure in the semiconductor industry, has underperformed in the stock market over the past five years, with shares dropping by 4% as opposed to the 176% return

Semiconductor market

Semiconductor Slump: Rebound on the Horizon

In recent years, the semiconductor sector has faced a slump due to decreasing PC and smartphone sales, especially in 2022 and 2023. Nonetheless, as 2024 approaches, the industry seems to

Elevated Content Deals

Elevate Your Content Creation with Amazing Deals

The latest Tech Deals cater to creators of different levels and budgets, featuring a variety of computer accessories and tools designed specifically for content creation. Enhance your technological setup with

Learn Web Security

An Easy Way to Learn Web Security

The Web Security Academy has recently introduced new educational courses designed to offer a comprehensible and straightforward journey through the intricate realm of web security. These carefully designed learning courses

Military Drones Revolution

Military Drones: New Mobile Command Centers

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is currently working on a pioneering project that aims to transform MQ-9 Reaper drones into mobile command centers to better manage smaller unmanned

Tech Partnership

US and Vietnam: The Next Tech Leaders?

The US and Vietnam have entered into a series of multi-billion-dollar business deals, marking a significant leap forward in their cooperation in vital sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and

Huge Savings

Score Massive Savings on Portable Gaming

This week in tech bargains, a well-known firm has considerably reduced the price of its portable gaming device, cutting costs by as much as 20 percent, which matches the lowest

Cloudfare Protection

Unbreakable: Cloudflare One Data Protection Suite

Recently, Cloudflare introduced its One Data Protection Suite, an extensive collection of sophisticated security tools designed to protect data in various environments, including web, private, and SaaS applications. The suite

Drone Revolution

Cool Drone Tech Unveiled at London Event

At the DSEI defense event in London, Israeli defense firms exhibited cutting-edge drone technology featuring vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) abilities while launching two innovative systems that have already been acquired by clients.

2D Semiconductor Revolution

Disrupting Electronics with 2D Semiconductors

The rapid development in electronic devices has created an increasing demand for advanced semiconductors. While silicon has traditionally been the go-to material for such applications, it suffers from certain limitations.

Cisco Growth

Cisco Cuts Jobs To Optimize Growth

Tech giant Cisco Systems Inc. recently unveiled plans to reduce its workforce in two Californian cities, with the goal of optimizing the company’s cost structure. The company has decided to

FAA Authorization

FAA Approves Drone Deliveries

In a significant development for the US drone industry, drone delivery company Zipline has gained Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization, permitting them to operate drones beyond the visual line of

Mortgage Rate Challenges

Prop-Tech Firms Face Mortgage Rate Challenges

The surge in mortgage rates and a subsequent decrease in home buying have presented challenges for prop-tech firms like Divvy Homes, a rent-to-own start-up company. With a previous valuation of

Lighthouse Updates

Microsoft 365 Lighthouse: Powerful Updates

Microsoft has introduced a new update to Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, which includes support for alerts and notifications. This update is designed to give Managed Service Providers (MSPs) increased control and

Website Lock

Mysterious Website Blockage Sparks Concern

Recently, visitors of a well-known resource website encountered a message blocking their access, resulting in disappointment and frustration among its users. While the reason for this limitation remains uncertain, specialists