The Entire API Lifecycle - Nordic APIs
The Entire API Lifecycle - Nordic APIs
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(http://nordicapis.com/ebooks/)
The APIs that open these SaaS platforms are changing just as rapidly. So much so that API
Changelog (https://www.apichangelog.com) was created to notify users of API documentation
changes (22 updates in the last 30 days in the case of the Dropbox API
(https://www.apichangelog.com/api/dropbox) at the time of this writing). This ongoing iterative
process is not only Agile (http://nordicapis.com/what-makes-an-agile-api/), it’s evolution is in
symbiosis with many business factors that make up the organism that is the entire API lifecycle.
As the main function of web APIs is to be consumed by third party products, the API is a unique
type of business offering. It’s peculiar condition as both a software and internal asset makes its
lifecycle special – highly fueled by ongoing feedback and market validation. Compared with
standard SaaS products that may have the power to change their UI or underlying construct, an
API’s granular state can make it even more elusive.
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Exactly how an API lifecycle looks depends on how the API functions as well as the business
Austin API Summit 2020 – Super Early Bird expires Friday Dec 13
strategy at it’s core. We at Nordic APIs have boiled down the common API lifecycle to 4 main
phases. Mapped out, thesenow
Register elements work together as such:
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Some industries, such as social networks, thrive off APIs as a natural extension of their digital
ecosystem. On the other hand, traditionally non-digital companies, such as Marvel comics
(http://developer.marvel.com/docs), have to be creative in handling how APIs extend their business
model.
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An API should either boost pre-existing operations or work toward overall company goals in some
Austin API Summit 2020 – Super Early Bird expires Friday Dec 13
way. In our eBook Developing the API Mindset (http://nordicapis.com/developing-the-api-mindset-
private-partner-and-public-apis/) we defined 3 types of APIs:
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Next Steps:
Whatever the chosen API strategy is, it’s mission statement, usage projections, model for growth
(http://nordicapis.com/achieve-accelerated-growth-apis/), marketing strategy, and estimated
financial return (http://nordicapis.com/5-ways-apis-will-increase-revenue/) should be clearly laid
out before production begins. If you’ve done the necessary preparation, it’s time to move to the
Development Stage.
An intimate understanding of API processes will help form technical requirements. For example,
knowing whether your API will open your firms’ data (http://nordicapis.com/open-data-how-to-
make-it-work-for-your-business/), or act as a content distribution channel
(http://nordicapis.com/apis-as-a-content-distribution-channel/) can impact overall design.
In general, the API development stage should mimic the business objectives set forth within the
Analysis phase. A methodical development phase considers design, construction and testing
(http://nordicapis.com/api-design-testing-state-art/) of API processes as well as security. Design
your API with both human usability (http://nordicapis.com/designing-apis-humans/) and machine
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Next Steps:
During the Development Stage, a team may choose to return to the Analysis Stage to perform
additional market research and general preparation. This can arise from technical roadblocks, or
the urge to revision an APIs’ primary objectives. If the API feels polished, tested, secure, and ready
for general use, you are ready to move to the Operations Stage.
But in the end, marketing an API depends on an inside-out approach. Having an easy-to-consume
development portal (http://nordicapis.com/designing-apis-humans/), an embedded help desk,
along with other DX driven suggestions we’ve laid out in the past (http://nordicapis.com/why-api-
developer-experience-matters-more-than-ever/) will help boost conversion rates.
Next Steps:
This exciting stage will bestow on an API practitioner real market requirements, and could
potentially expose a business to entirely new opportunities. Statistics and data collected here will
impact tech requirements that could result in revisiting the Development Stage to make
incremental changes or new API versions, or consulting the Analysis Stage to make larger pivots.
If forecasts look grim, a team may consider moving to the Retirement Stage at this point.
Old age comes, and retirement is a part of life. It’s no different in the API world. The retirement of
Austin API Summit 2020 – Super Early Bird expires Friday Dec 13
the LinkedIn, Netflix (http://apievangelist.com/2013/03/12/netflix-api-is-much-more-than-a-public-
api/), Google EarthRegister
(https://developers.google.com/earth/), and ESPN
now (https://nordicapis.com/events/austin-api-summit-2020/)
(http://developer.espn.com/blog/read/publicretirement) APIs are examples of some recent large
public API deprecations.
limited use
outdated plugins or lack of support
a lack of 3rd party developer innovation
opposing financial incentives
privatization of data to limit the exposure of primary business assets
security concerns… among others
Next Steps:
Watch Andreas Krohn introduce the API Lifecycle at a Nordic APIs event
A doctor must always check the patient’s pulse. Versioning, deprecation, or lassoing in an API into
a more internal state are options to consider if your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are
showing a flatline. At this point, the Analysis Stage can be reattempted, and the lifecycle repeated
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if viable. A Public API may still prove profitable as a Partner offering, for example. Retiring an API
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or API version is the best option when the API no longer is the best solution to reach the goals of
the business. Whatever thenow
Register solution is, we recommend a transparent public announcement that
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offers a reasonable timeline.
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AsyncAPI vs OpenAPI: What’s The APIOps® Cycles: Open Set of Tools and
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Kenny Long — Great article! Short and to the Thomas Bush — Methods, structures, tools: we
point. love working smart, not hard. What resources
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