API Lifecycle Basics: Documentation

ICYDK: API documentation is the number one pain point for developers trying to understand what is going on with an API, as they work to get up-and-running, consuming the resources they possess. From many discussions I’ve had with API providers, it is also a pretty big pain point for many API developers when it comes to trying to keep up to date, and delivering value to consumers. Thankfully, API documentation has been being driven by API definitions like OpenAPI for a while, helping keep things up to date and in sync with changes going on behind the scenes. The challenge for many groups who are only doing OpenAPI to produce documentation, is that if the OpenAPI isn’t used across the API lifecycle, it will often be forgotten, recreating that timeless challenge with API documentation.

Thankfully, in the last year or so, I’m beginning to see more API documentation solutions emerge, getting us beyond the Swagger UI age of docs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for what Swagger UI has done, but, then, I’m finding it to be very difficult to get people beyond the idea that OpenAPI (formerly known as Swagger) isn’t the same thing as Swagger UI, and that the only reason you generate API definitions is to get documentation. There are a number of API documentation solutions to choose from in 2018, but Swagger UI still remains a viable choice for making sure your APIs are properly documented for your consumers. https://goo.gl/xPFkiJ #DataIntegration #ML

The API Economy in 2018: Predictions

The proliferation of APIs across all facets of life continued to explode in 2017. As we reflect on the past year, we have a few thoughts on where we see the API economy heading in 2018. [Before we jump in – see our past predictions for 2017].

Openness Is The Standard

Looking ahead to what is on the horizon for 2018, we see the accelerating momentum of being more open and transparent through APIs. There are a few different sectors where you can see this really mobilizing. The first is in financial systems, with the catalyst of PSD2 adoption. Europe leads in privacy laws and this open initiative is forcing large financial institutions to consider how they would openly connect to the public market with transparent and secure APIs. https://goo.gl/2tTMA1 #DataIntegration #ML