This document discusses the growth of APIs since 2006 and trends in their development and use. It notes that the number of APIs listed on ProgrammableWeb has grown significantly since 2006. REST has become the dominant API design pattern over SOAP, and JSON support is rising dramatically. The document advocates that API providers think like platforms by dropping SOAP, using push notifications to engage developers, providing interactive documentation, and focusing on internal and partner usage to achieve mainstream success.

1. Your API is So 2006
Delyn Simons
@delynator, @mashery
#modeveast
December 2011

6. Accelerating Growth of APIs
Based on directory of 3,900 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, October 2011
6

7. APIs since 2006

8. “Think like a Platform”

9. Developers
change the

10. Developers
are 21st
century
craftsmen
Photo Credit:
flickr.com/tom_w_bn

11. Developers build stuff
Photo Credit:
flickr.com/mashery

12. Developers solve
problems
Photo Credit:
flickr.com/delynator

13. Developers
tinker and prototype Photo Credit:
flickr.com/techcrunch

14. Tools and terms of service
they can rely on
Photo Credit: © Eric
Roth

16. API Integration Pain Survey
Survey conducted by YourTrove, Inc. August 2011

17. Results Chart by ProgrammableWeb. Survey conducted by
YourTrove, Inc. August 2011

18. “Think like a Platform”

19. Think Like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Drink your own Champagne
5. Mainstream API Success

21. Photo Credit:
flickr.com/delyn

22. REST vs. SOAP: Simplicity wins again
Distribution of API protocols and styles
Based on directory of 3,200 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, May 2011
22

23. REST vs. SOAP: Simplicity wins
Distribution of API protocols and styles
Based on directory of 3,200 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, May 2011
23

24. JSON Rising: 55% of new APIs support JSON
Percentage of new APIs with JSON support
Based on directory of 3,200 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, May 2011
24

25. 20% of new APIs support only JSON
Percentage of new APIs with only JSON support
Based on directory of 3,200 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, May 2011
25

26. 1 in every 5 new APIs: “goodbye XML”
Percentage of APIs with XML support
Based on directory of 3,200 web APIs listed at ProgrammableWeb, May 2011
26

27. Think like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Drink your own Champagne
5. Mainstream API Success

28. Chat Less, Do More with Push Notifications

31. Think like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Growing of internal and partner API usage
5. Mainstream API Success (upside +
downside)

35. Think like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Drink your own Champagne
5. Mainstream API Success

36. Restructuring for Internal, Partner Growth

37. Think like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Drink your own Champagne
5. Mainstream API Success

38. Mainstream Success

39. APIs since 2006

40. Mainstream Success – Who’s Next?

41. Think like a Platform
1. Please Drop the SOAP
2. Chat Less, Do More
3. Interactive Documentation
4. Drink your own Champagne
5. Mainstream API Success

42. Thank you!
Your feedback is a gift.
Delyn Simons
@delynator, @mashery
#modeveast
December 2011