SoundCloud API Learnings

SoundCloud/API Eric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloud Disruptive Code 2010

Who am I?

What is SoundCloud?

What is SoundCloud? Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

What is SoundCloud? Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere Like Flickr for audio

What is SoundCloud? Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere Like Flickr for audio All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings

What is SoundCloud? Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere Like Flickr for audio All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis

What is SoundCloud? Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere Like Flickr for audio All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis An open platform

Highlights

What is an API?

What is an API? Application Programming Interface = Platform

What is an API? Application Programming Interface = Platform ... two systems talking to each other

What is an API? Application Programming Interface = Platform ... two systems talking to each other Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data

What is an API? Application Programming Interface = Platform ... two systems talking to each other Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data Essential for the web

What is an API? Application Programming Interface = Platform ... two systems talking to each other Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data Essential for the web Adam Smith’s wet dream

Hyper division of labour... Adam Smith (1723-1790)

Hyper division of labour... ... and a network economy Adam Smith (1723-1790)

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... ... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ... Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... ... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ... ... which spreads the word about your service Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... ... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ... ... which spreads the word about your service Developer community–the ultimate power users Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... ... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ... ... which spreads the word about your service Developer community–the ultimate power users Extend your application–solve niche use cases Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons Allow people to use their own data... ... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ... ... which spreads the word about your service Developer community–the ultimate power users Extend your application–solve niche use cases Conceptual clarity Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

And... It might become the core of your service! Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

Learnings from SoundCloud

People like new things!

Eat your own dogfood

Once you launch you can’t change Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

Engage the community

Don’t pay people

Write kick-ass docs

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0 http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/ http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

Cool stuff

Studio One

AmpKit

Beatwave

RootMusic BandPage

MobileRoadie

ExtensionFM

Citysounds

Thanks! eric@soundcloud.com twitter.com/ericw

We’re hiring :) soundcloud.com/jobs

SoundCloud API Learnings

by Eric Wahlforss on Sep 22, 2010

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SoundCloud API Learnings — Presentation Transcript