Making an API Developers Love

Making an API DevelopersLoveBy Frank Denbow@frankdenbow

Who I AmDeveloper, CarnegieMellonPicsicle iOS AppStartupThreadsStartup Weekend,Startup Digest15+ hackathons

Why An API MattersDeveloper community can bring Creativity New Markets Evangelists

Netflix: 20 Billion API calls/monthhttp://techblog.netflix.com/2011/02/redesigning-netflix-api.html

Twitter: 75% of calls in APIDeveloper community vital to the reachhttp://blog.programmableweb.com/2010/04/15/

High Level TopicsSolve Developer PainIncentivesCommitmentReliability

Solve Developer PainHelping developers build things faster, better

Example: CelebrityTwin.meFace.com: Facial recognition API, used inCelebrityTwin.me

66% Facial SimilarityExample: CelebrityTwin.meFace.com: Facial recognition API, used inCelebrityTwin.me

IncentivesAre your business goals in line with thedeveloper’s?

CommitmentIs your API a high priority? Can I count on you tomaintain and support the API as needed?

ReliableCan I count on your API to be available at alltimes?

Granular Topics of Interest Simplicity Standards (JSON, REST) Documentation Support

SimpleEasy to understand, predictable resources,speed to hello world

Example: FoursquarePredictable endpoints, versioning

StandardsUse common standards to make adoption easierand consistent. REST, JSON

DocumentationExample Code, API Explorer (Mashery), MultipleLanguages

Example: Mashery Explorer

Documentation: StripePayments APICode samples inmultiple languagesCopiable sample codeSupplement with livechat

Example: StripeGet started page has copiable code

Example: StripeCode in multiple languages

SupportBe available whenever you are needed

Support Example: TwilioSMS and TelephonyAPIWeekend SupportFulltime Evangelists

Thanks!@frankdenbow

by Frank Denbow