APIs for... Your Mom

1. Carlo Longino VP Developer Program Services carlo@wip.org APIs FOR… YOUR MOM November 11, 2014 London Tech Evangelists Meetup

2. About WIP Factory • The first B2D marketing agency • Strategic consulting and outreach services • API providers, platform vendors, device makers, developer programs of all stripes © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

3. Intro • How do we talk about APIs to non-technical people? • How do we begin to build a case for an API program? • What do non-technical people need to understand about APIs? © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

4. A Framework What is an API? What do APIs do? Why do I want one? © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

5. Defining APIs • Expressing the idea behind APIs in relatively simple, straightforward terms • Technology is less important than understanding • Nobody likes a pedant © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

6. Defining APIs • “Application progamming interface.” • “A set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. An API expresses a software component in terms of its operations, inputs, outputs, and underlying types.” (Wikipedia) • “Sets of requirements that govern how one application can talk to another.” (ReadWriteWeb) © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

7. Defining APIs • “With APIs, applications talk to each other without any user knowledge or intervention.” (HowStuffWorks) • “An API is code that allows two software programs to communicate with each other.” (TechTarget) • “Just think of APIs as shipping containers transporting content between ports of call.” (APIs for Dummies) © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

8. Defining APIs • An API allows different computer systems or services to talk, share data and content, and interact. • An API is a way for a developer, company or service to say, “Here’s what you can access, and how.” • What’s your definition? © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

9. What APIs Do • Share data © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

10. What APIs Do • Share content © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

11. What APIs Do • Share resources, like authentication © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

12. What APIs Do • Embed content from one app/service in another © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

13. What APIs Do • Make mobile apps work © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

15. Choosing Examples • Keep them relevant – i.e. avoid ridiculous mashups when there are better ones • Keep them context-relevant – Location – Application – Familiarity • Showcases from APIs you like • API vendors (sometimes) • Competitors © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

16. Live Examples • IFTTT or Zapier • Be sure to test them first – Put on your non-technical person hat • Be mindful of what was said earlier about ridiculous mashups • Is there a personally relevant example you can use? © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

17. Why Do I Want an API? • The “What’s in it for me?” part • Remember: what excites you as a technologist/developer may not be what excites your audience • Consider biz models/benefits © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

18. Why Do I Want an API? © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc. Increased revenue Lower costs New users Faster time to market Stickiness /lock-in Wider content spread Lead generation Increased traffic INNOVATION

19. A Few Notes • Things not to talk about – Roy Fielding, REST vs SOAP vs …, Hypermedia • Security/control/limitations – Partner programs, internal APIs • Manage expectations – Toe a fine line between building enthusiasm/support and impossibly inflating expectations © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc.

20. INNOVATION Starts with Developers Let us Build your Developer Ecosystem Strategy, Onboarding, Outreach, Events Carlo Longino, VP of Developer Program Services carlo@wip.org Community: www.wip.org Agency: www.wipfactory.com © Wireless Industry Partnership Connector Inc. Vancouver, Canada – Austin, USA – Barcelona, Spain