APIs Every Developer
Needs to Know
Adam DuVander @adamd
Future Insights Live
Las Vegas 2015
11
How Many APIs?
Every Developer?
Pareto Principle
80% of the effects come from
20% of the causes
Vilfredo Pareto
1848-1923
Pareto-as-a-Service
APIs &
Cloud Services
What Makes
Your App Special
What Isn’t on the List?
!   Content
!   Shopping, Photos, Video, Music, Weather
!   Databases
!   Not always available via API
Maps
1
USGS
Google Maps
Mapstraction
MapBox
Geo Utilities
!   Geocoding addresses (Google)
!   Reverse geocoding (to address, city)
!   Geocoding IP addresses (Maxmind)
!   Etc.: elevation, directions, time zones
HM
Artificial Intelligence
2
spinstercardigan
Alchemy API
IBM Watson
Wit.ai
Another Facebook Acquisition
Full Contact & Clearbit
Social
3
JDHancock
Limited Social Features
Access Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Login Y Y Y Y
Get contacts N Limited Y Partners
Read feed N Limited Y N
Post content Y Y N Y
User Login
4
GotCredit
Social Login
User Management
Login & Management
Service Login With Starting at
StormPath Facebook, Google Free / $49
OAuth.io 100+ providers Free / $19
LoginRadius 35 providers $299 after trial
JanRain 6 – 16 providers Free / $10
Application Storage
5
SeattleMunicipalArchives
Typical Developer
Amazon S3 Compatible
Google Cloud Storage
Consumer Storage
6
KoolCatsPhoto
Enterprise Individual
Upload Tools
Webhooks*
* Google Drive calls these “Push Notifications”
Google Drive
HM
Consumer Storage Spreadsheet Workflow
?
HåkanDahlström
Payment
7
Stripe
Telecom
8
PaulDowney
Voice & SMS
Price, Geography, Quality, Support…
Collaboration
9
ChrisLott
Slack or HipChat
?
Marketing Email
10
Cambodia4Kids
Let Your Marketer Choose
API Needs…
List Management Events Log Webhooks
Transactional Email
11
High Volume Starting Y Combinator
Webhooks
Inbound
Email Engagement
HM
Maps
Social
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
User Login
Payments
Application and Consumer Storage
Marketing and Transactional Email
Telecom
1 2
3 4
5
6,7
8
10,11
9
40ish
API Sniff Test
AAbout Page
BBlog Posts
CClient Libraries
DDocumentation
API Evaluation
Control
Uptime
Responsibility
Longevity
Actively avoids lock-in
Shares server status
Security is a priority
Has a sustainable business model
How to Evaluate an API
duv.ly/apieval
APIs Every Developer
Needs to Know
Adam DuVander @adamd
Future Insights Live
Las Vegas 2015
11

11 APIs (Adam Du Vander)