This document summarizes the key do's and don'ts for SoundCloud's API based on a presentation by Eric Wahlforss, CTO of SoundCloud. It recommends keeping the API simple, focusing on scalability and communication, engaging developers, and iterating quickly based on feedback and failures. SoundCloud aims to empower users through an open platform and has over 7 million creators and thousands of apps built using its API.

1. SoundCloud API Do:s and Don’t:s
Eric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloud
FOWA London 2011

2. http://snd.sc/qHcYR0

4. soundcloud.com/eric

5. soundcloud.com/eric
soundcloud.com/forss

6. SoundCloud

7. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web

8. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators

9. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound

10. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds

11. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds
An open platform

12. SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds
An open platform
1000s of apps, 1000s of developers and over 200
published apps

13. What is an API?

14. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform

15. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other

16. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data

17. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data
Essential part of the web’s success

18. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data
Essential part of the web’s success
Adam Smith’s wet dream

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

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

21. developers.soundcloud.com

22. Cakewalk SONAR X1
cakewalk.com/products/sonar

23. Thinglink
thinglink.com

24. Onesheet
onesheet.com

25. Radio Free
stockholm.musichackday.org

26. Why API?
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

27. Why API?
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
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

28. Why API?
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
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

29. Why API?
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
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

30. Why API?
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
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

31. Why API?
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
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

32. Why API?
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–the essence of your service
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

33. API Do:s and Don’t:s

34. Do KISS
http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3018-api-design-for-humans

35. “Time to integration”
Effort
in days
Plain vanilla API API Wrapper Great docs Sharekit Time
7 days 4 days 3 days 1 day

36. Do think about scalability
@lenberg

37. Do watch your metrics

38. Do communicate
MOST IMPORTANT STEP FOR BUILD PRODUCT IS BUILD PRODUCT.
SECOND MOST IMPORTANT IS BUILD PERSONALITY FOR PRODUCT.
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/09/minimum-viable-personality.html

39. Do write kick-ass docs

40. Do talk about shiny new
things!

41. Don’t pay people

42. Do eat your own dogfood

43. Don’t change
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

44. Do engage the community
http://mulqueeny.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/whats-the-point-of-a-hack-day/

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

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

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

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

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

51. Do fail

52. Do fail
Do iterate

53. Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail

54. Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate

55. Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail

56. Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate

57. Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate

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

59. We’re hiring :)
soundcloud.com/jobs