Software developers need a way to connect their software with yours. They don’t want it broken down. An API is the answer.This is the essence of software development. Software developers create software with the end-user in mind. Although it seems simple, sometimes developers are working alongside users. They don’t require things to be broken down for themselves. They don’t even require simplicity. They just want access to your software, and a way for you to integrate it with api proxies theirs. An API (application programming interface), is what you need.
These are the steps that will make an API successful:
Do your Homework
Software development is a complex field. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Nearly all major Web companies now have APIs to their software products. Take a look at these APIs to learn more about the design decisions made.
Be consistent
Consistency is something developers love the most. This includes addressability, input arguments and output formats, as well as error handling.There are many URI naming options when using a RESTful approach. Each has its supporters so pick one and stick to it. This is true for input and api proxies output structures as well. Many APIs allow you to use JSON and XML as input and output formats. Both formats are acceptable, but I recommend that you choose a default format.
Your input requirements must be consistent in name and context. Common data structure layouts should be used for output. Consider wrapping one API call’s output in an XML tag. You can do the same with other API calls.A common practice is to include a status flag in any output data that you send back to clients. This should be done when using a RESTful API approach. If you are processing a PUT request for an existing data object, the HTTP Status Code you use in your response will depend on the outcome
The Need for Testing APIs
Most software products require user authentication to gain access to protected resources. It is not a good practice to have clients collect user credentials to send to your api proxies server. Here’s where you come in.It offers many advantages over third-party username/password verification. The client does not have access to the credentials of the user. When the user logs in, he or she is redirected back to the client. Once the user logs into your site, the client is redirected back towards the client. The client will be issued an access token that can be used in future requests for protected resources.A key benefit of using the interface is that clients can be canceled at any moment by the user. If the user decides they don’t want their client to have access to protected resources, they can simply cancel client access by going to the interface you created.