API Design Deep Dive

While not dogmatic, we have a specific idea of what modern APIs should look like for long-term stability and value-added functionality. This is often at odds with developers' experience so it is useful to walk them through what the REST style (as an instance of the Web’s architectural style) is and why it is that way. Through an additive approach, we introduce the dimensions of identity, interaction, and representation as a means of shaping our design choices. Given the realities of where many teams and organizations are, this is also done as an incremental path toward a larger goal and not something that has to happen all at once. This includes laying the foundation for Linked Data and Knowledge Graph-based systems.

Overall, we will present developers with the tools to make their own choices rather than following the crowd. We will highlight decisions that can improve the long-term capture of business value via APIs. We will introduce standards that change the calculus of exchanging information with the world. We will cover the threats to API systems and how to protect them against these attacks. And we will shine a light on the changes coming to our industry that will require API strategies to become part of the solution instead of remaining part of the problem.