Frank Denbow, Startup Threads

Making an API Developers Love By Frank Denbow

@frankdenbow

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Who I Am

Developer, Carnegie Mellon

Picsicle iOS App

StartupThreads

Startup Weekend, Startup Digest

15+ hackathons


Why An API Matters

Developer community can bring

Creativity

New Markets

Evangelists


Netflix: 20 Billion API calls/monthhttp://techblog.netflix.com/2011/02/redesigning-netflix-api.html


http://techblog.netflix.com/2011/02/redesigning-netflix-api.html




Twitter: 75% of calls in APIDeveloper community vital to the reachhttp://blog.programmableweb.com/2010/04/15/


http://blog.programmableweb.com/2010/04/15/twitter-reveals-75-of-our-traffic-is-via-api-3-billion-calls-per-day/

http://blog.programmableweb.com/2010/04/15/twitter-reveals-75-of-our-traffic-is-via-api-3-billion-calls-per-day/

High Level Topics

Solve Developer Pain

Incentives

Commitment

Reliability


Solve Developer PainHelping developers build things faster, better


Example: CelebrityTwin.meFace.com: Facial recognition API, used in CelebrityTwin.me


Example: CelebrityTwin.meFace.com: Facial recognition API, used in CelebrityTwin.me

66% Facial Similarity


IncentivesAre your business goals in line with the developer’s?


CommitmentIs your API a high priority? Can I count on you to maintain and support the API as needed?


ReliableCan I count on your API to be available at all times?


Granular Topics of Interest

Simplicity

Standards (JSON, REST)

Documentation

Support


SimpleEasy to understand, predictable resources, speed to hello world


Example: FoursquarePredictable endpoints, versioning


StandardsUse common standards to make adoption easier and consistent. REST, JSON


DocumentationExample Code, API Explorer (Mashery), Multiple Languages


Example: Mashery ExplorerThursday, October 27, 2011

Documentation: Stripe

Payments API

Code samples in multiple languages

Copiable sample code

Supplement with live chat


Example: Stripe Get started page has copiable code


Example: StripeCode in multiple languages


SupportBe available whenever you are needed


Support Example: Twilio

SMS and Telephony API

Weekend Support

Fulltime Evangelists


Thanks!@frankdenbow


Frank Denbow, Startup Threads

Technology

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