API Design and Development

  1. API Documentation
    1. Importance of Good Documentation
      1. Reducing Support Burden
        1. Self-Service Adoption
          1. Common Question Prevention
          2. Improving Developer Experience
            1. Faster Integration
              1. Reduced Learning Curve
              2. Driving API Adoption
                1. First Impressions
                  1. Community Building
                2. Documentation-Driven Development
                  1. Designing APIs from Documentation
                    1. Specification-First Approach
                      1. Contract-First Development
                      2. Benefits and Challenges
                        1. Alignment with Stakeholders
                          1. Implementation Constraints
                        2. API Reference Documentation
                          1. Endpoints, Methods, and Parameters
                            1. Complete Endpoint Listing
                              1. Parameter Descriptions
                                1. Parameter Types and Constraints
                                2. Request and Response Schemas
                                  1. Schema Definitions
                                    1. Example Payloads
                                    2. Example Requests and Responses
                                      1. cURL Examples
                                        1. SDK Examples
                                          1. Multiple Language Examples
                                          2. Error Codes and Messages
                                            1. Error Catalog
                                              1. Troubleshooting Guides
                                              2. Rate Limits and Quotas
                                                1. Usage Limits
                                                  1. Quota Management
                                                  2. Authentication Examples
                                                    1. Token Acquisition
                                                      1. Request Signing
                                                    2. API Specification Formats
                                                      1. OpenAPI Specification (formerly Swagger)
                                                        1. Structure and Components
                                                          1. Info Object
                                                            1. Paths Object
                                                              1. Components Object
                                                                1. Security Schemes
                                                                2. Annotations and Extensions
                                                                  1. Vendor Extensions
                                                                    1. Custom Properties
                                                                    2. Version 3.0 vs. 2.0
                                                                      1. New Features
                                                                        1. Migration Considerations
                                                                      2. API Blueprint
                                                                        1. Markdown Syntax
                                                                          1. Resource Definitions
                                                                            1. Action Definitions
                                                                            2. Data Structures
                                                                              1. MSON (Markdown Syntax for Object Notation)
                                                                            3. RAML (RESTful API Modeling Language)
                                                                              1. YAML Syntax
                                                                                1. Resource Types
                                                                                  1. Traits
                                                                                  2. Modular Design
                                                                                    1. Includes and Libraries
                                                                                2. Generating Interactive Documentation
                                                                                  1. Tools like Swagger UI
                                                                                    1. Interactive API Explorer
                                                                                      1. Try-It-Out Functionality
                                                                                      2. Tools like Redoc
                                                                                        1. Three-Panel Layout
                                                                                          1. Code Samples
                                                                                          2. Live API Consoles
                                                                                            1. Real API Testing
                                                                                              1. Authentication Integration
                                                                                              2. Custom Documentation Sites
                                                                                                1. Branded Documentation
                                                                                                  1. Custom Styling
                                                                                                2. Guides and Tutorials
                                                                                                  1. Getting Started Guides
                                                                                                    1. Quick Start Tutorial
                                                                                                      1. First API Call
                                                                                                      2. Authentication Guides
                                                                                                        1. Step-by-Step Auth Setup
                                                                                                          1. Token Management
                                                                                                          2. Conceptual Overviews
                                                                                                            1. API Architecture
                                                                                                              1. Design Principles
                                                                                                              2. Use Case Examples
                                                                                                                1. Common Scenarios
                                                                                                                  1. Best Practices
                                                                                                                  2. SDK and Client Library Guides
                                                                                                                    1. Installation Instructions
                                                                                                                      1. Code Examples
                                                                                                                        1. Configuration Options
                                                                                                                      2. Documentation Maintenance
                                                                                                                        1. Keeping Documentation Updated
                                                                                                                          1. Automated Generation
                                                                                                                            1. Review Processes
                                                                                                                            2. Version Management
                                                                                                                              1. Documentation Versioning
                                                                                                                                1. Legacy Documentation
                                                                                                                                2. Feedback Collection
                                                                                                                                  1. User Feedback Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                    1. Documentation Analytics

                                                                                                                                Previous

                                                                                                                                6. API Development and Implementation

                                                                                                                                Go to top

                                                                                                                                Next

                                                                                                                                8. Testing APIs