Leading with the API strategy
Designing and releasing APIs for long-term value at scale and continuously improving them to meet increasing customer needs are the hallmarks of an API product approach. In contrast, when APIs are treated as standalone initiatives or as parts of larger projects, they tend to be less effective in terms of their scope, durability, and accessibility.
Developing APIs with a product-oriented approach means treating them as such during the design phase. The ease with which an API can be utilized in the future depends on how well it is built to be consumed by developers. However, if the API is only intended to be used within the scope of a single project, its author may fail to take into account critical elements such as documentation, uniform design standards, versioning, security, and extensibility.
Instead, API designers that think like product developers will put future sustainability and extensibility first. The importance of this distinction should...
