Nordic APIs Digest #22 / 2024
Hello world,
Quality assurance and site reliability engineers might not be building APIs, but they are an integral part of the API testing lifecycle. To help these folks out, j simpson put together a great deep dive into the types of API tests, and best practices to consider!
It's that time of year again... the Postman State of the API Report is out! This is the industry's most comprehensive study on API trends. Check out our review of the key takeaways. I also followed up with Postman's Noah Schwartz to see what API-first truly means in practice.
Also in this digest are other hot topics: we attempt to define what API governance is exactly, and explore some great examples of real-world error messages. Kristopher Sandoval also asks, 'Are SDKs still relevant in the age of AI'?
Last but not least, in case you missed it, the videos and slides from last month's Platform Summit 2024 are now live! Happy watching.
Thanks for reading,
Bill Doerrfeld, Editor in Chief, Nordic APIs
Blog Highlights
The Ultimate API Guide for Quality Assurance Testers
by j simpson
We've compiled a guide to APIs for QA testers and site reliability engineers. Here, we take you through the basics and then share some best practices for API testing. Have a read.
Getting to the Bottom of What It Means to Be API-First
by Bill Doerrfeld
A design-first approach to API development can solve numerous challenges, including UX/UI issues, breaking changes, poor developer experiences, and others. Here, we double-click on the state of API-first adoptions. Read blog post.
5 Real-World Examples of Great API Error Messages
by j simpson
Barebones error codes aren't usually enough to diagnose API issues. Here are some great examples of more human-readable error messages from APIs at Stripe, Merge, Instagram, Salesforce , and Reltio. Learn more.
What is API Governance?
by Art Anthony
API governance brings some tangible advantages — namely that it improves security, reduces sprawl, and encourages adoption. All good things if you're looking to keep your APIs in check. Read article.
7 Takeaways from the State of the API 2024 Report
by j simpson
We've read through all of Postman's 2024 State of the API Report to find out the current state of the API industry. Here are a few of the API trends that are currently shaping the API Industry - have a read.
Are SDKs Still Relevant in the AI Age?
by Kristopher Sandoval
Moving into the future, we can expect SDKs and AI to become ever more powerful and intertwined. Here are some ways that effective SDKs can benefit API providers and developers alike in the context of AI. Read blog post.
Prefer to get this newsletter straight into your inbox? Subscribe to the digest here.