DZone
Integration Zone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
  • Refcardz
  • Trend Reports
  • Webinars
  • Zones
  • |
    • Agile
    • AI
    • Big Data
    • Cloud
    • Database
    • DevOps
    • Integration
    • IoT
    • Java
    • Microservices
    • Open Source
    • Performance
    • Security
    • Web Dev
DZone > Integration Zone > Focus on Having a Robust and Diverse API Toolbox

Focus on Having a Robust and Diverse API Toolbox

I do not expect that all providers have this robust of API toolbox from day one. It is something that will come with time.

Kin Lane user avatar by
Kin Lane
·
Mar. 14, 17 · Integration Zone · Opinion
Like (1)
Save
Tweet
3.30K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

I'm learning a lot about HTTP/2 and gRPC this week, so I have been thinking about how we isolate ourselves by focusing in on individual toolsets and where we should really be expanding our horizons to help ensure that we have the most robust and diverse API toolbox we possibly can. Depending on what part of the tech universe an engineer comes from, they'll have a different view on just exactly what I mean when I say API to them.

The most common perspective that people respond with is REST. Folks automatically think this is what I mean when I say API; it isn't. That is your dogma or your gullibility to other people's dogma — please expand your horizons. When I say APIs, I mean an application programming interface that leverages web technology (HTTP, HTTP/2). Sure, REST is the dominating philosophy in this discussion, but I see no benefit in limiting ourselves in this fashion. I see API as a toolbox with the following tools:

  • REST, considering Roy Fielding's guidance when it comes to leveraging HTTP in my API design.
  • Hypermedia, considering the web and the role that links can play in your API design.
  • Webhooks, helping keep APIs a two-way street and expanding your API to respond to events — not just single requests.
  • GraphQL, helping put powerful query tooling in the hands of API consumers when working with large and complex datasets.
  • gRPC, acknowledging that the HTTP protocol is evolving and our API contract can evolve along with the specification.

This represents the major toolsets that are currently in my API toolbox. Sure, there are a number of other individual tools and specifications in there, as well — but this represents the top tier toolsets I am looking at when it comes to getting things done. In my opinion, there is a time and place for each of these toolsets to be put to use. I can easily geek out on any of these areas, but because I'm not selling you a product or service. I'm more interested in finding the right tool for the situation.

I do not expect that all providers have this robust of API toolbox from day one. It is something that will come with time. My recommendation is everyone begins with REST, developing proficiency in this domain, while also learning about hypermedia webhooks. As your understanding evolves, then you should start looking at GraphQL, gRPC, and other more advanced approaches to round off your skills. Do not let your religious technological beliefs or any single vendor motivations limit the scope of your API toolbox. You should be working to make it as robust and diverse as you possibly can.

API

Published at DZone with permission of Kin Lane, DZone MVB. See the original article here.

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Popular on DZone

  • Monolith vs Microservices Architecture: To Split or Not to Split?
  • The Power of Enum: Make Your Code More Readable and Efficient [Video]
  • Build a Data Pipeline on AWS With Kafka, Kafka Connect, and DynamoDB
  • Exhaustive JUNIT5 Testing with Combinations, Permutations, and Products

Comments

Integration Partner Resources

X

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • MVB Program
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com
  • +1 (919) 678-0300

Let's be friends:

DZone.com is powered by 

AnswerHub logo