Hire an API developer

Tips to hire an API Developer

In order to clarify what is API development and what an API developer does let's start with an example. There is a good chance you are already familiar with Candy Crush. In case you dont know it is a very famous app with a great integration to Facebook. Candy Crush doesn't ask us for any Facebook account information when we hit the link 'Connect Facebook'. Instead, it retrieves data from the social network server and allows us to play - all thanks to APIs.

In simple terms, an API enables apps to communicate with each other or to deal with data. It enables a mobile application or platform to share its data with other applications or platforms and automate the user experience without having to involve freelance web developers or to hire android developers for that.

Due to these factors, both app developers and business developers want to focus on the API development process. APIs eliminate the need to create a similar program or platform from scratch; you can use an existing app or platform instead.

Terminologies of API development

To help you understand the concept easier, let's look at a few basic terminologies.

a) API Key

A code passed into the header or parameter of an API request to identify the requester is termed an API Key.

b) Endpoint

When an API interacts with another system, this communication channel on one end is referred to as an Endpoint.

c) JSON

JavaScript Object Notion or JSON is said to be a data format used by APIs to store request parameters, request bodies, and response bodies.

d) GET

The HTTP method used for obtaining resources in RESTful application programming interfaces is called GET.

e) POST

This is the RESTful API's HTTP method for creating resources.

f) OAuth

This is an open authorization framework that gives users access from their side without realizing that credentials are being shared.

g) REST

(Representational state transfer) is an implementation of programming that enables more efficient communications between two devices. The light-weighted system works by offering references to a particular piece of data rather than an entire copy of the data itself when requested.

h) SOAP

or Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol used to exchange structured data in computer networks during the execution of web services. The message format and message negotiation and transmission are done through an XML information set and various application layer protocols (such as HTTP and SMTP).

i) Latency

In the process of requesting a response, latency is defined as the time between the request and the response.

j) Rate-Limiting

In API Rate-Limiting, you define how fast users can access APIs by limiting the rate at which they can access them. Basically, it means limiting how many API requests a user may make at a time.

k) API Throttling

This is a way to restrict the use of APIs by users to a certain period of time. This can be used for API limiting. An example would be limiting API requests to 1000 per day. The server will send the user 429 messages as HTTP status along with the message, "Too many requests" if the request hit the 1001 mark.

Working of API

Imagine you are booking a flight through XYZ app/website. After filling out the form - that includes the departure and return dates, city, flight information, and other pertinent information - you submit it. Then, a list of flights, prices, times, and availability of seats in a fraction of a second will be shown to you. But how does it work?

By sending a request to the airline's website, the platform is able to access the airline's database and fetch relevant data via an API. API Integration receives the data from the website and delivers it to the platform, which displays it on the website.

Tools for Developing an API like a PRO

Though there are many API design tools and technologies that can be incorporated into API development, the most popular API tools for developers include the following:

Apigee:

An API management platform operated by Google, helps developers and entrepreneurs succeed with digital transformation by moving toward API integration.

APIMatic and API Transformer:

API development can also be done with these tools. With their professional automatic generation tools, you can produce high-quality SDKs, code snippets, and other format specifications, such as RAML, Blueprint, etc. from API specific formats.

API Science:

This tool is most commonly used for evaluating the performance of internal APIs as well as external APIs.

API Serverless Architecture:

With the help of the cloud-based server infrastructure, freelancers are available to hire as freelance UX designer and UI designer, and to publish and host APIs.

API-Platform:

A freelance PHP developer can provide a framework that is used for building APIs that are open-source.

Auth0:

It is an identity management solution that authenticates and authorizes API calls.

ClearBlade:

It integrates IoT technology into your process via an API management provider.

GitHub:

Developers can manage their code files, pull requests, version control, and comments through this open-source git repository hosting service. They can also create private repositories for their code.

Postman:

It's used by API developers for running, testing, documenting, and evaluating their APIs.

Swagger:

Swagger is an API-development framework that uses the Java programming language. Microsoft and GettyImages are big users of Swagger. However, API technology still has a major gap when it comes to utilizing its perks. Integration with some APIs is a breeze, while with others it is a nightmare.

What are the types of API?

APIs can be classified into the following types:

• Web service APIs

• WebSocket APIs

• Library-based APIs
• Object remoting APIs
• Class-based APIs
• Hardware APIs, etc

benefits of APIs

improved Collaboration:

Most enterprises use more than 1,200 cloud applications (links are external to IBM), many of which are disconnected. Platforms and apps communicate seamlessly through APIs so that they can be integrated. Automation of workflows and improved workplace collaboration are possible thanks to this integration. Many enterprises would suffer from information silos and a lack of connectivity without APIs.

Easier innovation:

APIs enable companies to connect with new freelance business development consultants, offer new services to existing customers, and, ultimately, access new markets that can generate massive returns while enhancing digital transformation. When Stripe began, it was just an API with seven lines of code. Recently, the company has been valued at USD 36 billion (link resides outside of IBM) after partnering with various large companies around the world, diversifying to offer loans and corporate cards.

Monetization of data:

Many companies offer APIs free at first, in order to develop an audience of developers around their brand and partner with potential clients. You can monetize APIs that grant access to digital assets, however, by selling access to them (this is called the API economy). Within 10 months of launching its self-service developer portal to sell a range of API packages, AccuWeather attracted 24,000 developers, sold 11,000 API keys and built a vibrant community.

Added security:

In addition to adding security, APIs create a barrier between your data and a server. Furthermore, API security can be strengthened by implementing API gateways to manage and authenticate traffic, using the use of tokens and signatures, and implementing Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.

Reasons why you might want to develop an API

Despite not being comprehensive, this should help you prioritize which APIs are appropriate for your application.

It is probably a good idea to build an API if:

• One day, you'd like to build a mobile app or desktop application.

• React or Angular are modern front-end frameworks that you want to use.

• Your website contains a lot of data that you need to load quickly and without having to refresh.

• You need the same information in many different places and on many different platforms (ex: a customer-facing web app and an internal dashboard).

• The data must be accessible only to selected partners or customers.

• It is up to you to sell direct API access to your customers.