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By, Scott Feinberg Congrats! You've built the one API to control them all, and it's amazing. It's fast, well-architected, and Level 3 Hypermedia. However everyone is still using your competitors sub-par product... Why? We developers are lazy and you're making it hard for us to use. We're diving into your SDKs tests to solve basic tasks, your SDK + API errors annoy and don't help us fix our mistakes, and the lack of logical defaults leaves us playing parameter roulette. Let's explore how to build API-enabled products that fellow developers will love using with great docs, tooling, support, and community.
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In this talk titled 'Why Your API Product Will Fail,' Scott Feinberg discusses the key elements necessary for developing successful API products that resonate with developers. He emphasizes that despite having well-designed APIs, many still fail to gain traction due to poor usability and inadequate documentation. Feinberg aims to illustrate how well-constructed API tooling can prevent these failures and enhance user experience. Key points include: - **Importance of API Tooling**: Effective API tooling consists primarily of clear documentation and reactive API clients, enabling users to make the most of the API. - **Value of Tutorials**: Tutorials should provide straightforward, step-by-step instructions for using the API, catering to users at all skill levels, and minimizing excessive text. Tutorials should include explanations, use cases, and structures that facilitate easy implementation. - **Reference Documentation**: Developers rely on thorough reference documentation that clearly details functions, API calls, parameters, and expected responses. It should be crafted to allow users to navigate without confusion, supported by clear examples, particularly in JSON format. - **Maintaining Consistency**: Ensuring detailed specification, such as through JSON schema, Swagger, or RAML, is crucial for keeping documentation up-to-date and consistent over time. This combats confusion that arises from misaligned documentation and product features. - **Significance of Documentation**: The quality of API documentation is equal to the quality of the API itself. If users find the instructions inadequate or unclear, they are likely to abandon the product. Investing in robust documentation tools will enhance user confidence and engagement. In conclusion, adhering to best practices in API documentation and tooling is vital for creating API products that developers will enjoy using. Clear, up-to-date instructions and intuitive tutorials can significantly improve the user experience, ultimately leading to the success of an API product.
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