API Platform Survival Guide by James Higginbotham (LaunchAny)

API Platform Survival Guide
James Higginbotham, API Strategist at LaunchAny

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Transcript

1. @launchany /launchany www.launchany.com API Platform Survival Guide apidays NYC 2025 James Higginbotham
2. @launchany www.launchany.com Introduction Founder of LaunchAny, API training and consulting Author, “Principles of Web API Design: Delivering Value with APIs and Microservices” API Developer Weekly newsletter https://bit.ly/apideveloperweekly
3. @launchany www.launchany.com What is an API Platform? An API platform is a collection of thoughtfully designed, business-aligned APIs that empower your digital ecosystems to achieve meaningful outcomes. 3
4. @launchany www.launchany.com The State of API Platforms in 2025 Most discussions today around APIs includes the following statements: “APIs are a way of life for us.” “APIs are just business as usual.” 4
5. @launchany www.launchany.com The State of API Platforms in 2025 Yet, most API platforms: • Offer limited reuse • Fail to scale effectively across the organization • Are not prepared for AI enablement 5
6. @launchany www.launchany.com API Platform Survival Guide 1. Align with Business Architecture 2. Create Multiple Engagement Models 3. Scale Your Efforts with Federated API Coaches 4. Establish API Pillars 5. Be Ready for AI Enablement 5 Recommendations to Achieve a Transformational API Platform 6
7. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Establish 7 1. Align with Business Architecture Avoid system-to-system integrations. Align API platforms with business architecture and digital ecosystems to handle today and prepare for the future.
8. @launchany www.launchany.com APIs are the Digital Front Door to Your Organization 8 IT capabilities (systems and data-centric) Your API Platform (human-centric outcomes) Business capabilities (market-centric) Shared technology and platform engineering Data sources Legacy systems Technical Capabilities Business capabilities Business objectives Market needs Platform capabilities (platform APIs) Market and channel solutions Desired outcomes (market-driven) Desirable outcomes (innovation-driven) Business processes (reactive)
9. @launchany www.launchany.com Example: Align APIs to Business Architecture 10 Underwriting Shop and Quote API Product Catalog Request Quote View Quote Policy Management API Customer Account API Create Policy Update Policy List Policies Register Account Change Password Update Account Lisa Sanjay Michael Samantha
10. @launchany www.launchany.com Use ADDR to Align APIs with Business Outcomes 11 Link: https://bit.ly/rest-api-design-workshop
11. @launchany www.launchany.com 12 Align API platforms with business architecture and digital ecosystems.
12. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Grow 13 2. Create Multiple Engagement Models Avoid one-size-fits-all governance. Create a model of team engagement to ensure support at all levels of team maturity.
13. @launchany www.launchany.com Provide Multiple Engagement Models 14
14. @launchany www.launchany.com 15 Engage teams in multiple ways to ensure they have the support they need.
15. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Scale 16 3. Scale Your Efforts with Federated API Coaches You can’t do it all yourself. Invest in non-scalable work in scalable ways.
16. @launchany www.launchany.com Overcoming API Platform Complexity with API Coaches 18 Platform Engineering Practices Events & Streams Practices Platform Streams Partner Managed Apps API Governance & Practices Platform APIs Direct Partner API Integrations API Coaches Tools & Automation Practice Areas Business Capability Platform Digital Ecosystems & Interfaces Digital Ecosystems & Interfaces Direct Partner API Integrations Ecosystems that support partner and customer direct integration via the BCP. Partner Managed Apps Applications created and managed by partners that leverage your BCP. Business Capability Platform Platform APIs Digitized business capabilities that create the digital front door to your organization. Platform Streams Extend the platform beyond the walls of the organization. Tools & Automation Platform Engineering Practices API tooling for developer enablement. API Coaches Representatives of the API practice that scale knowledge and enablement. Practice Areas API Governance & Practices Federated API governance, including pillars, policies, and procedures. Events & Streams Practices Asynchronous APIs that enable the platform to extend beyond the original scope.
17. @launchany www.launchany.com The Path to API Coach Certification 20 Link: https://bit.ly/api-platform-training
18. @launchany www.launchany.com 21 Invest in performing non-scalable work in scalable ways through a federated API coach program.
19. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Establish 22 4. Establish API Pillars Policies and processes change, but pillars create a resilient API platform.
20. @launchany www.launchany.com 5 3 1 23 Assessing Your API Platform: 8 Essential Pillars Graded 1-5 Your Organization Strategy & Business Alignment Governance & Enablement Portfolio & Domain Ownership Discovery & Documentation Design & Delivery Consumer Onboarding & Adoption Security & Operations Runtime Management & Monitoring Client X Assesment Score
21. @launchany www.launchany.com 24 Pillars unify the destination. Policies create expectations. Processes turn policies into action.
22. @launchany www.launchany.com 29 Define your API pillars and policies to establish expectations and provide a process framework for delivery team autonomy.
23. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Futureproofing 30 5. API Readiness for AI Enablement Most APIs/organizations/teams are not ready for AI. AI is changing rapidly, but there are foundational principles you can focus on today. It is time to prepare your teams now.
24. @launchany www.launchany.com APIs are a Conversation: Developer-to-Machine 31 GET /projects Accept: application/json POST /projects { "projectName":"My Project", … } GET /projects/12345 Accept: application/json 200 OK Content-Type: application/json [ { "projectId":"12344", … }, … ] 201 Created Content-Type: application/json Location: /projects/12345 200 OK Content-Type: application/json [ { "projectId":"12345", … }, … ]
25. @launchany www.launchany.com APIs are a Conversation: Developer-to-Developer 32 Examples and Guides Reference Docs
26. @launchany www.launchany.com APIs are a Conversation: Machine-to-Machine 33 Agent Agent API GET /projects Accept: application/json 200 OK Content-Type: application/json [ { "projectId":"12344", … }, … ]
27. @launchany www.launchany.com APIs are a Conversation: Human-to-Human 34 Homeowner: “Can you tell me where we stand with my home remodeling project?” Project Manager: “Sure, here are the tasks completed and items remaining, along with budget details”
28. @launchany www.launchany.com Make Your APIs Speak Like a Human • Pagination and response shaping to limit token usage • Clear error codes and messages for Al self-correction • Proper idempotency for confidence in Al retries • Task-based use cases rather than raw data storage and retrieval • Documentation standards that reference business terms rather than systems and data A checklist of common practices that prepare APIs for AI enablement 35
29. @launchany www.launchany.com 37 There has been no technology so disruptive since the web as AI. Prepare your API platform and your teams.
30. @launchany www.launchany.com API Platform Survival Guide 1. Align with Business Architecture 2. Create Multiple Engagement Models 3. Scale Your Efforts with Federated API Coaches 4. Establish API Pillars 5. Be Ready for AI Enablement 5 Recommendations to Achieve a Transformational API Platform 38
31. @launchany www.launchany.com www.launchany.com Contact Details: 39 Thank you! james@launchany.com Mobile: +1 512-537-8493