Many young businesses don’t yet understand how important it is to develop an amazing, user-friendly API — but these unique pieces of code might actually be the core of your company’s success.
What is an API or Application Programming Interface? To put it simply, it’s a software helping two digital products communicate with each other — transfer data from one to another. One of the best modern examples of an API are features like Google Sign-In or Facebook Login. By using them, developers can make their product more accessible and speed up the login/sing up the experience for the user.
Other popular API examples include:
-
Google Maps API: Provides developers with access to Google Maps functionality, allowing integration of maps, location search, and route planning into applications.
-
Twitter API: Enables developers to interact with Twitter's platform, access user data, post tweets, retrieve tweets, and perform various other Twitter-related functions.
-
Facebook Graph API: Allows developers to integrate Facebook features into applications, such as retrieving user data, posting content, and interacting with Facebook's social graph.
-
Stripe API: Facilitates online payment processing, allowing developers to securely accept and manage payments within their applications.
-
GitHub API: Provides programmatic access to GitHub's repositories, allowing developers to manage repositories, create pull requests, and interact with user data on the platform.
-
Spotify API: Allows developers to access music streaming functionality, including searching for tracks, creating playlists, and retrieving music metadata from Spotify's extensive music catalog.
-
OpenWeatherMap API: Provides weather data and forecasts, allowing developers to integrate weather information into their applications.
-
Twilio API: Enables developers to integrate SMS, voice, and video communication capabilities into their applications, allowing for messaging, voice calls, and video conferencing functionality.
-
Amazon Web Services (AWS) API: Offers a wide range of APIs for cloud-based services, including storage, computing, database management, machine learning, and more.
-
YouTube API: Allows developers to interact with YouTube's platform, including uploading videos, retrieving video data, and performing various video-related functions.
These are just a few examples of popular APIs, and there are countless others available that cater to specific functionalities and industries.
Do you need to build a robust API for your product so it can be utilized by third-parties? Then you will need to have experienced API developers on board!
Who is an API developer?
There is a significant difference between the role of a standard software developer and an API developer. The first ones most often build products for a broader audience. Sometimes this audience is the very general public (e.g. in the case of social media platforms like Facebook), other times the product is tailored to a specific industry and clientele (e.g. MedTech products used by the health industry).
API developers work differently — their software (API) is supposed to be used by other developers from all around the world. Therefore, they do not have to simplify their creation to be understood by non-tech-savvy people. Instead, they have to build software that they themselves would love to use.
There are many different features of a good API but the most important ones are:
- Predictability
So it always works the same way, without hiccups and unpleasant surprises.
- Security
So it doesn’t end up being a critical vulnerability for the product.
- Minimalism
In other words — easy to install and configure, not filled with unnecessary options.
- Being well-documented
Explained briefly but comprehensively. Documentation can be prepared either by API developers themselves or in cooperation with technical writers.
- Usefulness
Designed in a way it actually makes things simpler for developers.
The most important technical skills for API developers
As it is with any other technical role, API developers must possess a specific set of hard skills that determine their ability to deliver amazing results. The most important such skills are:
-
Proficiency in Programming Languages: API developers need a strong command of programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, or Ruby. These languages form the foundation for developing robust and functional APIs.
-
API Design and Development: A deep understanding of API design principles is crucial. API developers should be familiar with concepts like RESTful architecture, API versioning, error handling, and authentication methods such as OAuth or JWT.
-
Web Development: Knowledge of web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) is essential. This knowledge enables API developers to create API-driven web applications and ensure seamless integration.
-
Experience with API Frameworks and Tools: API developers should be familiar with popular API frameworks and tools like Express.js, Flask, Django, Ruby on Rails, or Laravel. These frameworks and tools streamline the development process and enhance productivity.
-
Data Formats: Understanding data formats like JSON and XML is critical for handling data exchange between the API and client applications. API developers should be proficient in parsing and manipulating these formats.
-
Database Management: Proficiency in database management systems (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) is important for storing and retrieving data from APIs. API developers should have a good understanding of database operations and optimization.
-
Testing and Debugging: API developers should possess knowledge of testing frameworks like Mocha, Jest, or PHPUnit. They should be able to write unit tests and perform effective debugging to ensure the reliability and functionality of their APIs.
-
Version Control and Collaboration: Proficiency in version control systems like Git is essential for managing code repositories effectively. API developers should also be familiar with collaborative development workflows to facilitate smooth collaboration with other team members.
-
API Documentation: API developers should have the ability to write clear and comprehensive API documentation. Using tools like Swagger or OpenAPI, they can create documentation that helps other developers understand how to interact with the API.
-
Security Best Practices: API developers should be knowledgeable about API security best practices. This includes securing endpoints, implementing encryption, and preventing common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS).
Having these essential technical skills equips API developers to design, develop, and deploy high-quality APIs that meet industry standards, are secure, and provide an excellent developer experience.
The fundamental soft skills for API developers
While broad technical knowledge is a must for API developers, it should not overshadow the importance of soft skills. These can highly impact how well your new hire cooperates with others in the company, directly impacting how innovative and efficient your whole company is.
What are the most important soft skills for API developers?
- Expert time management
To transition with ease between different daily tasks.
- Attention to detail
To build APIs that are reliable and cybersecure.
- Desire to learn new things
To strive for revolutionary solutions that may impact the whole industry.
The best API developers job interview questions
What is the most reliable way of checking the skills of your API developers? First, review their portfolio; then, run a technical job interview with them. Remember that such an interview should be prepared and led by an expert in the field of APIs and the technologies your company is using. If you don’t possess such technical knowledge yourself, we recommend asking for assistance from another developer experienced with API creation, a software consultant, or an IT project manager.
What are some questions that an API developer can be asked during a job interview?
- What is the difference between GraphQL and REST?
- In your opinion, what are the go-to APIs for a modern web app?
- What is SOAP?
- What is URI?
- In your own words, what does make API RESTful?
- What are the components of an HTTP request?
- What is your preferred API testing tool? Why this one?
- How do you ensure the cybersecurity of your API?
- In your opinion, what are the fundamentals of writing a good API?
- How can you utilize data to make your API better?
The importance of the company fit
To get truly amazing results for your project — and have them delivered fast — consider also the company fit during the hiring process. What should you exactly look into?
- Product/project fit
Consider the product you are developing your API for. Is it an IoT device? A mobile app? Desktop software? Think also of the features that make this product unique. Then, review carefully the portfolios of your candidates and look for experts who have developed solutions similar to what you have in mind. They will be able to deliver results faster thanks to their previous experience.
- Industry fit
Faster result delivery, more efficient workflow, and higher usefulness of your API — all these and more can be an effect of finding an API developer who already understands your industry. Look for candidates who have experienced working within your business vertical.
- Company culture match
There is nothing that drives innovation across a company as brainstorming of like-minded individuals. Build your team of amazingly performing and cooperating experts by paying attention to your company culture. Consider values that drive your business to success, such as the style of management, remote work options, or focus on diversity, and find API developers who also think of these values as important ones.
Who else will you need?
Amazing, user-friendly API can make your product more widely used, even by top enterprises in your business vertical. But there are more things you have to look after if you want to deliver truly stunning digital solutions. Hire additional experts, like web developers, data scientists, machine learning engineers, or Product Owners to make sure you make the most out of your unique product idea.
Do you want to have all these professionals hired fast? We can help. At Ideamotive, we connect businesses looking for IT talents with best-in-class professionals from all specialties. Whether you are looking for API developers or other experts, we can find you people who truly match your project.
Get in touch with our consultants today.
