𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗣𝗜𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗔𝗣𝗜𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲

Great APIs feel easy. You guess the endpoint. The format makes sense. Error messages tell you how to fix the bug.

Follow these rules for better design:

• Start with the user. Draft your API before you write code. Act like a client developer. Map endpoints. Plan responses. This finds flaws early.

• Stay consistent. Use plural nouns for all resources. Pick one casing style. Stick to it. This lowers the mental effort for users.

• Version your API now. Use /v1/ in the path. Do not remove fields. Add new fields instead. This keeps your API from breaking.

• Improve error messages. Use structured data. Include a code and a clear message. Point to the field with the error.

• Write docs before shipping. Explain the goal. Describe the main ideas. Use OpenAPI tools. Focus on the narrative.

• Provide tools. Share client libraries for common languages. Give users a Postman collection. This saves time.

• Standardize the basics. Keep pagination and rate limits the same. Document these rules. Use sensible defaults.

Source: https://dev.to/therizwansaleem/how-to-design-apis-that-developers-love-to-use-332n