App.net File API And The Opportunity for Private Label BaaS Resources

by on 01/29/2013

App. net has just released a File API to add to their messaging and communication stack, allowing any App. net account to natively store files via the social platform. Each App. net account will be given a 10GB file storage area, allowing applications to read and write files, that can be linked and embedded within App. net communications. This approach reminds me of what I’m seeing within the backend as a service (BaaS) space with other common developer resources like user management, object storage and key-value stores. App. net is just making sure developers have the resources they will need to be successful building web and mobile apps with the App. net API--a similar motivation for BaaS providers as wel as other API providers. While many developers are fine with using multiple API providers to get what they need, I can see an opportunity to provide the essential resources developers will need within the primary API that they are building their app around. As essential API resources are further commoditized, it seems like an opportunity for private label BaaS resources to emerge.... read more.

Tags: App.net, BaaS, BaaS, File API, Private Label, Resources

Does Your API Have a Built in Incubator or Accelerator Program?

by on 01/28/2013

API ecosystems are all about research & development, and an opportunity for incubating ideas and apps in a way that invites 3rd party developers and companies to develop innovative ways of using your company assets and resources. I’ve discussed incubation within an API ecosystem before, and how companies are not just identifying developer talent and the best apps, but actually investing in companies via their API. A new example of this in action is Nike's launch of their Nike+ Accelerator--a partnership with TechStars that will host 10 companies for a three-month, immersive, mentor-driven startup accelerator designed to spur development on the NikeFuel, the Nike+ FuelBand, and Nike+ Running API platform.... read more.

Tags: Accelerator, Incubation, Incubator, Nike, TechStars

Virtualized API Stacks

by on 01/28/2013

Up until now we tend to think of APIs individually--we approach integration in terms of the Twilio API, Twitter API or the Facebook API. But as the number of public APIs has grown beyond 8K, and an unknown amount of internal and partner APIs become available, we are seeing new patterns of aggregation and interoperability emerge from companies like Singly, but also seeing automation be added into the mix by companies like Temboo, and entire backend stacks from providers like Parse. These new aggregated or backend stacks of API driven resources can be as general as object and key-value stores, user management and other developer commodities we see backend as a service providers (BaaS) bring to the table, or they can be very personal like the photos Singly is aggregating across Flickr, Facebook and Instagram and with friends and followers across Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. As I see these new aggregate and BaaS providers emerge, at an ever increasing pace, I can’t help but think--this still isn’t fast enough (its my nature, you should try being me).... read more.

Tags: Aggregation, BaaS, Interoperability, Virtualized APIs, Virtualized Networks

I Am Speaking at NPR for the DC API User Group Next Thursday in Washington DC

by on 01/24/2013

I am invited to speak at the Washington DC API User Group, next Thursday January 31st 2013, at the NPR offices in Washington D. C. It looks like a pretty sweet linup of people, gathering for API meetup: 18:00 - 18:30 Food, drinks and networking 18:30 - 18:40 Welcome and introductions 18:40 - 18:55 Ben Balter, Presidential Innovation Fellow, MyGov 18:55 - 19:10 Kin Lane, API Evangelist 19:10 - 19:25 David Hale, PM for Pillbox, National Library of Medicine 19:25 - 19:40 Eric Herzog, Open Data Specialist, World Bank 19:40 - 19:55 Private sector presenter TBA 19:55 - 20:00 Refill your beverage 20:00 - 20:30 Panel discussions with Alex Howard, O'Reilly Media 20:30 - 21:00 Networking If you are in Washington DC, make sure and come by and join in the API conversation, and say hello. I find myself talking APIs in Washington D. C. more than any other city, except for San Francisco.   Which is a good thing!  Its one of the most important places we need to be having API discussions, so its good to see the energy from folks.... read more.

Tags: Ben Balter, David Hale, Eric Herzog, NPR, Washington DC, World Bank

The Next Generation of API Discovery

by on 01/24/2013

For the last seven years, when you wanted to find an API you went to ProgrammableWeb. It has been the definitive way to discover new APIs, and responsible for all the buzz in the space that has gotten the industry to where it is. Now that ProgrammableWeb is at 8400 APIs in its directory, and adding 50-100 each week, it will continue to get even more difficult to discover APIs. Even for someone like me who has looked at thousands of APIs, it can be very difficult and time consuming to find the API or APIs you are looking for. In 2013 there are even more ways to find APIs, new approaches that are looking to define the next generation of API discovery and consumption. Currently I’m tracking on 4 API directories in addition to ProgrammableWeb: APIhub - APIhub is the best way to publish, discover and consume APIs. Search our database or browse through our most popular APIs APIs. io - APIS.... read more.

Tags: APIhub, APIs.io, Directory, Discovery, Exicon, Mashape, ProgrammableWeb, Rankings

Google Goes All In With Github, You Should Too With Your API

by on 01/24/2013

Google is migrating samples and tools for App Engine, BigQuery, Compute Engine, Cloud SQL, and Cloud Storage to a new Github account, they are calling the Google Cloud Platform. Google is going all in with its use of Github, something I'm encouraging API owners to do. They are working to manage all of their essential API tools there like their start projects, which show developers how to get started with Google APIs as well as other helper tools like the OAuth 2. 0 Helper, that helps developers be successful. Github provides a lot of benefit beyond the obvious aspect of open sourcing your code. Google is actively engaging with developers using Github alongside all of these open source projects. If you think about it, this offers a more compelling way to engage with API developers beyond forums. On forums you end up with a lot of general, sometimes senseless questions--Github anchors questions or issues and pull requests around actual code libraries, SDKs, starter kits and other integration areas. Github provides potentially more meaningful actions to occur between you and your developer community, beyond making code more accessible and openly licensed.... read more.

Tags: GitHub, Google

Estimating the Number of Non-Public APIs

by on 01/24/2013

This post comes from the SDK Bridge newsletter.  I find so much value from what Peter and Jonathan do over at SDK Bridge, I always have to post their newsletter here and share with all of you. ProgrammableWeb is known for publishing the number of public APIs in its directory, and they regularly present an impressive graph that shows how this number has increased exponentially over time. However, not all APIs are public, and ProgrammableWeb is not able to obtain information on how many non-public APIs exist. SDK Bridge writes API documentation as a service, and many of our customers have us document their non-public APIs. That puts us in a unique position to be able to estimate what percentage of APIs is public compared to non-public. Definitions What exactly is a non-public API? For the purposes of this article, let's define a few terms. Public API.  A public API is an API where the documentation is freely available on the Web. Using the API may require registering and paying a fee. Partner API.... read more.

Tags: Internal APIs, Peter Gruenbaum, ProgrammableWeb, SDK Bridge

Traffic and Weather Now Available on API Evangelist

by on 01/24/2013

I just added a new feature to the right hand menu, for the podcast Traffic and Weather, a podcast about APIs and the cloud from John Sheehan (@johnsheehan) and Steve Marx (@smarx). I’m big podcast fan, and I"m always looking for something I can listen to in the background while I’m coding or writing stories.  Traffic and Weather is great for this. The podcast dives into various topics ranging from Webhooks to oAuth, but keeps things light, where I think even non-technical folks can get up to speed on the latest in the space. John and Steve make things very informative, while being friendly and keeping it conversational. I added a widget to my right hand menu, which will always pull the latest episode from Traffic and Weather. You can also click on the logo to go directly to their site.... read more.

Tags: John Sheehan, podcast, Steve Marx, Traffic and Weather

Hacker Storytelling

by on 01/23/2013

I love to write. My girlfriend has really help me kindle this passion. Thank you @audreywatters. After 2. 5 years of telling stories on API Evangelist, I’ve gotten pretty good at organizing my ideas, and putting out stories that showcase the best (and worst) from the Business of APIs. I’ve gotten so efficient at it in 2012, I even launched API Voice which is dedicated to the politics of APIs, the API Stack which is dedicated to top APIs and Hack Weekends which is all about hackathons. When I meet people in the real world, I often hear, “You sure blog a lot, I see like 5 posts a day coming from you! ” I do write a lot, but it comes in waves. I tend to write a lot of stories all at once, pumping out 15-20 pieces and then I trickle them out across the appropriate domain over the next couple days. In 2013, I’m going to get even more efficient with my storytelling, with an evolved approach I’m calling Hacker Storytelling. The process is based upon dwhat I already do, but uses a new blend of: Pages - HTML, CSS and text that frames a site, project or research Blogs - Chronological blog posts that walk through a project or research Presentations - Deck.... read more.

Tags: Deck.js, GitHub, Hacker Storytelling, Jekyll, Mustache Templates

Google Drive SDK Early Access Program

by on 01/23/2013

Google has an SDK early access program setup for the Google Drive platform, and is inviting a select group of dedicated Google Drive developers to join the program. Giving them access to upcoming Google Drive SDK features and the opportunity to provide feedback. Google isn't accepting everyone--they will be screening applicants based upon the type and quality of the application, number of users, and ability to implement and provide feedback on new features as they're made available. An early access program seems like a good idea for API owners. It gives you the chance to test out your alpha and beta APIs, client libraries, SDK's with a controlled audience, before you release them out into the wild. With the number of developers Google has, I don't think it will be a problem getting developers to sign up. But it seems like something you could even pay developers for, if you have a shortage of good developers in your API ecosystem.... read more.

Tags: Beta, Early Access, Google Drive, Incentive, SDK


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