API operations is made easier by making common elements like documentation, authentication, SDKs easy to find and available as just a couple of simple steps that API consumers can follow when it comes to onboarding with an API, helping producers simplify the onboarding for their consumers.
Onboarding is Always as Easy as Possible
Policies
Portals
Dedicated developer portals for an API provide a way to make documentation, sign-up, getting started, plans, SDKs, and other resources API consumers need more easily accessible publicly or privatel...
Getting Started
The step by step walk-through for new API consumers, ensuring they have exactly what is needed to discover and onboard, but also help make sure the getting started steps are as simple, plain langua...
Plans
Plans are all about being explicit and transparent with all of the access for an API, breaking down the tiers, rate limits, features, and pricing that is available for API consumers, standardizing ...
SDKs
Offering software development kits, or SDKs for an API, handling authentication, and working across all available API operations in a variety of relevant programming languages to the targeted consu...
Experiences
Communication
Consistent communication about the production and consumption of APIs is critical for effective enterprise governance. APIs are inherently difficult to visualize, making it essential to invest in m...
Consistency
Achieving consistency in the design, delivery, and maintenance of HTTP APIs across an enterprise is a significant challenge—one that often complicates API operations. Small differences, such as var...
Discovery
The average enterprise maintains approximately 0.5 APIs per employee, making it a constant challenge to track the growing inventory of HTTP APIs being produced and consumed. Enterprises often addre...
Onboarding
Transitioning from API discovery to integration as a consumer requires a well-defined and streamlined API onboarding process. Onboarding begins with discovery and relies heavily on clear documentat...
Self-Service
Self-service is the experience of a consumer being able to discover, access, and integrate an API without having to talk to a human. Portals, sign-up flows, documentation, and keys let developers g...
Simplicity
Simplicity is a hallmark of well-designed HTTP APIs, but achieving simplicity requires effort. The likelihood that a partner or third-party developer will abandon an API increases as cognitive load...
