It is now an industry standard to ensure API driven development is not just implemented in software development but as the core environment framework that encapsulates other applications to give a robust, functioning, and usable system services. The benefits of an API-driven product are not only evident in the initial stage but cut across the entirety of the development cycle and as well as reflected in the user /developer experience. This article covers all you need to know about API driven development and its benefits in the software development process.
The Benefits of API-driven Development
Table of Contents
Table of contents
What is API-driven development?
Innovation
Cloud-Friendly Integration
Automation
Adaptation
Modular CI/CD pipelines
Conclusion
What is API-driven development?
The API is the first API concept to be created in the development stage of software. The API specifications and mark-ups are developed by experienced API front end developers. They are responsible for building the end-user experience. The API contracts are also developed in partnership with API front-end and back-end developers.
Innovation
Innovation is undisputedly the result of an API-driven development and rightly so because it allows developers to plan effectively and leverage on API development framework to build reusable, accessible, and innovative applications compatible with the entire strategies, development, and implantation stage.
Cloud-Friendly Integration
API-driven development encourages integration with various cloud-friendly applications, and as a result, connectivity with various inherent external applications is easy. Not anymore will you have to leave an essential component to the very last stage. In API-driven development, making API your building block nullifies compatibility errors with your application service. It ensures you align with your goals and not remove an essential component or repurpose your design. A specific application component is disrupting the flow, functionality, and outlook of your software development.
Automation
Automation is, no doubt, another benefit in implementing API-driven development. It is a swift approach and laid down a development framework. If not sure, you can start with free public APIs, for example, AbstractAPI allows you to automate your work with a suite of fast, accurate, & robust APIs and even get an open API.
The developed environment allows automated data processing at high speed without much user input. Computers will do the work; various components will integrate and communicate seamlessly, thereby achieving high efficiency. With the help of API-driven development, developers can manage work faster and update the workflows to become more productive within a short time.
Adaptation
It sometimes happens that a component or a particular application service might need an update, archiving, or outright removal from the entire framework, and as a result, some functionality might be altered and thereby affect the general work environment and working experience. However, the structured foundation is built around an API-driven development. This means it will be much easier to extract components without compromising the quality and the functionality of the services.
Modular CI/CD pipelines
No doubt, APIs are driving digital transformation in many organizations today. The importance of APIs-driven development in building modular CI/CD is visible when connecting apps, data, and services. The strategic value of APIs in ensuring continuous integration and deployment is a core developmental part and benefit of an application programming interface. Implementing API-driven development will allow developers to quickly deploy API from a CI/CD pipeline.
Conclusion
The benefits of API-driven development are apparent in its approach to scale up all levels of software development by ensuring the reusability and portability of software application codes, thereby enhancing innovations.
This is undoubtedly an approach that is widely accepted by developers of all levels.