Tag Archives: API

Predictive APIs: Bringing Machine Learning to the Masses

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We are on the brink of entering the Second Machine Age. Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, the authors of the book with the same title, assert that today’s modern, digital machines very soon will do “for our mental power […] what the steam engine and its descendants did for muscle power” as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution (i.e., the First Machine Age).

PAPIs.io 2014

Self-driving cars doing 700,000 miles accident-free are a great example. Vinod Khosla – top investor, technology fan, founder of Khosla Ventures and founding CEO of Sun Microsystems – is passionate about Machine Learning, too, and claims that “in the next 20 years, machine learning will have more impact than mobile has” (source: TechCrunch).

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How to design APIs that last

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[Caveat: this is focused on HTTP-based, or REST APIs]

In the software world, we often refer to building ‘extensible’ designs. In essence, this means that we can build a system that is light and nimble, capable of changing and growing over time.

In the world of API design, we can’t always make rapid changes. Many API clients become dependent on existing functionality.

Think about this from the perspective of sustainability:
How long can we keep and grow this design?
How long before we have to start over on another version?

old_reliable_api
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API Strategy & Practice Chicago

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The API Strategy & Practice Conference (APIStrat) focuses on what works for API creators and consumers alike by bringing industry leaders together in one forum. This is an inclusive, community-supported conference series co-organized by 3scale and API Evangelist. Now in its second year, the fourth conference will be held in September 2014 in Chicago will focus on the potential of APIs, best practices, and how to craft a successful API strategy.

Romain Huet with drone

Romain Huet at APIStrat Amsterdam — picture courtesy 3scale

One of APIStrat’s main goals is to enable as many people as possible to share and benefit from practical API experiences. The three tracks encompass three major audiences in the space: API providers, developers, and those having conversations around specific industries.

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Endpoint speaker highlight: Kamyar Mohager

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Endpoint is a conference organized by API developers, for API developers. The conference will be held in Amsterdam on September 5, 2014. If you develop APIs for apps, websites or other clients, there’s certainly a session that will interest you.

Kamyar Mohagen

To give you a feeling of what to expect at the Endpoint conference we’ve talked with Kamyar Mohager, who will be in Amsterdam representing Linkedin. Kamyar will be delivering the opening keynote on September 5 at 9:00 so make sure you don’t miss it.

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Usability Review: SoundCloud API

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After last month’s Dropbox API review, we’re now publishing the conclusions of usability testing SoundCloud API. Tests have again been conducted by API Usability Testing, which offer remote API usability testing performed by a broad range of software developers with different experience and qualifications.

SoundCloud API usability tests were performed by developers with a range of experience of five to twelve years working with all the major programming languages. All tests were performed using Ruby on different platforms.

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