What is an API? It's a Product
In this second video of the "What is an API?" series, we look at the API product perspective. An API product is more than just an API: It is the capability that is delivered through the API, and thus it is the thing that has the actual value for an API consumer.
We explain and compare API products with beer: For beer, there is a delivery mechanism (such as a bottle or a can), and then there is the beer itself (the value that customers really care about). The same is true for API products: There is a delivery mechanism (the API) and the capability that is made accessible through the API. APIs are all about unlocking the value of digital capabilities, and thus the most important aspect about them is to think of the combination of how what they allow you to do, and how they allow you to do it.
For large organizations, the three most important aspects of API products are to (1) think of the value that is exposed by them, (2) to think of how well the products fit into the portfolio of existing and planned products, and (3) to think of how well the design of the product APIs works for consumers. We will delve much deeper in to all of these issues in an upcoming video about API product management.
Last but not least: this is the first video produced during the Corona crisis. I hope everybody is doing well, staying safe, and making sure that they will get through this as well as possible. My plan is to do more digital outreach, so expect more videos soon, and if you feel like it, please leave a comment and let's start a conversation!
This video is part of a series of videos all discussing "What is an API?". If you're interested other perspectives of how to look at an API, check out the other videos:
1. "What is an API? The Fundamentals" • What is an API? It's a Networked and Reusa...
2. "What is an API? APIs and Products" • What is an API? It's a Product (this video)
3. "What is an API? It's a Language!" • What is an API? It's a Language
4. "What is an API? It's a Promise!" • What is an API? It's a Promise
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Let's talk beer!
01:23 Explaining APIs with beer
03:02 Value delivery mechanisms
03:34 API design and constraints
04:55 Product value
05:23 Designing product landscapes
06:28 Designing product APIs
07:28 The GraphQL of beers
08:53 Summary
10:21 Closing words