Session slides from Future Insights Live, Vegas 2015: https://futureinsightslive.com/las-vegas-2015/ There are thousands of public APIs, more than any developer could use. Instead of focusing on the quantity, this talk aims to explore the quality. Based on six years of research, Adam DuVander shares the top 11 APIs (plus a few honorable mentions). You’ll learn the factors to consider when evaluating an API and the criteria that make these 11 special. At the end of this talk you’ll have a checklist to ensure you know each API and a game plan for how to effectively put them into practice.

1. APIs Every Developer
Needs to Know
Adam DuVander @adamd
Future Insights Live
Las Vegas 2015
11

2. How Many APIs?

3. Every Developer?

4. Pareto Principle
80% of the effects come from
20% of the causes
Vilfredo Pareto
1848-1923

5. Pareto-as-a-Service
APIs &
Cloud Services
What Makes
Your App Special

6. What Isn’t on the List?
! Content
! Shopping, Photos, Video, Music, Weather
! Databases
! Not always available via API

7. Maps
1
USGS

8. Google Maps

9. Mapstraction

10. MapBox

11. Geo Utilities
! Geocoding addresses (Google)
! Reverse geocoding (to address, city)
! Geocoding IP addresses (Maxmind)
! Etc.: elevation, directions, time zones
HM

12. Artificial Intelligence
2
spinstercardigan

13. Alchemy API

14. IBM Watson

15. Wit.ai

16. Another Facebook Acquisition

17. Full Contact & Clearbit

18. Social
3
JDHancock

20. Limited Social Features
Access Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Login Y Y Y Y
Get contacts N Limited Y Partners
Read feed N Limited Y N
Post content Y Y N Y

21. User Login
4
GotCredit

22. Social Login

23. User Management

24. Login & Management
Service Login With Starting at
StormPath Facebook, Google Free / $49
OAuth.io 100+ providers Free / $19
LoginRadius 35 providers $299 after trial
JanRain 6 – 16 providers Free / $10

25. Application Storage
5
SeattleMunicipalArchives

26. Typical Developer

27. Amazon S3 Compatible
Google Cloud Storage

28. Consumer Storage
6
KoolCatsPhoto

29. Enterprise Individual

30. Upload Tools

31. Webhooks*
* Google Drive calls these “Push Notifications”

32. Google Drive
HM
Consumer Storage Spreadsheet Workflow
?

33. HåkanDahlström
Payment
7

34. Stripe

36. Telecom
8
PaulDowney

38. Voice & SMS
Price, Geography, Quality, Support…

40. Collaboration
9
ChrisLott

41. Slack or HipChat
?

42. Marketing Email
10
Cambodia4Kids

43. Let Your Marketer Choose

44. API Needs…
List Management Events Log Webhooks

45. Transactional Email
11

46. High Volume Starting Y Combinator

47. Webhooks

48. Inbound

49. Email Engagement
HM

50. Maps
Social
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
User Login
Payments
Application and Consumer Storage
Marketing and Transactional Email
Telecom
1 2
3 4
5
6,7
8
10,11
9

51. 40ish

52. API Sniff Test
AAbout Page
BBlog Posts
CClient Libraries
DDocumentation

53. API Evaluation
Control
Uptime
Responsibility
Longevity
Actively avoids lock-in
Shares server status
Security is a priority
Has a sustainable business model

54. How to Evaluate an API
duv.ly/apieval

55. APIs Every Developer
Needs to Know
Adam DuVander @adamd
Future Insights Live
Las Vegas 2015
11