What APIs Can and Cannot Do

API Conference, Berlin, Germany [https://apiconference.net/]

Erik Wilde
Good API

October 15, 2019

Creative Commons License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]

This work is licensed under a CC
Attribution 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]

Contents Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

Contents

Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(2) Summary

APIs have become an essential ingredient of Digital Transformation and other initiatives to modernize IT and organizations. However, while APIs are an essential ingredient, they are not everything you need, and thus only focusing on APIs may lead to disappointment when expectations are running too high. In short, APIs are necessary for improving organizational fitness, but they are not sufficient. The hard work of changing an organization also has to happen in other areas than in the technical infrastructure. After looking at some common patterns of "Acute API disillusionment", we will have a look at how a structured approach to transformation initiatives can help to make sure than all necessary parts of the transformation process are tackled simultaneously, or that in case of more serial approach, expectations are adjusted accordingly. APIs are an essential ingredient in modern IT architectures, but understanding their possibilities and limitations is important to get the most out of your API investments.



Introduction

Outline (Introduction)

  1. Introduction [3]
  2. APIs and Digital Transformation [8]
  3. Of Course! But Maybe … [15]
  4. Conclusions [2]
Introduction Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(4) @dret on Twitter/GitHub

dret

Introduction Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(5) About Me



Introduction Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(6) Continuous API Management (2018)

Continuous API Management: Making the Right Decisions in an Evolving Landscape

APIs and Digital Transformation

Outline (APIs and Digital Transformation)

  1. Introduction [3]
  2. APIs and Digital Transformation [8]
  3. Of Course! But Maybe … [15]
  4. Conclusions [2]
APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(8) APIs Deliver Product Value

Racer 5 CanRacer 5 TapRacer 5 Bottle

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(9) This is GraphQL

GraphQL as a Beer

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(10) Digital Transformation is a Challenge

United StatesAustraliaJapanSouth AfricaColombiaPoland

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(11) Digital Transformation: Business & Technology Align

Erik Dörnenburg, "The Path to DevOps", ThoughtWorks Featured Insights, February 2019

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(12) Hype Cycle

hype-cycle.png

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(13) APIs Fix Anything!

hype-cycle-unicorn.png

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(14) The Wonders of APIs

API Cargo Cult

APIs and Digital Transformation Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(15) APIs Are Just Plumbing

hype-cycle-unicorn-plumbing.png

Of Course! But Maybe …

Outline (Of Course! But Maybe …)

  1. Introduction [3]
  2. APIs and Digital Transformation [8]
  3. Of Course! But Maybe … [15]
  4. Conclusions [2]
Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(17) #1: Untangling Monoliths! Of Course!

Of course APIs are essential for improving modularity, allowing entangled IT systems to be decomposed into loosely coupled ecosystems and thus being easier to maintain and extend. Of course!


Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(18) The Mysterious Monolith

monolith-2001.jpg

Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(19) #1: Untangling Monoliths! But Maybe …



Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(20) #2: Scaling Up! Of Course!

Of course APIs allow you to more easily scale IT resources by only scaling up those parts that actually need to be scaled. Of course!


Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(21) Easily Scale When Required

pneumatic-tubes.jpg

Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(22) #2: Scaling Up! But Maybe …



Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(23) #3: Monetization! Of Course!

Of course APIs can be new sources of revenue, allowing cost-effective experimentation with digital offerings and creating new revenue streams beyond the traditional sources of income. Of course!


Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(24) The API Money Press

money-press.gif

Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(25) #3: Monetization! But Maybe …



Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(26) #4: Communications! Of Course!

Of course APIs are the way how to communicate in digital environments, and via APIs all capabilities can easily interact throughout the entire organization and beyond. Of course!


Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(27) Collaboration needs Communication

Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Tower of Babel (1563)

Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(28) #4: Communications! But Maybe …



Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(29) #5: Organizational Issues! Of Course!

Of course APIs can help with improving the way how teams communicate and how the organization can innovate. Of course!


Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(30) Domain Complexity

services-graph.png

Of Course! But Maybe … Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(31) #5: Organizational Issues! But Maybe …



Conclusions

Outline (Conclusions)

  1. Introduction [3]
  2. APIs and Digital Transformation [8]
  3. Of Course! But Maybe … [15]
  4. Conclusions [2]
Conclusions Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(33) APIs: Necessary but not Sufficient

Digital Transformation Pillars

Conclusions Erik Wilde : What APIs Can and Cannot Do

(34) Thank You!

What's Next?

October 15, 2019 API Conference, Berlin, Germany [https://apiconference.net/]