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Informative Article | Software Engineering | India | Volume 10 Issue 10, October 2021 | Rating: 5.5 / 10
Api First Development: A Modern Approach to Building Integrated Software Systems
Abstract: API First Development is a strategic methodology that puts emphasis on the design and definition of APIs before writing any code that might implement them. It is gaining popularity in the modern software development landscape because of various trends, such as microservices, mobile applications, and the Internet of Things, to name a few. By treating APIs as first - class citizens and establishing a clearly defined agreement between the API supplier and the consumer, API First Development can significantly enhance collaboration between the frontend and backend teams. It supports scalable architectures, such as microservices, and speeds up the development process, resulting in faster time to market. Furthermore, the development approach helps to ensure consistent, uniform, and well - defined APIs for better maintainability and integration between systems. This paper delves deeper into the principles of API First Development, emphasizing consumer - centric design, the design before code approach, enhancing scaling and flexibility, accelerating the development cycle, and providing practical implementation strategies. This includes best practices in API design, using tools such as OpenAPI and Swagger, versioning techniques, comprehensive documentation, mock servers, and testing tools. Following these guidelines will result in clear software integration and system design that will be efficient, scalable, and maintainable, leading to more general and cost - effective software solutions.
Keywords: API First Development, microservices, design before code, scalable architectures, API design tools
Edition: Volume 10 Issue 10, October 2021,
Pages: 1627 - 1629