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API Developer Experience: Why it Matters, and How Documenting Your API with Swagger Can Help
The document discusses the importance of developer experience (DX) in API integration and consumption, emphasizing empathy and usability as key elements for successful platforms. It outlines strategies for creating effective API documentation using the Swagger framework, highlighting the need to cater to different types of users and stages of the developer journey. Additionally, it provides recommendations for documentation best practices to enhance user engagement and adoption.
In this document
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Introduction to API Developer Experience (DX) and its importance in documentation using Swagger.
Introduction of the SwaggerHub team members responsible for product marketing.
Outline of key topics including Developer Experience, documentation, and API design.
Definition and significance of Developer Experience (DX) in API interaction.
Description of platforms and their relationship with APIs in enhancing user interaction.
Emphasizes the human aspect of developers in API usage and the emotional impact of DX.
Impact of presenting information well leading to improved user satisfaction and platform growth.
Benefits of good DX including platform improvement, user growth, and higher adoption.
Different objectives for public, private, and partner APIs regarding adoption and cost.
Guiding principles for thinking about and enhancing Developer Experience.
The role of empathy in aligning user needs with business objectives in API development.
Achieving a balance between business goals and user experience in API design.
Guidelines for understanding the audience and their journey, applying the 3:30:3 rule.
Different types of audience for API documentation, focusing on their specific needs.
Importance of effectively marketing to developers as building blocks for creativity.
Key stages in the Developer Journey and how to support users effectively.
Strategy for targeting appropriate messaging to decision-makers and users.
Details on how quickly users should grasp API purpose, entry points, and usage.
Strategies for effectively communicating the value of APIs to decision-makers.
Highlight how Twilio makes value clear and meaningful for its users.
Illustration of Dropbox's clear, user-friendly documentation presentation.
Necessary steps for users to obtain API keys, emphasizing ease of registration.
Discussion of how Dropbox simplifies the API sign-up process for users.
Case of SoundCloud illustrating barriers in the API registration process.
Significance of having well-structured documentation for effective API usage.
Highlighting diverse, practical examples of high-quality API documentation.
Guide to developing effective API documentation to enhance user interaction.
Critical tips to make documentation user-friendly and accessible.
Identifying essential sections all API documentation should contain.
Importance of making documentation accessible to non-developers and providing context.
Educating users on expected API responses and error codes to improve understanding.
Examples of well-structured API documentation, focusing on error codes.
Illustrating effective organization and clarity in the YouTube API documentation.
Encouraging user experimentation with APIs through thoughtful documentation.
Example showcasing Braintree's documentation approach to support experimentation.
Example from Microsoft Graph enabling users to experiment with API endpoints.
Discussion on Swagger as a core framework facilitating API design and documentation.
Key features of Swagger in defining API contracts and ensuring interoperability.
Visual demonstration of how API documentation is structured using Swagger.
Additional examples of effective API documentation showcasing best practices.
Demonstration of a Meetup API to highlight practical usage and functionality.
Discussing the importance of illustrating why developers should use the API.
Highlighting user registration steps in the API usage process.
Encouragement for thorough documentation to help users navigate API usage.
Insights into how SwaggerHub manages various stages of the API lifecycle.
Listing available resources for continued learning about Swagger and API documentation.
Concluding the presentation with gratitude.
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API Developer Experience: Why it Matters, and How Documenting Your API with Swagger Can Help
- 1. API Developer Experience: Whyit Matters, and How Documenting Your API with Swagger Can Help
- 2. Meet Today’s SwaggerHubTeam Product Marketing Manager: Keshav Vasudevan @keshinpoint Marketing Manager: Ryan Pinkham
- 3. Agenda •What is DeveloperExperience (DX)? •What does it mean for an API to have good DX? •How to think through DX •How to build effective Documentation •An introduction to the Swagger framework •Designing APIs from a usability perspective using Swagger and SwaggerHub
- 4. What is DeveloperExperience (DX)?
- 5. The Multi PlatformEcosystem •A Platform is a Product that can be extended by users for the benefit of others •APIs have enabled products to become platforms more easily by lowering the communication barrier between products Average consumer Third party developer
- 6. Developers are HumansToo Developer experience is an extension of UX that focuses on the developer integrating and consuming your Platform •DX is the aggregate of all the experiences a developer has when interacting with your Platform, usually through an API •It’s an emotive experience, irrespective of the value of the service your Platform provides
- 7. Why DX Matters •Information,no matter how useful it is, won’t be consumed well if the experience is not presented in the right way •Network effect – Users complain about your API to their friends •Switch effect - If your competitors have a better DX, users will have a huge incentive to switch We do better with products and platforms we enjoy using
- 8. The implications ofDX •Good DX could lead to –Improvement to Platform –Evangelism and word-of-mouth growth –Higher adoption and usage Usability does not triumph Utility
- 9. Public APIs •Goal: HighAdoption Why DX Matters (Contd) Private APIs •Goal: Low Cost Partner APIs •Goal: High Adoption, Low Cost
- 10. How to ThinkThrough Developer Experience
- 11. Empathy is theguiding force of good DX •Good DX has two goals- help the user to help the business objective •An API with characteristically good DX is guided by customer empathy and product management principles –Understand at which stage devs will use your API –Understand why and how they plan on doing it
- 12. DX is thesweet spot between Biz, Tech, User
- 13. Recommendations on thinkingthrough DX 1. Understand your Audience 2. Understand their Journey 3. Map this Journey to the Right Audience Guiding Principle: the 3:30:3 rule
- 14. 1. Understand yourAudience Understand who needs your Documentation API Users Newcomer - First Time User Debugger – addressing a specific issue Evaluator- Deciding whether to use the API Problem Solver – Is X possible with this API API Decision Makers Eg: Front end Dev Eg: Back end Dev Eg: CTO Eg: PM
- 15. Your Audience isSmart “Marketing to Developers is giving them Legos and guiding them to build a Spaceship” -Kirsten Hunter
- 16. 2. Understand theirJourney Why should I use it? How do I register? Where do I start? How do I use it? •A well designed API will cater to optimal DX across every stage of the Developer Journey •APIs with good DX are built for sustainability and long last – it’s not a temporary and short term endeavor
- 17. 3. Map thisJourney to the Right Audience Why should I use it? How do I register? Where do I start? How do I use it? Focus: Decision Makers Focus: Decision Makers, API Users Focus: API Users, Decision Makers Focus: API Users Product Marketing Documentation
- 18. Follow the 3:30:3Rule 3:30:3 Rule •3 seconds to understand API’s purpose •30 seconds to identify entry point into system •3 minutes to use the API’s result
- 19. 3.a. “Why ShouldI use it”? Why should I use it? Focus: Decision Makers •Provide the right positioning to your API based on your industry •Message your API’s value in a way that resonates with the problems developers are trying to solve •The 3 second rule – People should understand your API’s value in 3 seconds
- 20. Examples Twilio Know exactly whatthe value is, and what it’s mean to be used for
- 21. Examples Dropbox Pleasant to read, easyto understand, with example use cases, all in the first section of the landing page
- 22. •Decision makers andUsers, both want to try your API •First step is to obtain an API key •Recommendations: –Explain setup in a comprehensive fashion –Engineer registration with minimal steps –Add an API Explorer/Console 3.b. “How Should I Register and Get Started”? How do I register? Focus: Decision Makers, API Users
- 23. Examples Make Sign Upstraightforward Dropbox asks you for your name, email and password for the free API key. It also allows Google sign in. Straightforward process with Mailchimp as well.
- 24. Bad Examples Jumping through Hurdles- SoundCloud SoundCloud asks users to fill up a 3 page Google form, with details on the app idea, before awarding the API key. Waiting period is typically 2 weeks
- 25. 3.c. “How DoI Start and Use it” •An API is only as good as its documentation •Documentation is deliverable of technical content, containing instructions on to effectively use your API – usage manual •Good documentation can be a determining factor is API adoption and growth Where do I start? How do I use it? Documentation
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- 27. How to BuildEffective Documentation
- 28. Effective Documentation Tips •Documentationplays a central role in the way APIs are perceived by a User •Tip 1: List the Fundamentals •Tip 2: Write for Humans (Ease of Reading) •Tip 3: Explain your Request-Response Cycles •Tip 4: Empower with Experimentation
- 29. Tip 1: Listthe Fundamentals Fundamental Sections in every documentation Authentication Errors End Points Terms of Use Changelog
- 30. Tip 2: Writefor Humans Never Assume Audience is 100% developers Developers are fully familiar with API/Domain Jargon •Strive to make documentation readable by Evaluators •Provide context and information for jargon and domain specific words
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- 32. Tip 3: Explainyour Request-Response Cycles •Your API Users should know exactly what to expect from a successful call •Describe full sample response body in every supported format •Focus not just on the response format, but also HTTP response headers and error codes 1. Examples in Use Cases 2. Examples in Request-Response Cycles
- 33. Examples Stripe All the ErrorCodes are described in a separate section for users to follow
- 34. Examples YouTube Well detailed parameters, withan overview section of every resource. These resources are all organized in an easy to follow navigation pane
- 35. Tip 4: Experimentationis Power The difference between documentation and good documentation is a little more effort with these Nice-to-haves. Allow developers to experiment with your API 1. Getting Started Guides 2. Interactive Docs and Console 3. SDKs 4. Tutorials
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- 37. Examples API Console Microsoft GraphExplore lets you try various end points and see what the response packet is
- 38. How Swagger frameworkfits in to your API Documentation
- 39. Swagger is thecontract for your API •Swagger is an API framework, that allows users to –Design –Build –Document •Swagger defines your API’s contract •Connects computers, technology stacks and humans in one unified language
- 40. Example of aSwagger API Contract
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- 44. Demo: Meetup APITeam • API Objective –Allow developers to access information and use the information from meetups (https://meetups.com) • API Overall Message –Extend your Community • API Description –The Meetup API provides simple RESTful HTTP and streaming interfaces for extending your community using the Meetup platform from your own apps.
- 45. “Why Should IUse It?”
- 46. “How do IRegister?”
- 47. “How Do IUse it?” Start Documenting!
- 48. SwaggerHub is thecenter of your API lifecycle Design Implementation Testing Mocking Documentation Virtualization Deployment / Runtime Clients Configure AWS API Gateway deployment Developer portals, Code samples, User guides Functional / Runtime simulations Functional, Security, Load, Compliance Generate AWS Lambda functions / configurations Prototyping 30+ languages Collaborative, Integrated
- 49. Resources YouTube Channel Name:swaggerhub Twitter Handle: @swaggerhub Help: https://swaggerhub.com/help Next Free Training Webinar: Mar 1, 10-11 AM ET
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