can an api be too simple?

46elks

CONTACT Johannes Lundberg johannesl@46elks.com +46704508449

”Can an API be too simple?”!2014-05-05, at @APIDaysBerlin

@johannesl !

jojo

Johannes Lundberg

46elks

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Phone calls, SMS and MMS for developers

in one easy API

Can an API be too simple?

APIAn API business

An actual API

purpose + provider

Courtesy of @andreaskrohn

Business relationship Fullfillment Potential

business impactRealistic

business impact

PRIVATE (CUSTOM)

Manual (internal) Manual None None

PRIVATE (SELF-SERVE)

Automatic (internal) Automatic High

(for big companies) Medium

PARTNER Manual Automatic High High

PUBLIC Automatic Automatic Very high Medium

Can an API be too simple?

Simple means: !

easy to understand, deal with; not complicated;

modest;

SIMPLE

..to integrate..to learn

..to grow with

Simple for who?

Don’t

!JSON vs XML …

Do this !

Too simple?

If in doubt, leave it out !!

SIMPLE

..to maintain..to monetize

..to replace

The essence of an API

Turning traditional complexity into programatic simplicity.

!

For common use cases.

TELECOMTHE WEB

HTTP

Telia Sweden

Sonera FI

TDC Denmark

Telekom DE

Telenor NO

Tele2 Estonia

46elksYour!software

46elks

SIMPLICITY COMPLEXITY

<?php!if ($_GET[’message’] == ’ping’) echo ’Server is up at ’. date(’Y-m-d H:i:s’);!?>

Receiving an SMS and replying

HTTP POST

HTTP REPLY

{ "ivr": ”http://myserver.se/menu.mp3",!

"1": { "connect": "+461890510" },!

"2": { "connect": "+461890511", "recordcall": "http://myserver.se/save" } }

Sample IVR

Telia 0.049 € Telenor 0.042 € Telavox 0.070 € Tele2 0.029 € Tre 0.037 €

0.038 €

Sweden

9 %11 %

12 %

31 %

38 %

Telia

Tele2

Tre

Tre

Per SMS to Sweden

Thank you!@johannesl

@46elks