soundcloud api learnings
DESCRIPTION
These are the slides from my talk at disruptivecode 2010.TRANSCRIPT
SoundCloud/APIEric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloud
Disruptive Code 2010
Who am I?
What is SoundCloud?
What is SoundCloud?
Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere
What is SoundCloud?
Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere
Like Flickr for audio
What is SoundCloud?
Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere
Like Flickr for audio
All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings
What is SoundCloud?
Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere
Like Flickr for audio
All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings
Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis
What is SoundCloud?
Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere
Like Flickr for audio
All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings
Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis
An open platform
Highlights
What is an API?
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
Essential for the web
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
Essential for the web
Adam Smith’s wet dream
Hyper division of labour...
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Hyper division of labour...
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
... and a network economy
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Conceptual clarity
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
And...
It might become the core of your service!
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Learnings from SoundCloud
People like new things!
Eat your own dogfood
Once you launch you can’t change
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Engage the community
Don’t pay people
Write kick-ass docs
BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Cool stuff
Studio One
AmpKit
Beatwave
RootMusic BandPage
MobileRoadie
ExtensionFM
Citysounds
We’re hiring :)soundcloud.com/jobs