Following the tagline for 2019’s Platform Summit, I will seek to examine the role web APIs are playing in improving efficiency and scalability across enterprises. In the modular world of microservices development, containers, Kubernetes, and quick deployment styles are all the rage. I’ll take a look at specific of APIs at work within DevOps, and point out new frontiers where API-first designs are improving development and interoperability standards for today’s most powerful digital platforms.

1. Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
BILL DOERRFELD
@DoerrfeldBill
Platform Summit 2019
Oct 22 2019
Trigger warning: buzz words may or may not be overused.

2. a
My Talk Origins
Ok, how about "Continuous
API Strategies For
Integrated Platforms?"
Hey Bill, we need a tagline.

3. Uh oh.
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
?? ?
? ?
What does that even mean?

4. Let's Start With Platforms
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
?? ?
? ?

5. What is A Platform?

6. "Successful platforms solve the
chicken and egg problem. Platforms
leverage network effects."
Defining Platform
-Melanie Gabriel

7. What is A Platform?
Traditional "Pipe" Model
Platform Model
PRODUCER CONSUMER
Value Creation
PRODUCER CONSUMER
Value Consumption
Value Creation
Value Consumption
Value Creation
Value Consumption
*How Melanie Gabriel depicts The Platform Economy
PLATFORM

8. Platforms Enable Developer Ecosystems
"Allow the makers to make"
- Jason Woosely, Magento

9. Now How About APIs?
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
?? ?
? ✓

10. What are APIs?
So it's some sort of beer thing?
v Yes.
FRIEND
ME

11. API = Platform Enabler

12. ❖ API enables access to the organization’s core
value proposition;
❖ Is technically and non-technically scalable;
❖ Enables consumers to create shared value;
❖ Is instrumental in securing the organization’s
position as a market leader; and
❖ Is seen by top management as business
critical.
Defining API Platform
Nordic APIs blog, 2014. API Platform Defined: When an API Provider is a Platform

13. There Are Many APIs
22,000 PUBLIC APIS
-PROGRAMMABLEWEB DIRECTORY, 2019
"55% OF BUSINESS USE APIS
AS A REVENUE STREAM"
-CLOUD ELEMENTS 2019 STATE OF API INTEGRATION REPORT

14. API as a Product
DOCUMENTATION
DX DESIGN
ERROR HANDLING
DISCOVERABILITY
Has been revolutionary for improving API standards...
That's great, but...
& MORE

15. Most API Business Models Are Indirect
API AS A PRODUCT (DIRECT) INDIRECT
● DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
● R&D
● PARTNER, NETWORK
GROWTH
● STANDARDIZATION
● MARKETING
● COIN-OPERATED
● UPSELL
● REV SHARE
VS

16. API platforms need strategy
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
✓? ✓
? ✓

17. Continuous...
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
✓? ✓
? ✓

18. High Expectations for Platforms
IN OTHER WORDS,
PLATFORMS BE
SWEATIN'
Performance
Speed
Reliability
Scalability
Granularity

19. End Users Expect A Lot
Unprecedented expectations direct Digital Transformation initiatives
" THESE ARE MY
DEMANDS"
-CONSUMER
MANY DEVICES EASE OF USE
RESOURCE-HEAVY DATA PRIVACY
"YOU MUST
TRANSFORM"
-CLOUD

20. "87% of individuals preferred to
adopt a fintech application rather
than use a product or service offered
by a traditional financial services
provider."
High Consumer Standards
Example: Consumer selection directs change in banking

21. Software Architecture is Changing
DECOMPOSITION MICROSERVICES
API-BASED
INTEGRATIONS
IN RESPONSE,,,

22. Software Release is Changing
CLOUD-NATIVE SERVERLESS QUICK DEV CYCLES

23. Continuous Delivery is King
"Companies that win today realize they
must ditch legacy systems and
embrace more agile continuous
delivery processes."

24. Development Trends
MICROSERVICES
CONTAINERS
ORCHESTRATION
AGILE
MODULAR KUBERNETES
AUTOMATED
TESTING
QUICK
DEPLOYMENT
LOW CODE API-FIRST
SERVICE MESHEVENT-DRIVEN

25. All This Requires: DevOps
...But it's vague. Everyone interprets DevOps differently.

26. DevOps Requires API Strategy
APIs provide the logistics that make DevOps possible.

27. ✓
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
✓✓ ✓
✓?

28. ✓
Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
✓✓ ✓
✓✓

29. APIs Enable A Fully-Realized DevOps
1. Define DevOps.
2. Show examples of how APIs can
enable DevOps.
3. Demonstrate benefits
4. Do "The Spin" (if time allows)
My theory:
(And vice-versa too)

30. What Exactly is DevOps?
Principles that define DevOps
DE-SILOED
MEASURABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE
AS CODE
LEAN
CI/CD
DEV OPS
CULTURE > ROLE

31. The Core DevOps Tenants Are:
"cross-functional accountability,
autonomous teams, automation,
measurable progress, and lean
iterations"
- Brandon Pulsipher, VP of cloud
engineering at Adobe

32. DevOps = Automation
Automating the CI pipeline
BUILD TEST DEPLOY
Example CI pipeline by SemaphoreCI

33. DevOps: Automated CI Pipeline
"DevOps is the consolidation of
process and configuration into code
and the execution of the automated
build, testing, validation, and release
through a [continuous integration]
pipeline."
- Kem Elbrader, co-founder of
Hoodoo Digital

34. Some Tech In DevOps
CI/CD PIPELINE SCRIPTS
ORCHESTRATION
AUTO TESTS / SCANS
SERVERLESSCONTAINERS
Not exhaustive!

35. APIs Drive DevOps
"We often look at APIs only in one light –
we view them as a product rather than
what they are, which is a core enabling
system for the modern code
infrastructure. APIs are involved in
nearly every action in the DevOps
space.
- Kristopher Sandoval, prolific Nordic APIs writer
In every meaning of the word

36. 1. User provisioning with SCIM API
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
HTTP POST
https://api.exsample.com/scim/users
Automate user creation
HTTP GET
https://api.exsample.com/scim/users
Retrieve user data
HTTP POST
https://api.exsample.com/scim/bulk
Batch request
● Identity standard
● API-driven
● Programmatically
create/edit users
● Plug into Operations

37. 2. Container Ops with Docker API
Call Docker API to run a container
Print logs of one specific container
Stop running all containers
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
● Enhance automation
● Extensibility for
custom apps
● Avoid vendor lock in
● Measurable
Benefits of using APIs in DevOps:
Examples taken from Docker docs: https://docs.docker.com/develop/sdk/examples/

38. 3. Orchestration with Kubernetes API
Retrieve information on pods and resources
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
● Increase platform
visibility
● Goes beyond GET
read functions: set up
clusters, etc.

39. 4. Serverless with OpenStack API
curl -X POST -s
https://iad.servers.api.rackspacecloud.com/v2/12345/ser
vers
-d '{"server": { "name": "Ubuntu-1",
"imageRef":"71893ec7-b625-44a5-b333-ca19885b941d",
"flavorRef":"2" }}'
-H 'X-Auth-Token: abcdef123456'
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
Spin up a new server
curl -s
https://iad.servers.api.rackspacecloud.com/v2/12345/ser
vers/abcdef-02d0-41db-bb9f-abcdef
-H 'X-Auth-Token: abcdefXuS7KD34a'
Retrieve information about server● Maintain lean footprint
● Infrastructure as Code
● Measure statuses
● Ops Usability
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
* Examples from Linux tutorial found here:
https://www.linux.com/tutorials/spinning-server-openstack-api/

40. 5. Build, test, and deploy from chat bot
Commit Code
Push a commit to repo, automate build
Scan [Repository]
Scan the package, validate and test
Deploy Package
Deploy
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
● Requires many API
connections to
function
● Powers, scripts tie
into APIs
● Team transparency

41. 5. Build, test, and deploy from chat bot
Practical examples of APIs enabling DevOps...
Fundamental "ChatOps" approach

42. In Conclusion
1. High consumer expectations beckon change
2. A platform model helps Digital Transformation
3. DevOps is necessary to achieve this
4. APIs make DevOps goals possible
5. APIs & DevOps should be friends

43. APIs: Core To Automation
API-first designs are improving development and
interoperability standards for today’s most
powerful digital platforms.

44. "The Spin"
What does a continuous API
strategy mean to you?

45. Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
BILL DOERRFELD
@DoerrfeldBill
Platform Summit 2019
Oct 22 2019
THANK YOU
Photos: Unsplash. Graphics: Yours truly.

46. slideshare.net/BillConradDoerrfeld
Slides are up:
@DoerrfeldBill

47. Share Your API Story
Articles, LiveCasts, Platform Summit 2019

48. Community Submissions
Are Welcome
bill@nordicapis.com

49. Subscribe:
https://nordicapis.com/newsletter/

50. CONTACT
bill@nordicapis.com
@DoerrfeldBill

51. Continuous API Strategies
For Integrated Platforms
BILL DOERRFELD
@DoerrfeldBill
Platform Summit 2019
Oct 22 2019