The hottest API design Substack posts right now

Feature flags allow you to turn app features on or off without changing the code. This is like having a light switch for each feature, making it easy to manage them.
Different types of feature flags help with various tasks, like rolling out incomplete features or testing new ideas with users. This way, you can learn what works best before a full launch.
Building a feature flag system requires a control service, a way to store the flags, and an interface to access them in your app. This helps keep everything organized and responsive.

You can create an API by simply writing down what you want it to do, and AI can help turn that into a working API document. It's as easy as writing a description and letting the technology handle the rest.
Using AI tools like ChatGPT, you can get detailed how-to guides for your API based on a simple description, making it easier to understand how to use it.
By generating an OpenAPI document from your description, you can quickly set up a mock API server, allowing you to test and get feedback on your API design in no time.

Programming robots is inherently complex due to dealing with the real world and imperfect conditions.
Design APIs and frameworks for users as smart as you are, but less tolerant of unnecessary complexity.
Robotics development is challenging due to both intrinsic complexity and incidental 'stupid bullshit' complexity that must be navigated.

API design doesn't have to be technical. Non-technical people can focus on understanding what users need and planning the API without coding.
Involving non-technical individuals early in API design can help identify user challenges and improve API functionality, making them more aligned with user needs.
With the right tools, like Flotiq, non-technical people can create and test APIs easily, allowing for immediate feedback before handing off to developers for more complex tasks.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Bad API design can lead to unintended data leaks and security risks, as seen with Datadog's incident.
Careful parameter naming and validation in API design is crucial to prevent confusion and misuse.
Implementing proper monitoring, CSP, and reading documentation thoroughly are key steps to prevent and mitigate similar incidents.

Use familiarity when naming new operations to make it easy for developers to understand.
Use identity to disambiguate names and make the purpose of the operation clear.
Follow consistency in naming conventions across different operations in your organization to maintain clarity.

When designing an API for money transfers in a mobile banking system, it's crucial to consider user authentication and authorization to prevent fraudulent activities.
In mobile apps, the challenge lies in implementing user authentication without standard mechanisms like HTTP cookies, requiring solutions like OAuth or JWT.
Creating security solutions for mobile banking requires a blend of applied security and product security expertise, emphasizing the importance of identity access management beyond just finding vulnerabilities.

You can create REST APIs for managing trade records using Spring Boot and JPA. Start by setting up the project and required dependencies.
Understanding the API endpoints is crucial. You need to handle POST, GET, and provide some query parameters to filter trades.
Don’t forget to design the database schema properly and create service and controller classes for handling requests and responses.

Isolate IO side effects to maintain purity in domain logic, improving testability and readability.
In functional programming, keep domain code side-effect free and contain side effects in the outer layers for simplicity and easy testing.
Centralizing side effects through repositories can simplify code, improve maintainability, and make it easier to reason about.

You can create an API reference that adapts to different users, offering both a human-friendly and machine-readable version. It's important to meet the needs of both audiences.
Using an OpenAPI document makes it easy to generate a comprehensive API reference without much effort. It's like having a complete guide available for your API.
Content negotiation allows you to serve the right version of your API reference based on the request type. This way, humans get a readable document, while machines receive the necessary JSON data.