The hottest APIs Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Introducing the Ecosystem

Developer GTM – by Calyx Consulting • 59 implied HN points • 17 Mar 21
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Companies are recognizing the value of platforms to expand their business, but may lack talent or resources to build them.
  2. Building a successful platform involves challenges like fostering developer community, telling a compelling platform story, and driving adoption.
  3. Thriving platforms function as ecosystems where partners, developers, and the core platform benefit from each other.

Are AI Agentic Workflows the Future of Automation?

The API Changelog • 10 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. AI agentic workflows can adapt and make decisions like humans, allowing them to handle unexpected situations in real-time. This makes them more effective than traditional automation, which often breaks down with changes.
  2. Using APIs is essential for AI agentic workflows because they enable access to live data and help connect different services. This makes workflows smarter and more responsive to current events.
  3. Switching to agentic workflows can reduce the maintenance costs of automation and doesn't require deep technical knowledge, making it easier for more people to implement.

Contify Biz News API, Boomi + Thru, GoPlus Transaction Simulation

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. LevelBlue and Akamai launched a new service to protect web applications and APIs. This service helps organizations to stay safe from cyber threats with advanced security features.
  2. Contify has improved its Business News API with new features for better data analysis. This tool now offers sentiment analysis and multilingual translations, making it easier for teams to work with news data.
  3. Boomi acquired Thru to enhance its file transfer capabilities. This move will help improve cloud integration for businesses using Boomi's services.

Resolving Mac Appstore rejections due to deprecation

jDeploy Newsletter • 28 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Be mindful of using non-public or deprecated APIs when developing Mac Appstore applications as it can lead to rejections.
  2. One way to fix dependencies on deprecated APIs is by building and inserting a custom version of the deprecated framework into the app bundle.
  3. Changing bundle IDs when necessary and updating dependencies in dynamic libraries using tools like install_name_tool can help in resolving issues and getting the updated version accepted on the Mac Appstore.

The MCP Registry Opportunity

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 21 Nov 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. The MCP registry is acting like an app store, becoming the central connector that lets AI agents find and use third‑party tools directly.
  2. Zero‑friction, API‑based publishing caused thousands of MCP servers to appear quickly, creating a two‑sided platform of producers and consumers.
  3. That rapid open growth brings quality and discovery problems, so the registry will need curation or verification to keep user trust or risk losing the marketplace role to competitors.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Evolution of MCP

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. MCP, or Model Context Protocol, aims to standardize communication between large language models (LLMs) and external APIs, making it easier to integrate them without worrying about the technical details of the LLM itself.
  2. MCP exposes three key components: tools for executing actions, resources for accessing data, and prompts for guiding model interactions, which all help improve the usefulness of LLMs.
  3. The future of MCP includes better documentation, enhanced security features, and the ability for LLMs to dynamically discover MCP servers, all aimed at making it more user-friendly and effective.

Extending Object Definitions With OpenAPI's allOf

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. OpenAPI allows you to define object inheritance using a feature called 'allOf'. This makes your API structure cleaner and easier to manage.
  2. Using 'allOf' helps reduce duplication by allowing you to create a base object that various other objects can extend. This means you only need to define shared fields once.
  3. By organizing your OpenAPI documents with 'allOf', you can make changes more safely. Updating shared fields in one place avoids mistakes and keeps everything consistent.

On the Behavior of OpenAPI's oneOf

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. OpenAPI's `oneOf` feature is useful for defining complex data types in an API. It allows data to match one schema from a list, but not more than one at the same time.
  2. To avoid confusion when validating data against multiple schemas, make sure the schemas are distinct. Adding specific properties can help ensure data validates correctly against the intended schema.
  3. Using a `discriminator` property can make validation simpler by clearly indicating which schema to use. This helps the API understand the data type better and reduces errors.

Alternative Ways to Make Your APIs Discoverable

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. APIs can be easier to discover if businesses agree on a format to share information about them. This helps consumers find and understand how to use the APIs more effectively.
  2. There are various proposals, like APIs.json and DISCO, aimed at improving API discovery, but none have fully succeeded in the market yet. They offer different features, like documentation and service registration.
  3. The latest effort, RFC 9727, combines aspects of previous proposals and aims to improve how APIs are indexed. However, it still lacks some search capabilities that could make finding APIs easier.

Can TypeSpec Be an Alternative to OpenAPI?

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. TypeSpec offers better features than OpenAPI for API development. It allows for strong typing and is more in tune with how developers want to work.
  2. Teams like Pinterest find value in using TypeSpec to create a single, unified schema for their APIs. This helps them generate different formats like OpenAPI and GraphQL more easily.
  3. You can use TypeSpec as your main API definition tool and still create OpenAPI documents when needed. This combination can make your workflow smoother and more effective.

Nasdaq Tape D API, OatFi $24M, Salt Illuminate

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Postman has introduced a new AI feature called Agent Mode that makes API tasks much faster and easier. This means developers can spend less time on manual work and more time building.
  2. OatFi has raised $24 million to improve B2B payment solutions with their APIs. Their goal is to help businesses manage cash flow effectively through better financing options.
  3. Security updates are becoming a big focus in the API world, with companies like Salt Security launching tools to help organizations protect their APIs quickly. This is important to keep sensitive data safe and comply with regulations.

Introducing Signia

tldraw • 4 HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Signia is an original library that offers a core reactive state management system for TypeScript using a new lazy reactivity model based on logical clocks.
  2. Signia's main differentiating features are incremental derivations for saving work during re-computations and transactions with built-in support for rollbacks.
  3. The scalability of Signia's signals is enhanced by always caching derived values and emitting change descriptions (diffs) to incrementally recompute values, offering a new approach to reactivity.

Do You Have to Learn Math for Machine Learning?

The Palindrome • 2 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. You don't have to learn math for machine learning, but it's a good idea. Understanding the basics can help you troubleshoot better when things go wrong.
  2. Many advanced math concepts are hidden behind software libraries. This makes using machine learning easier, but you might miss out on understanding how things really work.
  3. Using machine learning without a solid math foundation is like exploring a new country without knowing the language. You might get by, but understanding will help you navigate better.

API Documentation for Machines

The API Changelog • 6 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. API documentation should be structured and easy for machines to read. Using known formats like OpenAPI helps AI agents understand the API better, making it easier for them to use.
  2. Clearly define all operations and parameters in the documentation. AI agents need specifics about input types and constraints to avoid confusion.
  3. It's important to document errors and provide examples. Even machines need clear guidance on what each error means to function properly.

Three Elements of a Good API README

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. A good API README should give a clear overview of what the API does. This helps users quickly understand its purpose and features.
  2. The 'Getting Started' section is important for guiding users on how to authenticate and make their first request. This ensures they can use the API without confusion.
  3. Lastly, include practical information about key operations in the API. Users should see examples and know where to find more detailed documentation for further help.

Data Models, Types, or Schemas?

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Naming things is tough, especially when it comes to defining API data. Different people use different terms like data model, data type, or schema, which can lead to confusion.
  2. A data model helps to represent and organize information, while a data type defines the kind of data values it can hold. However, people often associate data types with simple categories like strings and numbers.
  3. The term 'schema' is commonly used to describe the structure and format of API data. Many standards, like OpenAPI and GraphQL, reference schemas to clarify how to define input and output data.

Sort Product Update – September 2024

Database Engineering by Sort • 7 implied HN points • 03 Sep 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. The Sort API is now live and allows users to manage their data workflows completely online. You can access all the features you find in the Sort web app through the API.
  2. There’s a new feature called the Sort Playground that makes it easier for users to try out and request data changes. It’s user-friendly and allows anyone to add or edit data easily.
  3. Sort is open to feedback and suggestions from users. If you have ideas for improvements, you can reach out to them directly.

APIs with bounded contexts

microapis.io • 3 HN points • 06 Mar 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Aligning APIs with the business strategy and ensuring usability are key for API success.
  2. Domain-driven design helps in creating successful APIs by modeling processes and flows that align with the business domain.
  3. Despite challenges, applying domain-driven design to APIs can be achieved by using heuristics to model operations and flows.

How I Cracked Homestuck's Alchemy with Stable Diffusion and GPT-4

Record Crash • 3 HN points • 16 Jun 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Homestuck's Alchemy involves combining items using different operations and can create various outcomes, like weapons, outfits, and more.
  2. Using Generative AI models like GPT-3 and GPT-4, along with stable diffusion, can help in automating the process of generating new Homestuck alchemy results.
  3. Building a pipeline with ChatGPT, image generation, and compositing tools can streamline the process of generating text descriptions and corresponding images for Homestuck alchemy creations.

The evolution of the LLM API market

Artificial Fintelligence • 13 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. LLM API market has seen growth with new competitors like Bard, Claude, and Gemini entering.
  2. Competition in the LLM market is driving efficiency and lower prices for hosting services.
  3. Market for LLM APIs will bifurcate into high-end expensive models and low-end cost-effective models, with open weight models improving in quality and decreasing in cost.

100K context windows, Stable Animation SDK, Airtable AI, Google's massive AI updates, Transformers Agent and more

AI Brews • 17 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude can now handle 100K tokens and outperforms in complex question synthesis
  2. Stability AI released a Stable Animation SDK for creating animations from text or inputs like images or videos
  3. Airtable launched Airtable AI allowing users to utilize AI in workflows without coding, such as auto-categorizing feedback

Connecting AI to APIs in a Standard Way

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 13 Aug 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Building custom connectors for APIs is complicated and costly for developers. It's hard to integrate different APIs, especially when creating from scratch.
  2. Using a unified API helps developers connect to multiple APIs without needing to write separate code for each. This makes switching vendors easier and speeds up the integration process.
  3. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows AI to interact with different APIs smoothly, saving time and effort for developers and AI systems alike. This combination offers a more efficient way to manage API connections.

Microsoft Ire, Ripple + Rail, Wallarm API Revenue Protection

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 11 Aug 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. OpenAI launched GPT-5, which is said to improve coding abilities and comes with a new tiered pricing strategy to attract developers.
  2. Wallarm introduced a new API Revenue Protection feature that helps secure revenue-generating APIs by providing real-time financial insights.
  3. Microsoft's new Project Ire is an AI tool for classifying malware, showing promise in improving cybersecurity measures.

CUAs Can Become APIs

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. CUAs, or Computer-Using Agents, can perform tasks on computers like humans do. They are designed to help with tasks even when normal APIs are unavailable.
  2. As CUAs can act on your behalf after initial help, they can eventually work automatically. Their ability to do this raises questions about how much control we want to give them.
  3. Making CUAs available as APIs is technically simple. This opens up many questions about what tasks should be accessible and who gets to use them.

Documenting Your API Around Its Capabilities

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 08 Aug 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. APIs should focus on what they can do for users rather than just technical details. Users care more about benefits that help them solve problems than about how the API works on a technical level.
  2. Non-technical decision-makers often choose APIs, so documentation needs to be clear for them. This means writing in a way that explains the API’s value rather than just listing technical operations.
  3. To document API capabilities effectively, start with understanding what users want to achieve. By translating user needs into clear benefits and then into specific API capabilities, you make it easier for users to understand and use your API.

Using OpenAPI Overlays to Differentiate Consumer Personas

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. API documentation can be tailored for different users to protect sensitive operations. This is important because revealing too much information can become a security risk.
  2. Using multiple OpenAPI documents can be challenging to maintain, as changes need to be updated in each separate document.
  3. OpenAPI Overlays help manage different user needs without complicating maintenance. They allow adding or changing API operations based on user types easily.

Orphan, Shadow, and Zombie APIs

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. APIs can be categorized based on their usage and management status. Knowing if an API is 'orphan', 'shadow', or 'zombie' helps understand if it's being used or managed properly.
  2. An 'orphan' API is one that is documented but not used, wasting resources without serving a purpose.
  3. A 'shadow' API is used but not documented or managed, while a 'zombie' API is outdated but still running, consuming resources without support.

The API Integration Nightmare

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. APIs are meant to connect different applications, but integrating them can be really frustrating. Many developers face issues with poor documentation and unclear instructions.
  2. Experimenting with APIs often reveals surprises, like missing parameters or unexpected responses. This can make it feel like you’re constantly troubleshooting without getting anywhere.
  3. Managing multiple APIs adds even more stress because they often don’t follow the same standards. This can lead to lots of headaches when trying to make everything work smoothly together.

Zoominfo Copilot API, Credibur $2.2M, Intruder Autoswagger

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 29 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Stripe has bought Orum, a company that helps with real-time payments and managing transactions. This is part of Stripe's plan to get even better at handling payments quickly.
  2. The API Security Unconference is coming up and is all about important talks on keeping APIs safe from new threats. It's a great chance to learn and network with others who care about API security.
  3. Intruder has launched a free tool called Autoswagger that checks APIs for security flaws. This can help businesses protect themselves from common vulnerabilities that hackers exploit.

Producer-Oriented API Documentation

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Good API documentation is very important for user experience. It helps consumers understand how to use the API effectively.
  2. Producers should use the documentation to see metrics about their API's performance. This helps them make better decisions about improvements.
  3. Sharing some API usage data with consumers could enhance transparency and build trust. It allows users to see popular features and error rates.

Samsung + Instacart, Jentic $4M, US Treasury Cyberattack

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. A cyberattack targeting the US Treasury shows that hackers linked to the Chinese government are still a threat. This attack involved stealing access keys and highlighted serious security flaws.
  2. Samsung teamed up with Instacart to allow grocery shopping through smart refrigerators starting in 2025. This partnership aims to make food shopping easier and smarter for users.
  3. The AI startup Jentic raised €4 million to grow its team and develop its AI integration platform. The platform aims to help different AI agents communicate and work together more smoothly.

The New API

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. The new API is all about flexibility. It will change itself to fit what users need instead of sticking to old rules.
  2. Users can communicate with the new API using any format or style they like, whether it's REST or GraphQL. It adapts automatically to what makes sense for each user.
  3. Developers won't have to worry about the technical details as much. They can focus on creating useful features because the API will manage itself behind the scenes.

Friday Harbor Open APIs, Yasmina $2M, APIDynamics M2M Security

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 22 Jul 25
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. Google has launched new features for its APIs, including a video generator API and a metadata field to improve data accuracy. These updates are vital for developers looking to enhance their applications.
  2. Yasmina, a Saudi insurtech startup, has raised $2 million to expand its API-driven insurance services into new markets. This funding will help them grow their offerings in the UAE and Egypt.
  3. APIDynamics is focusing on improving API security with new methods like adaptive multi-factor authentication and Zero Trust. This is crucial as more systems rely on machine-to-machine communication.

USAF Aircraft Maintenance Standard, xAI $6B, Postman Leak

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. ChatGPT and Sora experienced service outages, affecting many users. This situation shows how important it is for digital services to have strong systems, especially during busy times.
  2. The U.S. Air Force is creating a new standard for aircraft maintenance that will help both military and commercial aviation. This is a big step towards improving safety and efficiency in aircraft upkeep.
  3. A major leak revealed that thousands of Postman Workspaces exposed sensitive data like API keys. This highlights how crucial it is to secure digital information to prevent cyber risks.

LG ThinQ API, Boomi + Rivery, McDonald's Delivery Flaw

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. LG has opened its ThinQ API for developers, allowing for smarter home tech integration. This helps create innovative and connected home solutions.
  2. Boomi is set to buy Rivery to improve data management and integration. This will make it easier for companies to handle their data effectively.
  3. A serious security flaw was discovered in McDonald's delivery app, potentially allowing free orders. McDonald's acted quickly to fix the issue, showing their dedication to online safety.

Nibble #16

The Nibble • 12 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🕹 Technology APIs
  1. New AI models like Claude 2 and updates like Google's Bard June Updates are making waves in the tech world.
  2. Tech companies like OpenAI and Stability AI are involved in legal disputes and deals that impact the industry.
  3. Exciting advancements in AI, such as the discovery of anti-aging drugs and leaked details about GPT-4, continue to shape the future of technology.