API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is the face that a software program presents to other software. It takes the form of a collection of functions that can be called.
Using API’s
Websites and Web software can often gain enhanced functionality by using the API’s of other Web software. For example, a Web tool that helps users find a service near them could use the Google Maps API to incorporate Google’s mapping service.
Not all API’s are for highly visible, public Web services like Google Maps. Buying a license to a commercial software library typically grants you the right to use its API’s.
Advantages
- Enhanced functionality: Is there something you want your software to do, that someone else has already programmed effectively and would be hard to replicate? You may be able to use the existing version through its API.
Disadvantages
- Variable difficulty of use: API’s vary widely in how easy they are to work with. Some may require considerable development effort to integrate smoothly.
- Variable cost: While some API’s are offered freely (e.g., Google Maps), others can be expensive to license.
Offering Your Own API
If you invest heavily in creating software that performs some task well, then it may be worthwhile to offer its API publicly.
Advantages
- Revenue: By licensing your API to others, you can create a new revenue stream.
- Publicity: Your service can sometimes become better known through its inclusion on other peoples’ websites.
Disdvantages
- Loss of competitiveness: Your software tool won’t give you a leg up on your competitors if they can offer it too! You can deal with this problem by restricting who can access your API and how they can access it, or by charging enough for it to make up for any lost revenue.
- Server load: If your software runs on your own servers, then the load on these servers will increase as others send requests to the software via its API. This issue requires great care, as you won’t want to simply cut off outside requests–especially if they’re coming from people who are paying license fees.
- Extra programming: Creating an API that’s usable by outsiders may involve extra programming effort.
