API Automation and Preventing Breaking Changes feat. Aidan Cunniffe, CEO at Optic

This podcast episode discusses the importance of API design, breaking changes, and API governance. The guest, Aidan Cunniffe from Optic, shares insights on how to ship amazing APIs by focusing on accurate documentation, avoiding consumer breakage, and following consistent guidelines. The conversation emphasizes the need to build trust and deliver on promises in API development, highlighting the role of storytelling in conveying the impact of breaking changes. The episode also explores the significance of APIs in the modern supply chain and the challenges of detecting and understanding breaking changes. Automation tools, such as observability tools and linting tools, are discussed as essential for improving API quality. The conversation further highlights the internal and external challenges in API development, the importance of coordination and stability, and the ongoing shift towards microservices. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for autonomy in architecting software and generating accurate API specs from traffic. Overall, this podcast episode provides valuable insights into API design, breaking changes, and effective API governance. Takeaways • Breaking changes should be minimized to avoid disruptions and improve API quality. • Accurate documentation, avoiding consumer breakage, and following consistent guidelines are crucial for shipping amazing APIs. • Building trust and delivering on promises are essential in API development. • API governance is critical for ensuring trust and minimizing disruptions in API consumers. • APIs play a significant role in the modern supply chain by connecting software components seamlessly. • The challenges of detecting and understanding breaking changes require human introspection and educated guesses. • Automation tools, such as observability tools and linting tools, help in detecting and managing breaking changes in APIs. • The importance of coordinating and stabilizing APIs, both internally and externally, is highlighted in the context of remote work and microservices. • Autonomy in architecting software and generating accurate API specs from traffic are crucial for effective API governance. • Proactive approaches, early detection, and prevention of breaking changes are essential for maintaining API quality.