Apigee (see previous CloudAve coverage), formerly known as Sonoa Systems, last week announced that they are opening up their API console to all the providers. They initially started off with API console supporting Twitter and Facebook. Over a period, they started working with LinkedIn, Paypal, etc.. Last week, they finally announced that any provider offering API can easily offer it to their developers by customizing the console to match their website theme.
The Problem
As we move into an era where every provider aspires to be a platform player, APIs are becoming the key. In fact, developers expect providers to offer robust APIs by default. However, opening up the APIs are not enough to attract developers. Platform providers are expected to make it easy for developers to code against their APIs. But the APIs offered by most of the providers are not only complex but also requires reading of large volumes of documentation before they can even start coding. This is a big put off for many developers and it could also severely hinder the platform provider’s attempts to attract large number of developers to their platform.
Apigee Solution
Being a pioneer offering services around API, Apigee came up with an innovative solution called Apigee API Console. With the console, developers at all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced ones, can use the Apigee console to learn, experiment, test, or explore the APIs offered by the platform provider. This console vastly simplifies the process by letting developers explore the API with just few clicks. There is no need to read through large volumes of documentation. Simplifying the API not only makes the lives of developers easy, it also has the potential to attract more and more developers to the platform.
After launching the API console for Twitter and Facebook, Apigee worked with few other providers helping them set up the console to work with their APIs. Companies like LinkedIn, Paypal, etc. jumped in and offered their own console to their developers. Now they have launched Apigee To Go Service which lets any platform vendor offer API console for their APIs. From the platform providers point of view, it just takes three easy steps to set up the control and go. The steps include:
- Describe the API
- Skin the console for the look and feel
- Embed in the provider website using iFrame
This is a free service offered to any platform provider with API. They intend to make money through their enterprise customers. Any platform vendor serious about attracting developers should take a look at this Apigee offering.
Related articles
- Apigee To-Go: Build, Skin, and Embed Your Own API Console, Free (apigee.com)
- Apigee-to-Go: Extending the Console Metaphor and the Concept of the Social Object (readwriteweb.com)
- Apigee Add-on for Twitter Public Beta (heroku.com)
