soundcloud api do:s and don't:s
Post on 18-Oct-2014
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These are the slides from my platform talk at FOWA London 2011.TRANSCRIPT
SoundCloud API Do:s and Don’t:s
Eric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloudFOWA London 2011
soundcloud.com/eric
soundcloud.com/eric
soundcloud.com/forss
SoundCloud
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds
An open platform
SoundCloud
Leading sound sharing platform on the web
Over 7 million sound creators
Like Flickr or Youtube for sound
All kinds of sounds
An open platform
1000s of apps, 1000s of developers and over 200 published apps
What is an API?
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data
Essential part of the web’s success
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface ≈ Platform
Computers talking to each other
Exchange and manipulation of data
Essential part of the web’s success
Adam Smith’s wet dream
Hyper division of labour...
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Hyper division of labour...
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
... and a network economy
developers.soundcloud.com
cakewalk.com/products/sonar
Cakewalk SONAR X1
Thinglink
thinglink.com
Onesheet
onesheet.com
Radio Free
stockholm.musichackday.org
Why API?
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Why API?
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Conceptual clarity–the essence of your service
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
and http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
API Do:s and Don’t:s
Do KISS
http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3018-api-design-for-humans
“Time to integration”
Time
Effortin days
Plain vanilla API7 days
API Wrapper4 days
Great docs3 days
Sharekit1 day
Do think about scalability
@lenberg
Do watch your metrics
Do communicate
MOST IMPORTANT STEP FOR BUILD PRODUCT IS BUILD PRODUCT.
SECOND MOST IMPORTANT IS BUILD PERSONALITY FOR PRODUCT.
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/09/minimum-viable-personality.html
Do write kick-ass docs
Do talk about shiny new things!
Don’t pay people
Do eat your own dogfood
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Don’t change
Do engage the community
http://mulqueeny.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/whats-the-point-of-a-hack-day/
Do BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Do BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Do BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Do BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Do BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0
http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/
http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html
Do fail
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
Do fail
Do iterate
twitter.com/ericwsoundcloud.com/ericsoundcloud.com/forss
We’re hiring :)soundcloud.com/jobs