Software Defined Talk Episode 523: Sterling Chin on APIs, AI, and Building MCP Servers
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Jun 13, 2025 Brandon sits down with Sterling Chin, a Senior Developer Advocate at Postman, who transitioned from teaching to tech. They dive into the essential role of APIs in AI and how Postman is evolving to support developers. Sterling shares insights on the importance of clear communication in API design and effective collaboration through innovative tools. They also discuss the benefits of mock servers for testing and the potential of AI-driven features in Postman, showcasing how they can streamline API management and enhance user experience.
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Teaching Kids vs. Adults
- Sterling Chin found children easier to teach because they are eager and open to new information.
- Adults are harder to teach as they come with preconceived notions and set ways of thinking.
From Teacher to Developer Advocate
- Sterling transitioned from a third-grade teacher to a software engineer via building homes and attending a coding bootcamp.
- His encounter with developers who were high-school dropouts making good money inspired his tech career switch.
APIs Are Essential for AI
- You cannot effectively do AI without APIs because AI relies on tool calls, which are API calls.
- Internal company data accessible via APIs is critical for AI to be powerful beyond internet-trained data.