James helps enterprise IT organizations assess their API journey and establish processes for API design and development.
Collaboration and feedback are vital in API design, as emphasized by James and his ADDR process.
API governance is crucial for consistency, quality, and a seamless developer experience, according to James.
Deep dives
Background and Experience in Consulting and CTO Roles
James discusses his background as a consultant and principal architect, working with startups and serving as a virtual CTO for startups. He also mentions his current role in API consulting, helping organizations establish, grow, and mature their API programs.
Areas of Work in API Consulting
James explains that he primarily works with enterprise IT organizations, helping them assess their API journey, identify areas for improvement, and establish processes for API design and development. He also mentions offering workshops, consulting, and coaching to help organizations scale their API programs.
Collaborative Approach in API Design
James emphasizes the importance of collaboration and feedback in API design. He discusses the ADDR process (Align, Define, Design, Refine), which guides the step-by-step approach to designing APIs, aligning with outcomes, defining API operations, selecting API styles, and refining the design through feedback and mock implementations.
Importance of API Governance
James highlights the significance of governance in API programs to ensure consistency, quality, and a seamless developer experience. He mentions the API Compass, which incorporates eight disciplines including strategy, processes, design, documentation, management, analytics, security, and operations. Applying governance principles can help organizations avoid fragmentation and deliver APIs that meet developer expectations.
Web API Design Workshop
James announces the launch of a collaborative web API design workshop through Kalele. The workshop will cover the ADDR process and how to align, define, design, and refine APIs. It will be a hands-on experience, emphasizing practical application and providing attendees with a high-level API design. The workshop is suitable for developers, architects, and product owners who are involved in designing and delivering APIs.
Join Vaughn Vernon as he interviews James Higginbotham, an API and microservice architecture consultant with over 20 years of experience in developing and deploying apps and APIs. He provides API strategy, design and microservice architecture guidance to enterprise IT and organizations undergoing digital transformation. His API design workshops have been taught to organizations all over the world.
