Building your API stack

The Modern API Landscape

APIs have become the backbone of modern software development. Whether you're building a mobile app, web service, or integrating third-party services, a solid API stack is essential.

Essential Components

1. API Design

Start with a clear design using OpenAPI (Swagger) specification:

openapi: 3.0.0
info:
  title: User API
  version: 1.0.0
paths:
  /users:
    get:
      summary: Get all users
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Success

2. Development Tools

3. Authentication & Security

Implement proper authentication using JWT or OAuth 2.0. Never store sensitive data in plain text.

Best Practices

1. Version your APIs from day one
2. Implement rate limiting
3. Provide comprehensive documentation
4. Use proper HTTP status codes
5. Design for scalability

Testing Strategy

Write integration tests for your API endpoints. Use tools like Jest, Supertest, or Postman's test runner.

describe('User API', () => {
  it('should return all users', async () => {
    const response = await request(app).get('/api/users')
    expect(response.status).toBe(200)
    expect(response.body).toBeInstanceOf(Array)
  })
})

Conclusion

Building a robust API stack requires careful planning and the right tools. Start simple, iterate, and always keep your consumers in mind.