OpenAPI, the equalizer of API providers and consumers

By Maarten Van Hoof

2 min read

How would you incorporate OpenAPI within your project? In this chapter, we'll explore the two main approaches to using OpenAPI and the benefits of each workflow.

Authors

In the previous part of this series, we explored the OpenAPI specification and how it can be used to document RESTful API providers and consumers. In this chapter, we'll explore the two main approaches that we can incorporate in to our daily workflows to optimize our API provider's and consumer's development process.

Code First

OpenAPI Code First visualization

The Code First workflow is where the API provider is the Source Of Truth of your API definition. In cases where an API provider is built using a well-maintained framework, chances are that there is a plugin available to automatically generate an OpenAPI document from the API endpoints and data models.

This workflow is useful when you have an existing RESTful API provider with plans to document it.

Design First

OpenAPI Design First visualization

With the Design First approach, we start with the OpenAPI document. The OpenAPI document is the Single Source of Truth for your API definitions.

This workflow allows for more collaboration between teams within a project. The document will be the neutral common ground for teams to discuss data flows and formats.

By placing a Design First OpenAPI document in a Git repository, teams can collaborate using the power over version control and propose changes via Pull or Merge requests.

It is great for new projects that need to build RESTful API providers and/or API consumers.

Conclusion

Although not the most exciting part of building a RESTful API provider or consumer, governance of at least one the OpenAPI approaches above are essential to the success of your project.


Upcoming events

  • Coven of Wisdom - Herentals - Winter `24 edition

    Worstelen jij en je team met automated testing en performance? Kom naar onze meetup waar ervaren sprekers hun inzichten en ervaringen delen over het bouwen van robuuste en efficiรซnte applicaties. Schrijf je in voor een avond vol kennis, heerlijk eten en een mix van creativiteit en technologie! ๐Ÿš€ 18:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿšช Deuren open 18:15 โ€“ ๐Ÿ• Food & drinks 19:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข Talk 1 20:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿน Kleine pauze 20:15 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข Talk 2 21:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ Drinks 22:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿป Tot de volgende keer? Tijdens deze meetup gaan we dieper in op automated testing en performance. Onze sprekers delen heel wat praktische inzichten en ervaringen. Ze vertellen je hoe je effectieve geautomatiseerde tests kunt schrijven en onderhouden, en hoe je de prestaties van je applicatie kunt optimaliseren. Houd onze updates in de gaten voor meer informatie over de sprekers en hun specifieke onderwerpen. Over iO Wij zijn iO: een groeiend team van experts die end-to-end-diensten aanbieden voor communicatie en digitale transformatie. We denken groot en werken lokaal. Aan strategie, creatie, content, marketing en technologie. In nauwe samenwerking met onze klanten om hun merken te versterken, hun digitale systemen te verbeteren en hun toekomstbestendige groei veilig te stellen. We helpen klanten niet alleen hun zakelijke doelen te bereiken. Samen verkennen en benutten we de eindeloze mogelijkheden die markten in constante verandering bieden. De springplank voor die visie is talent. Onze campus is onze broedplaats voor innovatie, die een omgeving creรซert die talent de ruimte en stimulans geeft die het nodig heeft om te ontkiemen, te ontwikkelen en te floreren. Want werken aan de infinite opportunities van morgen, dat doen we vandaag.

    | Coven of Wisdom Herentals

    Go to page for Coven of Wisdom - Herentals - Winter `24 edition
  • Mastering Event-Driven Design

    PLEASE RSVP SO THAT WE KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD WE WILL NEED Are you and your team struggling with event-driven microservices? Join us for a meetup with Mehmet Akif Tรผtรผncรผ, a senior software engineer, who has given multiple great talks so far and Allard Buijze founder of CTO and founder of AxonIQ, who built the fundaments of the Axon Framework. RSVP for an evening of learning, delicious food, and the fusion of creativity and tech! ๐Ÿš€ 18:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿšช Doors open to the public 18:15 โ€“ ๐Ÿ• Letโ€™s eat 19:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข Getting Your Axe On Event Sourcing with Axon Framework 20:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿน Small break 20:15 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข Event-Driven Microservices - Beyond the Fairy Tale 21:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ drinks 22:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿป See you next time? Details: Getting Your Axe On - Event Sourcing with Axon Framework In this presentation, we will explore the basics of event-driven architecture using Axon Framework. We'll start by explaining key concepts such as Event Sourcing and Command Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS), and how they can improve the scalability and maintainability of modern applications. You will learn what Axon Framework is, how it simplifies implementing these patterns, and see hands-on examples of setting up a project with Axon Framework and Spring Boot. Whether you are new to these concepts or looking to understand them more, this session will provide practical insights and tools to help you build resilient and efficient applications. Event-Driven Microservices - Beyond the Fairy Tale Our applications need to be faster, better, bigger, smarter, and more enjoyable to meet our demanding end-users needs. In recent years, the way we build, run, and operate our software has changed significantly. We use scalable platforms to deploy and manage our applications. Instead of big monolithic deployment applications, we now deploy small, functionally consistent components as microservices. Problem. Solved. Right? Unfortunately, for most of us, microservices, and especially their event-driven variants, do not deliver on the beautiful, fairy-tale-like promises that surround them.In this session, Allard will share a different take on microservices. We will see that not much has changed in how we build software, which is why so many โ€œmicroservices projectsโ€ fail nowadays. What lessons can we learn from concepts like DDD, CQRS, and Event Sourcing to help manage the complexity of our systems? He will also show how message-driven communication allows us to focus on finding the boundaries of functionally cohesive components, which we can evolve into microservices should the need arise.

    | Coven of Wisdom - Utrecht

    Go to page for Mastering Event-Driven Design
  • The Leadership Meetup

    PLEASE RSVP SO THAT WE KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD WE WILL NEED What distinguishes a software developer from a software team lead? As a team leader, you are responsible for people, their performance, and motivation. Your output is the output of your team. Whether you are a front-end or back-end developer, or any other discipline that wants to grow into the role of a tech lead, RSVP for an evening of learning, delicious food, and the fusion of leadership and tech! ๐Ÿš€ 18:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿšช Doors open to the public 18:15 โ€“ ๐Ÿ• Letโ€™s eat 19:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข First round of Talks 19:45 โ€“ ๐Ÿน Small break 20:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿ“ข Second round of Talks 20:45 โ€“ ๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ drinks 21:00 โ€“ ๐Ÿป See you next time? First Round of Talks: Pixel Perfect and Perfectly Insane: About That Time My Brain Just Switched Off Remy Parzinski, Design System Lead at Logius Learn from Remy how you can care for yourself because we all need to. Second Round of Talks: Becoming a LeadDev at your client; How to Fail at Large (or How to Do Slightly Better) Arno Koehler Engineering Manager @ iO What are the things that will help you become a lead engineer? Building Team Culture (Tales of trust and positivity) Michel Blankenstein Engineering Manager @ iO & Head of Technology @ Zorggenoot How do you create a culture at your company or team? RSVP now to secure your spot, and let's explore the fascinating world of design systems together!

    | Coven of Wisdom - Amsterdam

    Go to page for The Leadership Meetup

Share