published: true layout: post title: ‘API Storytelling with Mike and Aidan’ image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api-storytelling-with-mike-and-aidan.png If you have followed my work you know that I like telling stories. Stories are the single most important tool in my Chief Evangelist and API Evangelist toolbox. None of the code matters in my opinion, and the stories surrounding the code is what makes the actual impact on our reality. The stories we tell each other, as well as the stories we tell ourselves. Everything in the world of technology and APIs is made up of stories. I ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Gathering My Thoughts on API Discovery’ image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/postman-network.png I am working to load up all my API discovery experiences into my head for some upcoming conversations. So I sat down and pulled together a summary of my API discovery research to date to help refresh my memory of what has happened and how we got here. API discovery is the one of the few layers of the API space that I am personally committed to helping move things forward and being able to see all the moving parts together helps me keep doing this ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Keeping API Entropy Low is Needed to Continue API Growth and Expansion’ image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/algorotoscope-master/nazi-invasion-steam-engine-iceland.jpg I love the word entropy. It means so many things to so many different people. In means different things in the physical realm versus the informational or virtual realms. It is one of those big words you can say to confuse people, or actually get yourself in trouble being able to actually defend your position on what entropy means when around smart people. It is said that fam ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Making Sense of the Different Types of API Testing’ image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/algorotoscope-master/america-immigration_dumping-ground-gauge-on-aircraft-carrier.jpg I have to admit something. I don’t fully grasp the entire landscape of API testing. I mean, I have a pretty decent awareness and experience in testing APIs, but I can’t close my eyes and coherently break down each layer or type of testing, let alone competently navigate the many different types of services and tooling available on the market for API testing. Like most ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Examples of Minimum Viable and Complete Landscape APIs.json Index Files’ image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/algorotoscope-master/norman-rockwell-ruby-bridges-border-crossing-through-fence.jpg <p>I am preparing for the next version of APIs.json and I am taking another pass over what the specification is, but also taking a fresh look at why the specification exists. Part of this fresh look involves assessing what I consider to be the low bar for an APIs.json index, as well as what the entire scope might look like. To help me (and you ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Evaluating APIs.json API Property Types Alongside OpenAPI Extensions’ image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/algorotoscope-master/birth-of-a-nation-chess-in-the-park-with-pigeons.jpg I am giving some much needed love to my APIs.yaml and API.json API discovery format while using the work to also just think about the wider API landscape. This is the original intent behind APIs.json…to help me make sense of the API landscape.  Most folks are thinking about APIs as a producer, or as a consumer—hopefully both. However, there are fewer people ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘What Does Open Mean in the World of APIs?’ image: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/algorotoscope-master/america-immigration_dumping-ground-do-not-enter-sign.jpg The word “open” gets thrown around so much in the API space I find myself needing to regularly ground myself in what it actually means. It gets thrown around in so many different ways that I find eventually I start to believe the bullshit and regularly have to pause and recalibrate. It is one of those words that has been captured and used by people looking to manipulate the space so of ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘Taking a Fresh Look at APIs Across All the United States Federal Agencies’ image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/algorotoscope-master/america-under-socialism-capital_36728420065_o.jpg It has been a while since I looked at the 250K view of what is going on with APIs across federal government agencies in the United States. Since working for the Obama administration in 2013 I am perpetually on a quest to map out what is happening across federal agencies, helping drive the conversation forward. I belieive APIs can make the most impact when our f ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘A Postman Collection For Capitalizing Folders & Requests In Collections’ image: http://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api_evangelist_site/blog/postman_collection_for_capitalizing_folders_requests_in_collections.png Sometimes I need to do bulk updates to Postman collections and there is no better way to automate this than to use a Postman Collection that uses the Postman API—inception level stuff, so be careful ;-). I have setup a dedicated public workspace where I am building out these utility type operational level collections that help me ..read more

published: true layout: post title: ‘APIs are at the Center of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Lawsuit Against Facebook’ image: http://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api_evangelist_site/blog/federal_trade_commission_facebook_filing.png The Federal Trade Commission is sueing Facebook, alleging that they are illegally maintaining a monopoly on the personal social network space using a continued series of anticompetitive behavior. The suit includes a coalition of attorneys general of 46 states, bringing the latest wave of regulatory scrutiny into the social media platform, highlighting ..read more