GraphQL, gRPC and REST, Oh My! : A Method for Unified API Design

As APIs are adopted in more and more organizations, the need for successful API design and implementation becomes more pressing. Companies that adopt a single API definition format (OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, Schema Definition Language, Protobuff, etc.) are likely to find their options limited as their API ecosystem grows and matures over time.

In order to avoid forcing the entire company to adopt a single API style or format, no matter the requirements of providers and consumers, we need a unified API design process. One that doesn’t pre-determine implementation details such as REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and others. Based on materials in Amundsen’s book "Design and Build Great Web APIs", this talk describes a simple, repeatable process for API designers to capture and document design details in a way that allows API developers to make their own decisions on which API style best fits the needs of the company and the consumer.

Whether you are responsible for API architecture, design, implementation, or support, this talk provides valuable information on how you can improve the quality of your APIs from start to finish.

An internationally known author and speaker, Mike Amundsen travels the world consulting and talking about network architecture, Web development, and intersection of technology and society. He works with companies large and small to help them capitalize on the opportunities APIs and Microservices present for both consumers and the enterprise.

Amundsen has authored numerous books and papers. He contributed to the O’Reilly Media book, "Continuous API Management" (2018). His "RESTful Web Clients", was published by O’Reilly in February 2017 and he co-authored "Microservice Architecture" (June 2016). Amundsen’s 2013 collaboration with Leonard Richardson "RESTful Web APIs" and his 2011 book, “Building Hypermedia APIs with HTML5 and Node”, are common references for building adaptable Web applications. His latest book "Design and Build Great APIs" for Pragmatic Publishing is scheduled for release in early 2020.