Ren Okada

API Design

·

·

5 min

A case for boring APIs

REST has a difficult reputation. Here is why predictable, boring APIs still win in production.

REST is considered old-fashioned in every sense. Yet most of the APIs I trust in production are predictable, well-documented and a little boring.

When a team does need flexibility, I reach for GraphQL. But for public and partner APIs, like the one at Harbor Pay, plain REST with OpenAPI docs wins.

Clear resource names, consistent errors and versioned endpoints age better than almost anything else I design.

Ren Okada

Architect, Ren Okada Studio

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.