Each stage plays a crucial role in the API resource integration process. Problems in any link may affect the entire integration process or even lead to failure. Therefore, when users integrate API resources, they need to carefully consider the issues that may be involved at each stage and ensure that necessary measures are taken to deal with potential risks and challenges.
The existing API resource integration process can be summarized into the following aspects:
1. Discover
In the API resource integration process, the discovery phase is critical. It is usually the responsibility of the business department or developers, who look for API resources that can meet business needs and can be easily plugged into their own systems.
2. Procurement
Once the API resources that need to be accessed are determined, the next step is to purchase these resources. During the procurement process, it is necessary to negotiate and sign a contract with the API resource provider to clarify the details of the API usage price, charging model, usage conditions, etc.
3. Integration
This stage requires integrating the purchased API resources into the user's application. The integration method varies depending on the API resource type. For example, a RESTful API needs to use the HTTP protocol for data exchange, while a SOAP API needs to use XML for communication. Developers need to perform corresponding coding work according to different integration methods to ensure that API resources can run normally in user applications.
4. Go online
Before going online, system testing and performance optimization must be performed to ensure that API resources can maintain stability and maintain good response speed. After testing and verification, users can put their applications online and start providing services to users.
2. Problems encountered by traditional API integration
In the traditional integration process of API, the following problems may exist:
· The original research and development progress was interrupted
During the API integration process, corresponding research and development work must be carried out to ensure that the API is seamlessly integrated with existing systems. However, this process may interrupt existing R&D workflows, forcing the development team to allocate additional resources and time to handle integration tasks, resulting in delays in project progress.
· Single dependency
API integrations may create dependencies on specific API resources. When an application relies too much on a certain API, if the API fails or changes, it may affect the entire application. This single dependency can lead to system fragility and reliability issues. In order to solve this problem, you can consider introducing multiple similar API resources to improve the stability and availability of the system.
· Some products have purchase thresholds and need to be searched from multiple sources.
During the API integration process, users need to meet specific conditions or search multiple parties to obtain the required API resources. This increases the complexity and time cost of the integration process, because users may need to negotiate, communicate, and conduct multiple rounds with multiple suppliers. Negotiate or find alternative solutions. To avoid delaying the integration progress, users need to understand and evaluate the procurement threshold of required API resources in advance and make corresponding preparations.
3. The new concept of “separation of centralized procurement”
Power-simplified integration subverts the traditional API integration method and puts forward the concept of "separation of centralized and procurement", that is, integration first and procurement later. The core of this innovative idea is to reverse the integration and procurement processes, so that the integration steps of API resources are no longer subject to procurement.
Through the idempotent integration platform, users can experience standardized service interfaces and use the integration adapter technology provided to connect specific service providers to build a rich and diverse API resource network. This forward-looking move realizes pre-integration of API service providers and provides users with an advanced platform, making the integration process of API resources smoother and more efficient.
Under the concept of "separation of centralized procurement", the API integration process becomes clearer and more efficient. This new approach brings several advantages :
· Enhance the stability of R&D projects
The R&D team focuses on API integration and is not affected by procurement efforts. They can negotiate with suppliers in parallel without interrupting project progress and ensuring project stability.
· Reduce single dependency
Pre-integrate multiple similar API resources to reduce the system's dependence on a single API. Even if there is a problem with an API, the system can seamlessly switch to other available resources, reducing risks.
· Optimize procurement process
Business operations or procurement teams can communicate with suppliers at the same time, which allows companies to understand supplier conditions, prices and services earlier. Once the API integration test passes, the procurement process can be started immediately, avoiding the problem of finding multiple suppliers and commodity procurement thresholds.
· Improve efficiency and flexibility
Pre-verify and test API resources to detect and resolve compatibility or performance issues early. Once the test is successful, API resources can be purchased and released with one click to quickly implement the project, flexibly respond to market changes, and improve enterprise efficiency and flexibility.
4. API Resource Library ——API Hub
Power Simple Integration provides enterprises with convenience with its rich API resource library, helping them quickly and efficiently obtain the API resources they need. By providing comprehensive API integration services, idempotent integration not only solves a variety of API application problems faced by enterprises, but also provides easy-to-use operational tools, application management and control, resource sharing, security interception and other functions, thereby building a new platform for emerging enterprises. It has established a complete API data asset network, effectively linking internal and external corporate resources to help its development and growth.
In the process of realizing enterprise digital assets, the integrated API resource library provides comprehensive support through the following three functions:
· API Hub : This feature provides a rich variety of external API resources. Through the idempotent integration tool, external resources are pre-integrated, and users can directly subscribe to services and conduct docking tests. This unique "integrate first and then purchase" API docking method provides enterprises with a more efficient way to subscribe to API resources and access applications.
· API Exchange : API Exchange brings together the public API resources you subscribe to or the private APIs you have integrated. The API services subscribed by users will be added to API Exchange through the workspace and become part of the user's API resource network.
· APP Endpoint : This feature enables you to manage integrated APIs through application-level control. It combines integrated APIs into an API package to facilitate quick use in other application scenarios.
These products and functions together constitute the full range of services provided by Power Simple Integration, helping enterprises to quickly build and apply their own API data asset networks.
- Summarize
The emergence of the innovative concept of "separation of centralized procurement" will completely subvert the traditional API integration method. Under the concept of "separation of centralized procurement", the API integration process becomes clearer and more efficient, and many problems existing in the traditional API integration process will be solved. As a powerful tool to accelerate project research and development, API will no longer be limited by the cumbersome use process and fully exert its own value.
PowerJian Integration will focus on helping programmers improve productivity, continue to polish the API resource library, provide programmers with rich API resources and comprehensive integration services, help enterprises build their own API digital asset networks, and connect internal and external enterprise resources. Provide powerful assistance.