Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#1

Post by JoeEntrepreneur » Wed, Mar 21, 2007, 4:49 AM UTC

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Re: Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#2

Post by reitzensteinm » Wed, Mar 21, 2007, 8:55 AM UTC

Well, maybe you could let your users answer that one for you by putting an SDK page up with 'coming soon - email us for a beta test' and tracking hits/emails. You'll probably change so much after launch that you don't want to be stuck trying to support API 1.0 so unless you get a lot of requests for it , it's probably a bad idea.

Re: Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#3

Post by RyanGWU82 » Wed, Mar 21, 2007, 9:34 AM UTC

Depends on your target audience. What do your users want? If you don't know, ask them -- not us! (And if you don't have any idea who your target users are, you have a bigger problem than the API...)

Re: Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#4

Post by danielha » Wed, Mar 21, 2007, 9:41 AM UTC

It shouldn't be a priority for your first version. Get it out there so people know what you can do first.

Re: Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#5

Post by chandrab » Wed, Mar 21, 2007, 6:00 PM UTC

I agree with the others that you shouldn't focus on an API for rev 1.0 in order to get the product to market. But I would be careful and architect the code such that it can support an API...otherwise it's going to be a real pain in the rear to retrofit.

Re: Is it effective to provide API with first version? We have this dilemma for our upcoming release of http://www.onista.com

#6

Post by JoeEntrepreneur » Fri, Mar 23, 2007, 7:01 AM UTC

reitzensteinm wrote: post #2

Well, maybe you could let your users answer that one for you by putting an SDK page up with 'coming soon - email us for a beta test' and tracking hits/emails. You'll probably change so much after launch that you don't want to be stuck trying to support API 1.0 so unless you get a lot of requests for it , it's probably a bad idea.

Thank you very much. You are right. There might be lot of changes after launch and thats when we will find out what users want us to deliver.