API linting is a crucial process for ensuring the quality and consistency of APIs, similar to how linting is used in source code to enforce rules and best practices. Over the years, API linting has evolved from relying on extensive, often outdated API Style Guides to more automated and efficient methods. Tools like vacuum, an open-source API linter built in Go, enable developers to validate APIs against industry standards and custom rulesets, improving the development workflow significantly. Vacuum supports Spectral rulesets, offering portability and efficiency, and can be integrated into continuous integration systems to automatically check API changes in pull requests, ensuring that only valid, secure, and well-documented APIs are deployed. This automated approach not only helps maintain API quality but also aids in avoiding security vulnerabilities and maintaining consistency across large teams.