Company
Date Published
Author
Lorna Mitchell
Word count
924
Language
-
Hacker News points
None

Summary

APIs are essential to modern software development and must evolve to meet business needs, necessitating well-managed and communicated changes. Effective API versioning involves updating the metadata, particularly in OpenAPI's info.version field, to reflect changes in the description rather than the API itself. A comprehensive changelog is crucial for informing users about updates, and should use accessible language, provide clear explanations of changes, and link to additional resources. Communication strategies for API updates include using RSS/Atom feeds for third-party APIs and internal notifications for company APIs, ensuring all users are informed. Additionally, maintaining high standards in API governance and linting practices helps manage versioning effectively and keeps stakeholders updated through newsletters and other communication channels.