API development tools are increasingly specialized to handle different phases of the API lifecycle, from design and testing to monitoring and maintenance. A design-first approach with tools like Strapi dramatically improves development efficiency and reduces team misunderstandings. Choosing the right API stack for your project requires considering factors such as project scale and complexity, team size and expertise, security requirements, performance needs, and budget constraints. Different API use cases call for different combinations of tools and approaches, including content-heavy applications, serverless architectures, and hybrid approaches. Ultimately, a well-structured workflow is key to building scalable, reliable digital experiences, with Strapi 5 providing a strong, adaptable foundation for managing the full API lifecycle.