3 ways to try out your API design before you build

API design can be challenging, but testing its feasibility before implementation can save significant time and effort. Three effective methods to trial API designs include API mocking, throwaway prototyping, and README-driven design. API mocking involves creating static versions of API requests and responses to facilitate early feedback and integration, while throwaway prototyping allows for a more comprehensive exploration using all HTTP methods through simple scripted environments like Ruby or Python. README-driven design focuses on creating documentation to articulate how the API achieves outcomes, enhancing discussions and documentation quality without writing code. These approaches help validate API design, ensuring it meets target developers' and users' needs while minimizing costly changes later in the development process.