Moving to API design-first in an Agile world

API design-first is an approach that prioritizes understanding and integrating stakeholder needs before coding begins, thereby aligning with agile principles by encouraging early feedback and iterative development. This method identifies the capabilities required and models an API to meet those needs, contrasting with a traditional waterfall approach. It emphasizes continuous communication with stakeholders to refine the API design through stages like mock implementation and preview releases, allowing for adjustments before the final production release. Additionally, the use of API gateways in this process helps manage access and differentiate between preview and production environments, ensuring flexibility and preventing misuse. By focusing on stakeholder feedback and incremental development, API design-first enhances the agility and effectiveness of the API development process, minimizing costly changes after release.