API or more easily called the application programming interface. API is a series of instructions and protocol tools used to interact with various kinds of data. The main function of the API is to contract the services of two applications and also use more secure data features in them. 

In its implementation, we need the process of managing APIs for better scalability and reliability so that the functions obtained can be more targeted. The full description of the API and the steps can be seen as follows!

Knowing API Management and Its Benefits

In terms of its benefits, the API itself has functions to help simplify and speed up the development process of software. Then the API is also widely used to help developers use the services of third-party help by creating new applications. 

APIs are used to assist developers in adding new features or instructions to provide solutions that previously did not exist in the application. In addition, the existence of this API will also help developers to be able to take advantage of the functionality that has been predetermined. 

So what is meant by fire management? API management is the process from creation to publishing and managing API application interfaces. API itself is also an important set of tools, protocols and rules that allow many software can interact with each other. 

The goal is to get better API functions and also help users in developing pre-used applications. In general, the process of API management is useful in some special ways such as the following!

  • API familiarization and configuration needs 
  • Implement security-related policies 
  • Useful for analyzing and collecting statistics from users 
  • Assist the process of accessing, distributing and controlling systems and the analysis of the API that has been determined.

What is the API Process for Managing Application Growth Scalability, and Performance?

API has a crucial function to help manage scalability and application growth better. To get a more complete picture of this process you can check the detailed description of each step below!

1. Documenting the performance and scalability of the APIs used

You need to do documentation of the performance and scalability of the APIs used to monitor how internal and external interests work. In order to get clearer monitoring you need the support of several platform-specific tools ranging from Slate, API Blueprint and also Swagger. 

This documentation is more comprehensive and interactive with the API so the point coverage obtained is also more thorough. Usually what has to go into the documentation is the speed limit, errors, authorization, authentication, data format and status code everything has to go in nothing should be missed. 

Don’t forget to also include important information in it ranging from practices, results, tests, benchmarks and also other important API scalability are included in it. By documenting you can more easily communicate the qualities of the API, including developing existing ones.

2. Perform API scalability testing

This API performance and scalability management is useful for testing changes made before and after doing so. With the right tools and frameworks we can create simulations or scenarios in measuring the fire. Some that can be measured are the level of latency, error, availability and also the response time given. 

In order to support this activity you need to use a special platform to be able to test the functional better in the validation of detailed decisions. Some of the things that go in it are bug fixes, identification, and also important design scaling and optimization.

3. Scale API infrastructure

The next step that can be done is to scale the infrastructure with the traffic pattern requests. In this case, you can do two types of scaling which are in the form of horizontal or vertical. The purpose of scaling is to increase the capacity possessed by the system by adding more components in it. 

The components in question are disk space, memory, and CPU. The purpose of horizontal scaling is to add more servers to enter the system and then distribute the load as a proxy or counterweight. Here you can also do a combination balancing between the two to get more appropriate results.

4. Optimize API resources

For API performance and scalability management, we need to optimize API resources by reducing the load on your server. As for the techniques that need to be done are API reliability, improving efficiency, rate limiting, pagination, compression, caching API reliability, and also other rate limiting. 

The caching process itself is usually close to storing the requested data and faster memory to reduce the presence of data queries and calls originating from the network. Then there is such a thing as compression, which reduces the size of the data by using special algorithms, including saving bandwidth.

5. Perform API metrics monitoring

The next thing that needs to be done is to manage the scalability side and also the performance of the API to monitor the matrix so that the results can be more proactive and regular. You can directly track the main indicators ranging from some special conditions ranging from latency, error rate, availability, and other components. 

These metrics will help you to identify any problems or bottlenecks that occur in the API, including changes or updates to it. The tools and platforms that support these API metrics should also be set up in such a way as to limit the presence of threshold anomalies in order to focus your mind more regularly.

6. Don’t forget to do API design for performance

The next step that can be done is to manage scalability and performance directly by designing as a whole about the goals and principles that will be used in it. This includes some crucial types ranging from URLs to status codes and a more consistent and intuitive interface in it. 

In addition, you can also use JSON to help format data that is lighter so it will be easier to decipher later. Don’t forget to create a simpler type to avoid the hassle that makes the monitoring process more difficult and takes a lot of time. You are also obliged to add the presence of appropriate and not excessive parameters. 

It is important to understand that a clearer API type and a simpler system can make it easier to maintain, test, and also use optimally, of course. 

To get more efficient monitoring API support, you can take advantage of the help of Netmonk with the best selection of features in it. You can do more accurate monitoring scalability with affordable maintenance costs for the long term!