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References: APIs and Integrations

  1. API (Application Programming Interface) - Wikipedia Broad overview of APIs, their history, types, and role in enabling software systems to communicate. Establishes the foundational vocabulary PMs need to discuss integration strategies with engineering teams.

  2. REST (Representational State Transfer) - Wikipedia Explains REST architectural principles including statelessness, resource-based URLs, and standard HTTP methods. Critical for PMs working with web APIs, which overwhelmingly follow RESTful conventions.

  3. GraphQL - Wikipedia Covers the GraphQL query language, its development at Facebook, and how it differs from REST approaches. Helps PMs evaluate when GraphQL is advantageous for their product's data-fetching requirements.

  4. Lauret, Arnaud. The Design of Web APIs. Manning Publications, 2019. Practical guide to designing user-friendly APIs with a focus on developer experience, versioning, and documentation. Teaches PMs how to evaluate API design quality and advocate for developer-centric decisions.

  5. Biehl, Matthias. API Strategy for Decision Makers. API-University Press, 2018. Covers API strategy from a business perspective, including monetization models, partner ecosystems, and platform thinking. Directly relevant for PMs who own API products or manage third-party integration strategies.

  6. HTTP Methods Explained - MDN Web Docs Mozilla's authoritative reference for HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) with clear examples and usage guidelines. Essential for PMs who read API documentation and participate in endpoint design discussions.

  7. API Authentication Best Practices - Auth0 Explains authentication and authorization mechanisms including OAuth 2.0, API keys, and token-based access control. Helps PMs define security requirements and understand how API access is protected.

  8. Rate Limiting Strategies - Stripe Stripe's engineering blog on rate limiting approaches, including token bucket and sliding window algorithms. Gives PMs practical insight into how APIs protect themselves from abuse while maintaining service quality.

  9. What Is an API Gateway? - Red Hat Explains API gateway functionality including request routing, authentication, rate limiting, and monitoring in one layer. Relevant for PMs managing products with multiple backend services exposed through unified API endpoints.

  10. Webhooks Explained - SendGrid Practical introduction to webhooks as event-driven integrations, explaining how they differ from polling-based approaches. Useful for PMs designing real-time notification systems and third-party integration workflows.