api-integration.html

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      <h1>API Integration</h1>
<p>The majority of production Python web applications rely on several
externally hosted application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs are also
commonly referred to as third party services or external platforms. 
Examples include <a href="https://www.twilio.com/">Twilio</a> for messaging and voice
services, <a href="https://stripe.com/">Stripe</a> for payment processing, and
<a href="https://disqus.com/">Disqus</a> for embedded webpage comments.</p>
<p>There are many articles about proper API design but best practices for 
integrating APIs is less commonly written about. However, this subject 
continuously grows in importance because APIs provide critical functionality
across many implementation areas.</p>
<h2>Hosted API testing services</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.runscope.com/">Runscope</a> is a service specifically designed
  for APIs that assists developers with automated testing and traffic
  inspection.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="http://apiary.io/">Apiary</a> provides a blueprint for creating APIs so
  they are easier to test and generate clean documentation.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>API Integration Resources</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Some developers prefer to use 
  <a href="http://docs.python-requests.org/en/latest/">Requests</a> instead of an API's 
  helper library. In that case check out this 
  <a href="http://engineering.hackerearth.com/2014/08/21/python-requests-module/">tutorial on using requests to access web APIs</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>John Sheehan's 
  "<a href="https://speakerdeck.com/johnsheehan/zen-and-the-art-of-api-maintenance">Zen and the Art of API Maintenance</a>"
  slides are relevant for API integration.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>This post on 
  "<a href="https://stormpath.com/blog/api-driven-development/">API Driven Development</a>"
  by Randall Degges explains how using APIs in your application cuts down
  on the amount of code you have to write and maintain so you can launch your
  application faster.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/SmartBear_Software/safe-sex-with-thirdparty-apis">Safe Sex with Third Party APIs</a>
  is a funny high level overview of what you should do to protect your 
  application when relying on third party services.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>My DjangoCon 2013 talk dove into 
  "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGP8DQIqxXs">Making Django Play Nice With Third Party Services</a>."</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>API integration learning checklist</h2>
<p><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i>
Pick an API known for top notch documentation. Here's a list of 
<a href="https://medium.com/she-hacks-hacker-academy/4d3c43be9386">ten APIs that are a good starting point for beginners</a>.</p>
<p><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i>
Read the API documentation for your chosen API. Figure out a simple use case
for how your application could be improved by using that API.</p>
<p><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i>
Before you start writing any code, play around with the API through the 
commandline with <a href="http://curl.haxx.se/">curl</a> or in the browser with 
<a href="http://www.getpostman.com/">Postman</a>. This exercise will help you get a
better understanding of API authentication and the data required for requests
and responses.</p>
<p><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i>
Evaluate whether to use a helper library or work with 
<a href="http://docs.python-requests.org/en/latest/">Requests</a>. Helper libraries are
usually easier to get started with while Requests gives you more control over
the HTTP calls.</p>
<p><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i>
Move your API calls into a <a href="/task-queues.html">task queue</a> so they do not 
block the HTTP request-response cycle for your web application.</p>
<h3>What's next after integrating APIs into your app?</h3>
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