Here are the slides for the 10 min talk i did at startup weekend nyc 2011. Here's the audio http://soundcloud.com/henrik/eric-startup-weekend. Ask me questions regarding this talk here: http://eric.takesquestions.com/

1. SoundCloud API Learnings
Eric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloud
Startup Weekend NYC 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011

2. What is an API?
Saturday, April 16, 2011

3. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
Saturday, April 16, 2011

4. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Saturday, April 16, 2011

5. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
Saturday, April 16, 2011

6. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
Essential for the web
Saturday, April 16, 2011

7. What is an API?
Application Programming Interface = Platform
... two systems talking to each other
Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data
Essential for the web
Adam Smith’s wet dream
Saturday, April 16, 2011

8. Hyper division of labour...
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Saturday, April 16, 2011

9. Hyper division of labour...
... and a network economy
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Saturday, April 16, 2011

10. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

11. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

12. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff
that empowers them ...
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

13. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff
that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

14. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff
that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

15. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff
that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

16. Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons
Allow people to use their own data...
... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff
that empowers them ...
... which spreads the word about your service
Developer community–the ultimate power users
Extend your application–solve niche use cases
Conceptual clarity
Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman
Saturday, April 16, 2011

17. And...
It’s the essence of your service!
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Saturday, April 16, 2011

18. Our API Learnings
Saturday, April 16, 2011

19. KISS
Saturday, April 16, 2011

20. People like new things!
Saturday, April 16, 2011

21. Eat your own dogfood
Saturday, April 16, 2011

22. Once you launch you can’t
change
Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php
Saturday, April 16, 2011

23. Don’t pay people
Saturday, April 16, 2011

24. Write kick-ass docs
Saturday, April 16, 2011

25. Engage the community
Saturday, April 16, 2011

26. Thanks!
eric@soundcloud.com
twitter.com/ericw
Questions?
eric.takesquestions.com
Saturday, April 16, 2011

27. We’re hiring :)
soundcloud.com/jobs
Saturday, April 16, 2011