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What are the best strategies for API backward compatibility in your code?

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If you are a software developer, you probably know the importance of maintaining API backward compatibility in your code. API backward compatibility means that your existing clients can use your API without breaking their applications or requiring changes on their end. This can save you time, money, and reputation, as well as foster trust and loyalty among your users. But how can you achieve API backward compatibility in your code? Here are some of the best strategies that you can use.

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Mhamad El-Itawi

Tech Lead|Senior Software Engineer|MBA|x2 K8S|x3 AWS & Community Builder|PSM

1 Follow semantic versioning

Semantic versioning is a standard way of naming and numbering your API versions based on the changes that you make. It consists of three numbers: major, minor, and patch. A major version change indicates that you have introduced breaking changes that require your clients to update their code. A minor version change indicates that you have added new features or functionality that are backward compatible. A patch version change indicates that you have fixed bugs or improved performance that do not affect the API functionality. By following semantic versioning, you can communicate clearly to your clients what kind of changes they can expect from your API and how they should handle them.

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2 Use deprecation warnings

Sometimes, you may need to remove or replace some features or functionality from your API that are no longer relevant, efficient, or secure. However, you should not do this abruptly, as this can cause errors and frustration for your clients. Instead, you should use deprecation warnings to notify your clients that a certain feature or functionality will be removed or replaced in a future version of your API. You should also provide alternative solutions or recommendations for your clients to migrate their code. This way, you can give your clients enough time and information to prepare for the change and avoid breaking their applications.

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3 Support multiple versions

Another strategy for maintaining API backward compatibility is to support multiple versions of your API simultaneously. This means that you can offer different endpoints or parameters for different versions of your API, and allow your clients to choose which one they want to use. This can be useful if you have a large and diverse client base that may have different preferences, needs, or constraints. However, supporting multiple versions can also increase the complexity and cost of your API development and maintenance, as you have to ensure that each version works correctly and consistently. Therefore, you should limit the number of versions that you support and encourage your clients to upgrade to the latest version whenever possible.

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Mhamad El-Itawi

Tech Lead|Senior Software Engineer|MBA|x2 K8S|x3 AWS & Community Builder|PSM
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Supporting multiple versions can be easy as having multiple endpoints links, or advanced as making sure that all the added fields are optional. It's tricky part and depend how critical is the update. But it's important to limit how much you support old api versions in order to push people for updates, but make sure to add a deadline date to be clear with third parties.

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4 Use feature toggles

Feature toggles are a technique that allows you to enable or disable certain features or functionality of your API at runtime, without changing the code. This can be useful for testing, experimenting, or rolling out new features or functionality gradually and safely. You can use feature toggles to control the availability and visibility of your features or functionality to different clients or segments of your client base. This way, you can introduce new features or functionality without breaking backward compatibility for your existing clients, and also collect feedback and data to improve your API.

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5 Document your API

Last but not least, documenting your API is essential for maintaining backward compatibility. Documentation is the primary source of information and guidance for your clients on how to use your API effectively and correctly. It should include details such as the purpose, functionality, parameters, responses, errors, and examples of your API. It should also reflect any changes that you make to your API, and indicate the version and compatibility of each change. By documenting your API, you can help your clients understand your API better and avoid potential errors or conflicts.

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Mhamad El-Itawi

Tech Lead|Senior Software Engineer|MBA|x2 K8S|x3 AWS & Community Builder|PSM
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The communication way between developers is "documentation". make sure to keep these documents updates, or even auto generated (like when using swagger or open api). Add a deprecated alert to old apis, while make sure to add links and info to the updated way. Like which endpoints/class is used in the new way.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best strategies for API backward compatibility in your code?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Follow semantic versioning

2 Use deprecation warnings

3 Support multiple versions

4 Use feature toggles

5 Document your API

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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What are the best strategies for API backward compatibility in your code?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Follow semantic versioning

2 Use deprecation warnings

3 Support multiple versions

4 Use feature toggles

5 Document your API

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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