Cloud App Integration .com

Publicly available APIs increase integration capability

While software companies once provided integration plug-ins and custom code for their users and partners, the rapid expansion and growth of cloud applications means that providers cannot keep up with integration demand. Now, more and more software companies are helping users and other vendors do their own integrations. To allow for this, they’re providing publicly accessible application programming interfaces (APIs).

An API is is a set of rules, protocols, and code accompanying an application that describe how third-party programmers can interact with it.

The number of open cloud APIs has exploded over the past year, and will continue to grow through 2011. According to a recent report, API repository Programmable Web added 1019 APIs in 2010, twice as many as they added in 2009. According to the report, APIs from social networking sites were the most commonly added API type. The author expects that trend to only expand. He suggests 2011 may be “the year of the API.”

API growth may go beyond the enterprise as standards discussion continues

API growth may not be only limited to enterprise service providers. Adam Kleinberg at Mashable.com believes that every brand should have an API. As brands create applications with consumer appeal—the author references a collection of games from Kraft, for example—an open API can create value and spread utility through customer involvement.

While more and more unique APIs become available every day, open cloud APIs are also at the center of the cloud standards discussion. We discussed API standards with Mule CTO Ross Mason in December. Two weeks ago, API standards were discussed at the SOATalk blog. The author mentions that standardized APIs may create API lock-in.