Putting Empathy Into APIs feat. Matthew Reinbold, API Design Architect

API Intersection

APIs are fundamentally supposed to smooth out paths of communication. But you can’t build that road if you don’t understand what’s happening at the destination. For API design architect Matt Reinbold, empathy for the end-user is a vital and often missing component of API design.

A quick look at Matt’s career with Fortune 500 companies and his own software consultancy shows that he has successfully balanced his interests in the human and technical aspects of software.

Experience, occasionally learned the hard way, has taught Matt that factoring in the end-user early saves future headaches for you and them.

It follows that Matt takes an anti-autocracy stance on API governance. When you’re on top, it’s easy enough to make the rules without input from others. But consulting the grassroots is more effective for company morale and productivity. Again, it all comes back to empathy.

On this episode of API Intersection, Matt explains why organizing governance is never over, how to get everyone speaking the same technical language, and how to persuade leadership to lean into innovation.

For full show notes and more info go to https://stoplight.io/podcast/

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