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src/en/clean-copy/07-Section VI. The API Product/06.md
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### [An API Services Range][api-product-range]
The important rule of API product management any major API provider will soon learn is: don't just ship one specific API; there is always room for a range of products, and this range is two-dimensional.
The important rule of API product management that any major API provider will soon learn is this: don't just ship one specific API; there is always room for a range of products, and this range is two-dimensional.
#### Horizontal Scaling of API Services
Usually, any functionality available through an API might be split into independent units. For example, in our coffee API, there are offer search endpoints and order processing endpoints. Nothing could prevent us from either pronouncing those functional clusters different APIs or, vice versa, considering them as parts of one API.
Usually, any functionality available through an API can be split into independent units. For example, in our coffee API, there are offer search endpoints and order processing endpoints. Nothing could prevent us from either pronouncing those functional clusters as different APIs or, vice versa, considering them as parts of one API.
Different companies employ different approaches to determining the granularity of API services, i.e., what is counted as a separate product and what is not. To some extent, this is a matter of convenience and taste judgment. Consider splitting an API into parts if:
* It makes sense for partners to integrate only one API part, i.e., there are some isolated subsets of the API that alone provide enough means to solve users' problems.
* API parts might be versioned separately and independently, and it is meaningful from the partners' point of view (this usually means that those “isolated” APIs are either fully independent or maintain strict backward compatibility and introduce new major versions only when it's absolutely necessary; otherwise, maintaining a matrix which API \#1 version is compatible with which API \#2 version will soon become a catastrophe).
Different companies employ different approaches to determining the granularity of API services, i.e., what is counted as a separate product and what is not. To some extent, this is a matter of convenience and subjective judgment. Consider splitting an API into parts if:
* It makes sense for partners to integrate only one API part, i.e., there are isolated subsets of the API that alone provide enough means to solve users' problems.
* API parts can be versioned separately and independently, and it is meaningful from the partners' point of view. This usually means that those “isolated” APIs are either fully independent or maintain strict backward compatibility and introduce new major versions only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, maintaining a matrix which API \#1 version is compatible with which API \#2 version will soon become a catastrophe.
* It makes sense to set tariffs and limits for each API service independently.
* The audience of the API segments (either developers, business owners, or end users) is not overlapping, and “selling” granular API to customers is much easier than aggregated.
* The audiences of the API segments (developers, business owners, or end users) do not overlap, and “selling” a granular API to customers is much easier than an aggregated one.
**NB**: Still, those split APIs might still be a part of a united SDK, to make programmers' lives easier.
**NB**: These split APIs might still be part of a united SDK to make programmers' lives easier.
#### Vertical Scaling of API Services
However, frequently it makes sense to provide several API services manipulating the same functionality. Let us remind you that there are two kinds of developers: professional ones that seek extensive customization capabilities (as they usually work in big IT companies that have a specific mindset towards integrations), and semi-professionals who just need the gentlest possible learning curve. The only way to cover the needs of both categories is to develop a range of products with different entry thresholds and requirements for developers' professional level. We might name several API sub-types, ordered from the most technically demanding to less complex ones.
1. The most advanced level is that of physical APIs and the abstractions on top of them. [In our coffee example, the collection of entities describing working with APIs of physical coffee machines, see the “[Separating Abstraction Levels](#api-design-separating-abstractions)” and the “[Weak Coupling](#back-compat-weak-coupling)” chapters.]
2. The basic level of working with product entities via formal interfaces. [In our study example, that will be HTTP API for making orders.]
3. Working with product entities might be simplified if SDKs are provided for some popular platforms that tailor API concepts according to the paradigms of those platforms (for those developers who are proficient with specific platforms only that will save a lot of effort on dealing with formal protocols and interfaces).
4. The next simplification step is providing services for code generation. In this service, developers choose one of the pre-built integration templates, customize some options, and got a ready-to-use piece of code that might be simply copy-pasted into the application code (and might be additionally customized by adding some level 1-3 code). This approach is sometimes called “point-and-click programming.” [In the case of our coffee API, an example of such a service might have a form or screen editor for a developer to place UI elements and get the working application code.]
5. Finally, this approach might be simplified even further if the service generates not code but a ready-to-use component / widget / frame and a one-liner to integrate it. [For example, if we allow embedding an iframe that handles the entire coffee ordering process right on the partner's website, or describes the rules of forming the image URL that will show the most relevant offer to an end user if embedded in the partner's app.]
However, it often makes sense to provide multiple API services that feature the same functionality. Let us remind you that there are two types of developers: professional ones who seek extensive customization capabilities (as they usually work in big IT companies with a specific mindset towards integrations) and semi-professionals who just need the gentlest possible learning curve. The only way to cover the needs of both categories is to develop a range of products with different entry thresholds and requirements for developers' professional level. We can identify several sub-types of APIs, ordered from the most technically demanding to the less complex ones.
1. The most advanced level is that of physical APIs and abstractions built on top of them. [In our coffee example, it refers to a collection of entities that describe working with APIs of physical coffee machines as discussed in the “[Separating Abstraction Levels](#api-design-separating-abstractions)” and “[Weak Coupling](#back-compat-weak-coupling)” chapters.]
2. Next is the basic level, which involves working with product entities through formal interfaces. [In our study example, this level corresponds to the HTTP API for placing orders.]
3. Working with product entities can be simplified by providing SDKs for popular platforms that tailor API concepts according to the paradigms of those platforms. This benefits developers who are proficient with specific platforms and saves them effort in dealing with formal protocols and interfaces.
4. The next simplification step is providing services for code generation. In this service, developers can choose from pre-built integration templates, customize option values, and obtain a ready-to-use piece of code that can be easily copied and pasted into their application code (and can be further customized by adding some level 1-3 code). This approach is sometimes called “point-and-click programming.” [In the case of our coffee API, an example of such a service might have a form or screen editor for developers to place UI elements and generate the working application code or a console script to automatically produce application boilerplate.]
5. Finally, this approach can be simplified even further if the service generates not just code but a ready-to-use component / widget / frame and a one-liner to integrate it. [For example, if we allow embedding an iframe that handles the entire coffee ordering process directly on the partner's website, or describe the rules of forming a “[deep link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_deep_linking)” to our service.]
Ultimately, we will end up with a concept of meta-API, i.e., those high-level components will have an API of their own built on top of the basic API.
Ultimately, we will end up with the concept of a meta-API where these high-level components have their own API built on top of the basic API.
The important advantage of having a range of APIs is not only about adapting it to the developer's capabilities but also about increasing the level of control you have over the code that partners embed into their apps:
1. The apps that use physical interfaces are out of your control; for example, you can't force switching to newer versions of the platform or, let's say, add commercial inlets to them.
2. The apps that operate base APIs will let you manipulate underlying abstraction levels — move to newer technologies or alter the way search results are presented to an end user.
3. SDKs, especially those proving UI components, provide a higher degree of control over the look and feel of partners' applications, which allows you to evolve the UI, adding new interactive elements and enriching the functionality of existing ones. [For example, if our coffee SDK contains the map of coffee shops, nothing could stop us from making map objects clickable in the next API version or highlighting paid offerings.]
4. Code generation makes it possible to manipulate the desired form of integrations. For example, if our KPI is a number of searches performed through the API, we might alter the generated code so it will show the search panel in the most convenient position in the app; as partners using code-generation services rarely make any changes in the resulting code, and this will help us in reaching the goal.
5. Finally, ready-to-use components and widgets are under your full control, and you might experiment with functionality exposed through them in partners' applications just as if it was your own service. (However, it doesn't automatically mean that you might draw some profits from having this control; for example, if you're allowing inserting pictures by their direct URL, your control over this integration is rather negligible, so it's generally better to provide those kinds of integration that allow having more control over the functionality in partners' apps.)
The important advantage of having a range of APIs is not only about adapting it to the developer's capabilities but also about increasing the level of control you have over the code that partners embed into their applications:
1. Applications that use physical interfaces are out of your control. For example, you can't force switching to newer versions of the platform or, let's say, add commercial inlets to them.
2. Applications that operate base APIs will allow you to manipulate underlying abstraction levels — move to newer technologies or alter the way search results are presented to an end user.
3. SDKs, especially those providing UI components, provide a higher degree of control over the look and feel of partners' applications, which allows you to evolve the UI by adding new interactive elements and enriching the functionality of existing ones. [For example, if our coffee SDK contains a map of coffee shops, nothing could stop us from making map objects clickable in the next API version or highlighting paid offerings.]
4. Code generation makes it possible to manipulate the desired form of integrations. For example, if our KPI is the number of searches performed through the API, we can alter the generated code so that the search panel will be displayed in the most convenient position in the application. As partners who use code-generation services rarely make any changes to the resulting code, this will help us reach our goals.
5. Finally, ready-to-use components and widgets are under your full control, and you can experiment with the functionality exposed through them in partners' applications as if it were your own services. (However, this doesn't automatically mean that you can draw profits from having this control. For example, if you allow hotlinking pictures by their direct URL, your control over this integration is rather negligible, so it's generally better to provide integration options that allow for more control over the functionality in partners' applications.)
**NB**: While developing a “vertical” range of APIs, following the principles stated in the “[On the Waterline of the Iceberg](#back-compat-iceberg-waterline)” chapter is crucial. You might manipulate widget content and behavior if, and only if, developers can't “escape the sandbox,” i.e., have direct access to low-level objects encapsulated within the widget.
**NB**: While developing a “vertical” range of APIs, it is crucial to follow the principles discussed in the “[On the Waterline of the Iceberg](#back-compat-iceberg-waterline)” chapter. You will only be able to manipulate the content and behavior of a widget if developers cannot “escape the sandbox,” meaning they do not have direct access to low-level objects encapsulated within the widget.
In general, you should aim to have each partner using the API services in a manner that maximizes your profit as an API vendor. Where the partner doesn't try to make some unique experience and needs just a typical solution, you would benefit from making them use widgets, which are under your full control and thus ease the API version fragmentation problem and allow for experimenting in order to reach your KPIs. Where the partner possesses some unique expertise in the subject area and develops a unique service on top of your API, you would benefit from allowing full freedom in customizing the integration, so they might cover specific market niches and enjoy the advantage of offering more flexibility compared to services using competing APIs.
In general, your aim should be to have each partner use the API services in a manner that maximizes your profit as an API vendor. When a partner only needs a typical solution, you would benefit from making them use widgets as they are under your direct control. This will help ease the API version fragmentation problem and allow for experimentation to reach your KPIs. When the partner possesses expertise in the subject area and develops a unique service on top of your API, you would benefit from allowing full freedom in customizing the integration. This way, they can cover specific market niches and enjoy the advantage of offering more flexibility compared to services using competing APIs.

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1. Самый сложный уровень — физического API и семейства абстракций над ними. [В нашем кофейном примере — та часть интерфейсов, которая описывает работу с физическим API кофе машин, см. главу [«Разделение уровней абстракции»](#api-design-separating-abstractions) и главу [«Слабая связность»](#back-compat-weak-coupling).]
2. Базовый уровень — работы с продуктовыми сущностями через формальные интерфейсы. [В случае нашего учебного API этому уровню соответствует HTTP API заказа.]
3. Упростить работу с продуктовыми сущностями можно, предоставив SDK для различных платформ, скрывающие под собой сложности работы с формальными интерфейсами и адаптирующие концепции API под соответствующие парадигмы (что позволяет разработчикам, знакомым только с конкретной платформой, не тратить время и не разбираться в формальных интерфейсах и протоколах).
4. Ещё более упростить работу можно с помощью сервисов, генерирующих код. В таком интерфейсе разработчик выбирает один из представленных шаблонов интеграции, кастомизирует некоторые параметры, и получает на выходе готовый фрагмент кода, который он может вставить в своё приложение (и, возможно, дописать необходимую функциональность с использованием API 1-3 уровней). Подобного рода подход ещё часто называют «программированием мышкой». [В случае нашего кофейного API примером такого сервиса мог бы служить визуальный редактор форм/экранов, в котором пользователь расставляет UI элементы, и в конечном итоге получает полный код приложения.]
5. Ещё более упростить такой подход можно, если результатом работы такого сервиса будет уже не код поверх API, а готовый компонент / виджет / фрейм, подключаемый одной строкой. [Например, если мы дадим возможность разработчику вставлять на свой сайт iframe, в котором можно заказать кофе, кастомизированный под нужды заказчика, либо, ещё проще, описать правила формирования URL изображения, который позволит показать в приложении партнёра баннер с наиболее релевантным предложением для конечного пользователя.]
4. Ещё более упростить работу можно с помощью сервисов, генерирующих код. В таком интерфейсе разработчик выбирает один из представленных шаблонов интеграции, кастомизирует некоторые параметры, и получает на выходе готовый фрагмент кода, который он может вставить в своё приложение (и, возможно, дописать необходимую функциональность с использованием API 1-3 уровней). Подобного рода подход ещё часто называют «программированием мышкой». [В случае нашего кофейного API примером такого сервиса мог бы служить визуальный редактор форм/экранов, в котором пользователь расставляет UI элементы и получает полный код приложения, или консольный скрипт, который генерирует «скелет» приложения.]
5. Ещё более упростить такой подход можно, если результатом работы такого сервиса будет уже не код поверх API, а готовый компонент / виджет / фрейм, подключаемый одной строкой. [Например, если мы дадим возможность разработчику вставлять на свой сайт iframe, в котором можно заказать кофе, кастомизированный под нужды заказчика, либо, ещё проще, описать правила формирования «[deep link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_deep_linking)-а», который приведёт пользователя на наш сервис.]
В конечном итоге можно прийти к концепции мета-API, когда готовые визуальные компоненты тоже будут иметь какое-то свой высокоуровневый API, который «под капотом» будет обращаться к базовым API.