Application Programing Interface Design

11B1150

Bachelor

German

5.0

irregular

1 semester

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a programming interface that is offered by software or a software module for integration and interaction. Ultimately, for software developers, the API is the equivalent of a (graphical) user interface for users. While the user experience (UX) plays a decisive role in GUI design, the developer experience (DX) should be taken into account in API design. There is no question that an API must fulfil the functional and non-functional requirements needed by the developer. However, the API should also be simple and intuitive to use and prevent incorrect use as far as possible. APIs of local components and distributed services represent a very high value for companies. Accordingly, developers should be familiar with existing standards, patterns and best practices for API design and be able to apply them successfully. They should also have basic knowledge of API documentation, API testing and API management. The latter includes the provision, publication, versioning and deactivation of an API.

• Quality features, principles and patterns
• Local programming interfaces
• Remote programming interfaces
• Documentation and self-description
• Testing programming interfaces

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Homework / Assignment or
• Oral presentation, with written elaboration or
• Project Report, written

• Field work / Experimental work or
• Regular participation

Advanced knowledge of object-oriented programming. In-depth knowledge of an object-oriented programming language covered in previous basic modules. Basic prior knowledge of object-oriented design, distributed systems development, and software architecture in general is helpful but not required.

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• Appropriately design, implement, test, deploy and customise interfaces between classes, packages, modules, components and services.

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• justify the importance and impact of interface design
• ntegrate existing software components via defined interfaces
• design and implement interfaces
• characterise interfaces in terms of required quality features

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• assess and evaluate the quality of APIs
• explain the impact of decisions on an API and its use
• assess the advantages and disadvantages of patterns and best practices used

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• implement appropriate interfaces at different levels of software, from conception to deployment and maintenance.

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• Determine the requirements for the interface of a programme or software module from developers
• Document the programming interface of a programme/software module and explain it to software architects and developers in discussions.

Students will be able to:

design appropriate programming interfaces

• Roosmann, Rainer

• Roosmann, Rainer

Roosmann, Rainer;