API Design for Builders
A poorly designed API is a tax on every developer who uses it. Confusing endpoints, inconsistent error formats, missing documentation, and no versioning strategy all compound into wasted hours and broken integrations. This course teaches the conventions, patterns, and tooling that make an API predictable, safe to evolve, and easy to document — from your first endpoint to your first breaking change.
What you will learn
Course outline
Free — no account needed
What Makes a Good API
The design principles that separate APIs developers love from ones they dread
REST Resources and Endpoints
Model your API around nouns, not verbs — and structure URLs that reflect your data model
HTTP Methods and Status Codes
Use the right HTTP verb and return the right status code — every time, consistently
Full course — $59 one-time
Request and Response Design
Shape your request bodies and response envelopes for consistency, evolvability, and developer experience
Authentication — JWT and API Keys
Secure your API correctly — understand JWT, API keys, Bearer tokens, and when to use each
Versioning and Breaking Changes
Evolve your API without breaking your consumers — a practical versioning strategy for builders
OpenAPI and Documentation
Auto-generate interactive API docs that are always in sync with your implementation
Rate Limiting, Errors, and Pagination
The three production-ready features every public API needs before going live
Get the full course
All 8 lessons — REST conventions, auth, versioning, OpenAPI, and production patterns. Lifetime access.