Developers embracing API-first development, survey says

Developers are shifting from code-first to API-first thinking when it comes to software development, according to the newly released 2024 State of the API Report from API platform provider Postman.

Released October 15, the sixth-annual report is based on a survey of more than 5,600 developers and API professionals, combined with data observed on the Postman API platform serving more than 35 million users and 500,000 organizations. The survey found that APIs are no longer an afterthought but the foundation of development, with between 26 and 50 APIs powering the average application. According to the report, 74% of respondents report being “API first,” as opposed to 66% in 2023. The API-first paradigm prioritizes API design, streamlining integration, and improving efficiency across teams, Postman said.

This year’s survey also found an increase in the percentage of developers who could produce an API within a week, with the number jumping from 47% last year to 63% this year. Further, API-first organizations recover from API failures faster, often within an hour, the report says.

Other findings of Postman’s 2024 State of the API Report:

62% of respondents report working with APIs that generate income.

Postman has seen a 73% increase in AI-driven API traffic on its platform over the past year.

43% of developers rely on colleagues to explain APIs.

44% of developers dig through source code to understand APIs, but more than half collaborate with product managers, QA, and designers who cannot always interpret the code.

44% of developers rely on chat tools or email for API development.

27% do not use API vault security tools, while those who do favor AWS Key Management (28%) and Azure Key Vault (24%).

48% say a central team oversees API strategy and governance, ensuring consistency across projects.

48% of respondents say API creation is owned by the development team and driven by demand.

40% of respondents report a business-oriented directive guiding API development, with a focus on revenue generation and external partnerships.