API Contract

This document outlines the process and best practices for the frontend and backend teams to agree upon API contracts, with an emphasis on REST standards and clear timelines.

Overview

API contracts are agreements that outline the structure, behavior, and timelines of APIs. These contracts are crucial for ensuring seamless integration between frontend and backend services, and for efficient development of features.

Process

Simple CRUD Operations

Backend-Led Contract Development: For basic CRUD operations, the backend team will lead in creating the API contract.
Specification: The contract will define API endpoints, request/response structures, and error handling, following RESTful standards.

Complex UIs and Features

Frontend-Led Contract Initiation: For features with complex UIs or specific data structure requirements, the frontend team initiates the contract.
Collaborative Elaboration: Both teams collaborate to refine the API contract, ensuring it aligns with UI requirements and backend capabilities.

Contract Documentation

Notion as Central Repository: All API contracts are documented in Notion.
Feature Table: A table lists all features with their API contracts.
Ownership and ETA: Each feature includes frontend and backend owners, and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for API development.

Notion Link API contracts for all console features

REST Standards Adherence

Uniform Interface: Ensure a consistent and predictable interaction model.
Stateless Interactions: Each request from client to server must contain all the information needed to understand and process the request.
Cacheable Responses: Responses should be defined as cacheable or non-cacheable.
Client-Server Architecture: Maintain a clear separation between the client and server.

Best Practices for API Contracts

Clarity and Precision: Be explicit about request methods, endpoints, response formats, and status codes.
Versioning: Use versioning for APIs to manage changes and maintain backward compatibility.
Error Handling: Clearly define error responses and standard error codes.
Security Considerations: Include authentication, authorization, and data protection measures.
Performance Metrics: Define performance expectations, like response time and rate limits.
Documentation: Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date documentation for each API endpoint.
Feedback Loop: Encourage regular feedback and iterative improvements on the API contracts.

For Frontend Team

Clear Requirement Communication: Clearly communicate UI requirements and data structure needs.
Validation: Validate the proposed API contract against UI components and data handling libraries.

For Backend Team

Understanding Frontend Needs: Ensure a clear understanding of the frontend requirements for complex UIs.
Efficiency and Scalability: Design APIs that are efficient, scalable, and easy to consume.

General

Regular Sync-ups: Conduct regular meetings to discuss and finalize API contracts.
Feedback and Iteration: Be open to feedback and iterative improvements on the API contracts.

Who Should Make the Contracts?

API contracts should ideally be a collaborative effort between frontend and backend teams:

Backend Team’s Role: Propose initial API structures based on the data models and business logic they handle. They need to ensure the API meets performance, security, and scalability standards.
Frontend Team’s Role: Provide insights into what kind of data and interactions are required for the user interface. They should specify the expected behaviors from the API to ensure a smooth user experience.
Joint Responsibilities: Both teams should work together to finalize the API contract. Regular meetings and discussions between the teams during the API design phase can help in aligning both sides effectively.

Conclusion

For access to the Notion table or any inquiries regarding the API contract process, please contact the respective team leads.