Before talking about AsyncAPI, letβs briefly mention Event-Driven Architecture (EDA).
π Event-Driven Architecture
The EDA is a software architecture paradigm involving production, detection, consumption, and reaction to events.
AsyncAPI is an open-source project aimed at improving the current state of EDA.
These APIs allow relatively time-consuming requests to be processed in the background while other requests are made.
Like the OpenAPI specification, AsyncAPI also provides a specification that allows developers, architects, and product managers to define asynchronous API interfaces.
The recently released AsyncAPI specification 2.1.0 laid the foundation for EDA's more significant and better tool ecosystem.
π AsyncAPI Document
Like OpenAPI, AsyncAPI also uses a document that contains standardized definitions of channels, subscribers, messages, and payloads.
The document file is either a YAML or JSON file.
The payload may include data types, minimum, maximum values, and regexp.
π Benefits of Using AsyncAPI
Letβs take a look at some of the advantages of using AsyncAPI over synchronous APIs.
1οΈβ£ Ready-to-use Tools
AsyncAPI also provides ready-to-use tools to help with the practical implementation of the AsyncAPI standard.
2οΈβ£ Message Format
Since there is a specification written for the AsyncAPI, there is also a well-defined structure for exchanged messages.
The message format needs to be generic. AsyncAPI supports multiple schemas like JSON, etc.
3οΈβ£ Improved Quality of Service for API Consumers
AsyncAPI can generate API documentation with the AsyncAPI document using YAML or JSON. It helps the API consumers to understand how to use your API.
4οΈβ£ Multiple Protocols
There are different protocols for exchanging data between other APIs. For instance, there are WebSockets, Kafka, etc. But the AsyncAPI standard is expected to be applicable no matter the protocol.
With that being said, that's pretty much it for this thread.
Let's discuss the most commonly heard terms in API development ππ»
- SDK
- RPC
- CORS
- Async API
- Internal API
- API Caching
- External API
- HTTP cookies
- Authorization
- Microservices
- OpenAPI spec
- Composite API
- API Versioning
- Authentication
Thread π§΅ππ»
π SDK
SDK stands for Software Development Kit.
It is a set of development tools that allows the creation of software or an application for a particular platform.
SDK provides you with the whole package from compilers to debuggers to even a software development framework.
π RPC
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is the oldest client-server communication method in use today. Instead of the traditional HTTP call, RPC uses a function call.
It means that on the client-side, you invoke a function that is written on the server-side code.