Where does it all start to get rocking with API Web Services?

The industry trends tells us that we must adapt to using more API type of strategies as it plays into the 

 (Internet of Things). It allows for a portable way of abstracting an IT function into a reusable tool with a bi-product of driving down future solution delivery cost.

Just imagine the conversation that the next time that favorite project manager of yours asks you how long it will take to build out an automated solution to warm up the CEO’s high priced fancy projector 1 minute upon office arrival within the parking deck…and you actually don’t laugh out loud this time.

My analogy for why API technology is important…It’s like you handing out the Halloween candy to kids yourself to ensure you have enough to give out rather than letting the kids take how much candy they think is needed and hog around the porch stairs. Next thing you know you’re turning your front porch lights off and explaining to your wife that some big kid dressed in a robbers outfit took all the candy then broke the flower pot walking away. Who Knew.

Why another interface? Limiting direct calls to platforms for data (

), elastic to business environment changes (

), and allowing for quick-to-market solution deliveries (

Below is my helpful checklist for getting an environment built and running (DevOps) for establishing Java API Web Services while understanding the key technology areas that support the products needed for getting started. People will sometimes use more advanced product that cost money whereas using these products eliminate license cost while still having a great support base.

, a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a Web-based software application or Web tool. A company releases its API to the public so that other software developers can design products that are powered by its service

, is a syntax for storing and exchanging data. JSON uses JavaScript syntax, but the JSON format is text only, just like XML. A primary data format used for asynchronous browser/server communication.

, an Architecture Style by decoupling architecture of API’s from Business Logic with a stateless uniform interface. RESTful systems typically, but not always, communicate over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with the same HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) which web browsers use to retrieve web pages and to send data to remote servers

, the most common protocol for communication of digital content. In the case of API’s, it allows us to Get (Retrieve a resource), POST (Create a resource), PUT (Update a resource), DELETE (Delete a resource)

 as a foundation for all the technology to work together as this contains the libraries and execution layers. As of April 2015, the JDK 7 will no longer provide updates however Oracle is in the process of migrating users from Java 7 to Java 8 through the auto update feature which took place after the January 2015 CPU release.

First, download and installations the two components for getting started.

We need something we can interact with to write code or drag and drop using some sort of IDE. Eclipse is a very common tool for Java developers, to build Java EE and Web applications, including a Java IDE, tools for Java EE, JPA, JSF, Mylyn, EGit and others.

The Apache Maven is a tool that can be used for building and managing any Java-based project. This tool can be leveraged by Eclipse to store the developer projects.

Maven’s Objectives
Maven’s primary goal is to allow a developer to comprehend the complete state of a development effort in the shortest period of time

Tomcat 9 will be needed to serving up content via HTTP within a browser. This can run locally on your PC or on a virtual server.

"Apache Tomcat™ is an open source software implementation of the Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages, Java Expression Language and Java WebSocket technologies. It also is an open software developed by the ASF or Apache Software Foundation. Designed to broker the web-serving features of JavaServer Pages. Allows integration of servlets through Java Servlet technology."

"Developing RESTful Web services that seamlessly support exposing your data in a variety of representation media types and abstract away the low-level details of the client-server communication is not an easy task without a good toolkit. In order to simplify development of RESTful Web services and their clients in Java, a standard and portable

"Swagger is a simple yet powerful representation of your RESTful API. With the largest ecosystem of API tooling on the planet, thousands of developers are supporting Swagger in almost every modern programming language and deployment environment. With a Swagger-enabled API, you get interactive documentation, client SDK generation and discoverability"

Application development is the process of creating a computer program or a set of programs to perform the different tasks that a business requires. From calculating monthly expenses to scheduling sales reports, applications help businesses automate processes and increase efficiency.

Application Development

Swagger is a suite of tools for API developers from SmartBear Software and a former specification upon which the OpenAPI Specification is based. 

Swagger is an open source set of rules, specifications and tools for developing and describing RESTful APIs. The Swagger framework allows developers to create interactive, machine and human-readable API documentation.

The word swagger is likely a form of the verb 'swag', an English verb from the 1500s meaning 'to lurch or sway'. Swagger first appeared in Shakespeare's plays including A Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear.

API development for users, teams, and enterprises with the Swagger open source and professional toolset.

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Mike Reams

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Mike Reams