RESTful API
design & development
in Austin

An internal API can live with simple access rules. Once partners connect, authentication becomes a product decision. It affects how quickly they integrate, how safely data moves and how much support time each partner needs.

The method depends on who is calling. A partner server talking to your server usually works with keys or client credentials. An application acting on behalf of a user needs a flow where the user grants permission, such as OAuth.

Keys should never be shared between partners. Each one gets its own credentials, so access can be revoked for one without breaking the others. Logs then show exactly who made each call.

Scopes limit the damage. A partner that only reads catalogue data should not hold a key that can create orders. Defining a small set of permissions early is much easier than splitting a single key later.

Rotation has to be possible without downtime. Partners need to hold two valid keys for a period, switch over and then retire the old one. If rotation breaks integrations, nobody will do it.

Tokens should expire. Short lived access tokens with a refresh step reduce the value of a leaked credential. The expiry time is a balance between security and the load on your authentication service.

Errors must be clear. A partner should be able to tell the difference between an expired token, a missing permission and a wrong key. Vague errors turn into support tickets.

Secrets must be handled like passwords. They should never appear in URLs, logs or support emails, and the portal should show a key in full only once, at the moment it is created.

A sandbox with test credentials lets partners build before touching live data. It also lets your team reproduce their problems safely.

Documentation for this part is read first and read carefully. We write it with working examples in the languages partners actually use, and test every example before publishing.