APIs that change without warning
From Blindside
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[edit] What is it
An application programming interface (API) is a source code interface that a computer system or program library provides in order to support requests for services to be made of it by a computer program. An API differs from an application binary interface in that it is specified in terms of a programming language that can be compiled when an application is built, rather than an explicit low level description of how data is laid out in memory.(Wikipedia)
APIs allow a host of new services and business ideas to flourish, adding value to the online data of existing services like Google, Amazon or DirectGov. But the large service provider can change their API without warning, leaving the dependent service high and dry.
[edit] Impact & Maturity assessment
We estimate the Impact Level at 1, our lowest level, as market forces are probably sufficient to push a solution to this (imagine a site called Junkyard.com, that hosts old APIs, drivers, etc.). We estimate the Maturity Level at 3, as although the number of APIs that may be abandoned will surely grow, the scope of the issue is not likely to.
[edit] Information Assurance issues
Answer: what seem to be the likely information assurance issues of the emerging technology under discussion
[edit] Implications for UK Government
[edit] Timescale
Is the impact of this emerging technology felt - now (less than 18 months) - in 2-5 years? - in 5-25 years - longer-term than that even
We estimate that the impact of this is probably at its greatest level now, and will decrease over time. IBM's recent launch of a Web 2.0 package that includes mash-up capability is probably the biggest factor in our thinking on this. However, at worst, users of third party data could pay for service level agreements to maintain APIs.
[edit] Examples
www.directionlessgov.com
[edit] Comments (attributed)
What people say about this emerging technology (attributed)
[edit] Organisations
Groups which have a particular contribution or point of view about this emerging technology, eg tech businesses, user organisations or advocacy groups
[edit] Documents & research papers
Very brief abstracts or links to informative documents, presentations or academic research papers about this emerging technology
[edit] Experts (academic, practitioner)
Links to academic experts or expert practitioners and commentators on this emerging technology
