Co-Founder Taliferro
Introduction
Once upon a time, in the hallowed halls of academia, where the future API architects and luminaries of our digital world were nurtured, a series of utterly calamitous and, dare I say, amusing design practices were born. It is said that laughter is the best medicine, so let us embark on a jovial journey, exploring the buffoonery of some ill-fated API design practices that, if not for their comical nature, might have left us in tears.
Updated for 2025: This guide now reflects current REST and HTTP best practices, stronger security baselines (OAuth 2.1/PKCE, mTLS in sensitive environments), and clearer guidance on pagination, error payloads, and versioning strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Use clear, predictable endpoint naming—avoid inscrutable endpoints.
- Follow REST API best practices for versioning, pagination, and HTTP methods.
- Return consistent status codes and actionable error messages.
- Prioritize API security from day one to prevent avoidable vulnerabilities.
Video: How Taliferro Group Tackles API Design
Mistake 1 — Inscrutable Endpoints (API design mistakes)
Like a well-designed labyrinth, an API should guide its users to their desired destination. Yet, some API designers revel in befuddling their users by crafting enigmatic endpoints reminiscent of the sphinx's riddles. These inscrutable endpoints leave developers scratching their heads, wondering whether they are interacting with an API or decoding ancient hieroglyphs. It's a delightful game of chance, as even the most perspicacious developers may fail to discern the purpose of such abstruse endpoints.
Mistake 2 — Inconsistent Naming Conventions
In the grand theatre of API design, one must appreciate the farcical nature of inconsistent naming conventions. With the stage set for confusion and miscommunication, developers must navigate a minefield of camelCase, snake_case, and PascalCase, stumbling through the ensuing chaos like a slapstick comedy routine. The result is a cacophony of code, an unintentional homage to the absurdity of the human condition.
Mistake 3 — Nested-Resource Overload
In the pursuit of complexity, some API designers craft intricate structures of nested resources, evoking the spirit of M.C. Escher's mind-bending illustrations. With each successive layer of nesting, developers are drawn deeper into the abyss of confusion as they grapple with the vertiginous complexity of resource hierarchies. It's a rib-tickling exercise in futility as developers untangle the Gordian knot, only to realize that simplicity was the key all along.
Mistake 4 — Overzealous Versioning
API versioning, when approached with moderation, is a laudable practice, ensuring consumer compatibility and stability. However, some API designers take this practice to new, hilarious heights, unleashing a torrent of versions that would make even the most ardent collector of comic book editions dizzy. This cacophony of versions leaves developers perpetually updating their code, trapped in a Sisyphean struggle against the inexorable march of progress.
Mistake 5 — Inadequate Documentation
To truly appreciate the tragicomic nature of doomed API design practices, one must venture into the realm of inadequate documentation. This realm, where the fog of obscurity obscures the guiding light of knowledge, is a veritable playground for the masochistic developer. Bereft of meaningful guidance, developers are left to fumble in the dark, grasping at straws as they try to discern the arcane workings of the API. It's a Kafkaesque experience, complete with the unsettling sense that the answers lie beyond one's grasp.
Mistake 6 — Overloading HTTP Methods
To complete our journey through the absurdity of doomed API design practices, let us examine the whimsical whirlpool of overloading HTTP methods. In this fantastical world, API designers wield the power of HTTP methods like a whimsical sorcerer, bending the fabric of convention to their will. GET methods perform DELETE operations, POST methods are used for idempotent requests, and PUT methods create resources, all with a gleeful disregard for established norms. The result is a swirling maelstrom of confusion, as developers struggle to keep their heads above water in the tumultuous sea of unconventional practices.
Mistake 7 — Confounding Error Messages
No tragicomedy would be complete without the spectacle of confounding error messages. In this scenario, API designers craft responses as cryptic as the prophecies of the Delphic Oracle. These error messages provide little context or guidance, leaving developers to embark on a quixotic quest for meaning. As they wrestle with the enigmatic responses, developers may find solace in the notion that they are participating in an absurdist performance, wherein they are both the audience and the protagonist.
// ❌ Bad: ambiguous error
HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: application/json
{ "error": "Something went wrong" }
// ✅ Good: actionable, consistent shape
HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": {
"code": "INVALID_PARAMETER",
"message": "Query parameter 'limit' must be an integer between 1 and 100.",
"details": [
{ "field": "limit", "reason": "out_of_range", "min": 1, "max": 100 }
],
"traceId": "a1b2c3d4"
}
}Mistake 8 — Ignoring Pagination
Imagine an API that returns all records in a single response, conjuring images of an infinite scroll through a boundless data set. As developers attempt to process the data deluge, their applications grind to a halt, buckling under the weight of an unending stream of records. It's a scene worthy of a Buster Keaton film, as developers are left reeling from the onslaught of information. This comedic catastrophe results from ignoring pagination, a cardinal sin in API design.
// ✅ Recommended cursor-based pagination
GET /v1/customers?limit=50&cursor=eyJpZCI6IjEyMzQ1In0
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/json
{
"items": [ /* ... */ ],
"page": {
"limit": 50,
"next": "eyJpZCI6IjU2Nzg5In0",
"prev": null
}
}
// Include RFC 5988-style link headers for clients
Link: <https://api.example.com/v1/customers?limit=50&cursor=eyJpZCI6IjU2Nzg5In0>; rel="next"
Mistake 9 — Misuse of Status Codes
In doomed API design practices, the misuse of status codes is a veritable smorgasbord of comedy. API designers treat status codes like a game of musical chairs, randomly assigning them and leaving developers to decipher their true meaning. As 404 errors are repurposed to indicate success and 200 responses signal abject failure, developers may feel they have wandered into a Lewis Carroll-inspired fever dream.
Mistake 10 — Neglecting Security
Finally, we arrive at the pièce de résistance: the laughable legerdemain of neglecting security. API designers weave an intricate tapestry of vulnerabilities in this grand finale, creating a hacker's paradise where sensitive data is ripe for the picking. It's a thrilling game of cat and mouse as developers scramble to patch the myriad security holes while nefarious actors exploit them for their gain.
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Conclusion
The tragicomic world of doomed API design practices is a testament to the boundless creativity of the human spirit. As we laugh at the folly of these misguided endeavors, let us also appreciate the lessons they provide, guiding us toward a brighter future of elegant, intuitive, and secure API design.
Tyrone ShowersAPI Design — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common API design mistakes?
Typical mistakes include unclear endpoint naming, inconsistent conventions, over-nesting resources, poor versioning, ignoring pagination, misusing HTTP methods and status codes, unhelpful error messages, and weak security.
How do I avoid REST API anti-patterns?
Adopt consistent naming, document thoroughly, return predictable status codes, implement pagination and filtering, use semantic HTTP methods, and secure authentication and authorization from the start.
What’s the best way to version an API?
Choose a clear, consistent approach (e.g., URI versioning or header-based) and deprecate responsibly with documentation and migration timelines.