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Ask HN: Is API business model overtaking (web)apps?
I've been out of loop with B2B models but it seems that right now APIs are a huge money printer. I've only used OpenAI's and Ginger's APIs so far but recently wanted to purchase some data from another company and instead of receiving a link to a database or a Zip file, they do it in their API portal. Looks like the API model is widely spread. I wonder if companies who can do it will ever launch their own apps anymore. Apps can be a liability. It makes sense to build the thing that other people use to build apps.
- docmechanic 3y agoPostman was the first software organization that I noticed marketing ‘API first’. (https://www.postman.com/api-first/ https://www.postman.com/api-first/) It does seem to be catching on, including in e-commerce, as your experience demonstrates.
- wslh 3y agoI think we are moving to some kind of MVC web where the services exist and the key is the integration, security, and UX. APIs could be all except the UI/UX (now).
- obayesshelton 3y agoI think there will be two noticeable paths people could go down. 1. Headless 2. API first