A few years ago, a recruiter reached out to me about a role at a company that sold a data analysis …

A few years ago, a recruiter reached out to me about a role at a company that sold a data analysis product which included geospatial mapping, and they needed an API developer. They had a Python API, but it was complicated and difficult to use and no one liked it. They wanted something simpler and easier for outside developers to work with. I wrote them a cover letter that began: - - - When I design an API, I start with the apps. An API has no value on its own; its value comes from what you can build with it. There may be an existing app that needs a new API feature, but I like to write a self-contained sample app for quick iteration on the API design and to include in the SDK. An API also needs full test coverage, of course, but that comes after this initial step. Instead of test driven development, you might call it app driven development. An SDK developer is also in a customer support role: they should write solid reference documentation and tutorials and sample apps, and interact directly with the users of the SDK. …