Web Development
Hire API Developers for REST and GraphQL APIs
API developers build the connections between systems: the endpoints your apps call, and the integrations that move data between your tools and outside services.
The role
What API developers do
An API developer designs endpoints and data formats, handles authentication and rate limits, writes documentation other developers can follow, and integrates services such as Stripe, Salesforce or shipping providers. Reliability is most of the craft: retries, timeouts and clear errors.
Typical deliverables
- REST or GraphQL endpoints
- OpenAPI documentation
- Third-party integrations
- Webhooks and event handling
- Authentication with API keys or OAuth
Tools you will see
- OpenAPI
- Postman
- OAuth 2.0
- Node.js, Python or PHP
- Webhooks
- API gateways and rate limiting
Choosing
How to choose API developers
What to look for
- Consistent naming, error formats and versioning.
- Documentation a developer can use without asking questions.
- Careful handling of retries, timeouts and duplicate webhooks.
- Authentication, authorization and input validation on every endpoint.
Questions to ask
- 1How do you change an API without breaking existing clients?
- 2What do you do when a webhook arrives twice?
- 3What does your API documentation include?
- 4How do you secure endpoints for different kinds of clients?
Planning
Before you post the job
Know who calls it
List the API's consumers: your web app, a mobile app, partners. Public APIs need more documentation, versioning and security.
What drives cost
The number of endpoints and integrations, the authentication method, documentation needs and reliability targets.
Hiring on Open Lance
- Posting a job and reviewing proposals are free.
- Each milestone is funded into escrow before work starts and paid when you approve it.
- Hire fixed-price, hourly, as a monthly Dedicated Hire, or buy a packaged Drop-In.
- Client fees are shown before you pay and added on top of the work.
FAQ
Questions about hiring API developers
REST or GraphQL?
REST suits most integrations and public APIs. GraphQL suits apps with many screens needing different data.
Can they integrate a service with poor documentation?
Often, but it takes longer and carries more risk. Mention it up front so estimates allow for it.
How should API keys be shared?
Through a password manager or secrets system, never email or chat, and rotated when the work ends.
Related
Related skills
Post a job for API developers
Describe the work and compare proposals. You only fund the first milestone once you have chosen someone.