One of the reasons I love APIs is that they provide technology access and empower people to build products that they wouldn’t create otherwise. That includes people who don’t consider themselves developers but have some basic knowledge and can leverage APIs in low-code or no-code environments. I have voiced this sentiment previously on this blog and a 100-tweet-thread on Twitter.
Talking about Twitter: Vensy Krishna dragged me into a conversation started by Doc Williams. He was looking for an API introduction targeted at non-developers. I know that some API providers active in this area, such as Vonage who host a “low-code” hour with Julia Biro on their Twitch account (here’s an example recording. However, the fact that I couldn’t immediately name more resources may indicate a lack of such. I have previously created some internal material for a client who wanted to teach their employees how to use Postman as a non-developer and consume APIs in Microsoft Excel. On the public web, though, a quick Google search didn’t reveal much (granted, that may also be due to not using the right search terms). There are some high-level API explanations, and I found one more hands-on tutorial.
If we want to fulfill APIs’ vision, we probably need more developer content targeted at beginners and no-code and low-code users. It’s also an area in which I’d love to do more. However, I’m wondering about the crucial aspects and potential roadblocks of an API beginner’s journey. Therefore, I have decided to make a special offer: I will provide a one-on-one consulting/mentoring/co-working Zoom-call of 30 to 60 minutes to five aspiring API users who are coding beginners or working with no-code/low-code tools, free-of-charge. If you are in the target audience, this can be a great chance to get a head-start to build something or solve a problem you’re facing. Why am I doing this? Apart from providing a service to the community, I can get back into the beginner’s mind and learn what helps me improve the writing and API design I do for my clients and projects. So, it’s a win-win! I will also evaluate whether there’s a market for a paid mentoring/consulting offer or an info product in this area.
If you are interested in having a free session with me, please apply by sending me an email or a DM on Twitter, describing what you’re attempting to do and what issues you have. I will then send you a calendar link to schedule the session. If there are more interested applicants than I can serve, I will choose at my discretion. I am looking forward to hearing from you!