Have you ever wondered how the top leaders in the tech industry ensure seamless API transitions without disruptions? Today, a managing director and CEO share their strategies for mitigating breaking changes when managing API versions, gathered from seven expert insights. Discover how a structured API-version testing process sets the framework for reliable performance, while concluding with techniques on automating testing to improve service quality. This insight-packed guide captures the full range of tried-and-tested methods straight from the boardrooms of industry titans.
- Take a Structured Testing Approach
- Comprehensively Review API Documentation
- Combine Various Testing Methods
- Simulate Core Transactions for Stability
- Set up a Rigorous Staging Environment
- Assess API Changes for Smooth Operations
- Automate Testing for Quality Service
Take a Structured Testing Approach
Our approach to API-version testing involves a structured, phased process. First, we review documentation for new API versions to understand changes and potential impacts. We then run tests in a staging environment, focusing on functionalities like data integration and compliance standards.
Testing includes automated scripts for performance checks and manual spot checks for edge cases. We also use version control to compare responses between API versions, ensuring seamless compatibility. This comprehensive testing strategy ensures we catch breaking changes early and maintain smooth client service.
Shane McEvoy
MD, Flycast Media
Comprehensively Review API Documentation
Our testing process involves several phases. First, we carefully analyze the new API version’s documentation to understand changes, deprecated endpoints, and new features. Then, afterwards, create a dedicated testing environment to isolate changes and prevent unintended impacts on our production systems.
We then systematically test each API endpoint using various scenarios and data inputs to identify any functional differences or errors. Then, integrate the new API version with our existing systems to assess compatibility and identify potential breaking changes.
Finally, we run comprehensive regression tests to ensure that the new API version doesn’t introduce unintended side effects or regressions in existing functionalities.
Dhari Alabdulhadi
CTO and Founder, Ubuy Kuwait
Combine Various Testing Methods
Testing for the API versions-in-use is really important when working with financial service providers at Lansbox. For example, we employ a good combination of version control, automated testing, and some manual tests to ensure that whether it’s the version or otherwise, the system will work just fine. Automated tests really catch the potential issues early, while manual testing finds edge cases that can disrupt processes.
We also have our dedicated testing environment where we can simulate any scenario pertaining to API versions without affecting live data. We also monitor logs and performance metrics closely; hence breaking changes are spotted before they can actually disrupt financial services due to compatibility issues.
Echo Shao
Founder, Lansbox
Simulate Core Transactions for Stability
As CEO of an authentication platform, testing API changes is critical for our customers in the financial sector. Before any new release, we build automated test suites that verify how each API call functions with sample data.
For a major bank, we simulate their core transactions to ensure stability. When we upgraded hashing algorithms last year, the tests revealed issues in how user sessions were invalidated. Fixing this before deployment avoided login failures for thousands of customers.
When regulations like GDPR change, our legal team reviews the updates and we adjust APIs and data handling to comply. For PCI compliance, we annually pen-test our systems and work with customers on any needed fixes. Keeping APIs robust and compliant is key to serving financial institutions.
Constant testing, legal review, and close customer collaboration have been key to providing a stable platform for our clients. While time-consuming, this approach prevents the disruptions that could result from undetected breaking changes or non-compliance. Our financial customers appreciate the caution we take in managing their critical infrastructure.
Brian Pontarelli
CEO, FusionAuth
Set up a Rigorous Staging Environment
As an experienced NetSuite implementer, I test API changes rigorously before updating production environments. My team takes a rigorous approach.
First, they identify which API calls are core to the client’s business functionality. We then build automated tests that call each endpoint with sample input data and verify the expected outputs.
When a new API version is released, we deploy it to a staging environment and rerun all these automated tests. Any failures indicate potential breaking changes, so we investigate and address them before updating production.
For example, a large retail client relied heavily on APIs to sync inventory data from a third-party warehouse system. Before updating to a new NetSuite version, we built a simulator to send sample warehouse feeds through the APIs. We found issues with how the new version handled null values that would have caused inventory-recalculation failures if undetected. Fixing ahead of time saved the client major disruptions.
With frequent testing and a cautious, staged approach to updates, financial institutions can keep APIs working as expected even as new versions are released. The key is investing in robust, automated testing to detect breaking changes early. Manual testing alone often misses edge cases that come back to cause problems in production systems.
Louis Balla
VP of Sales & Partner, Nuage
Assess API Changes for Smooth Operations
The testing of new API versions is crucial to ensure smooth marketing operations and transaction integrity. The process begins with understanding the API changes by reviewing release notes and assessing their impact on existing integrations. Collaboration with technical teams is essential to effectively map out modifications and minimize disruptions during the transition.
Michael Kazula
Director of Marketing, Olavivo
Automate Testing for Quality Service
As CEO of Mango Innovation, regularly testing API changes is critical for delivering quality service to our clients. We build automated test suites to simulate API calls and verify expected responses for each integration.
When a provider releases an API update, we first deploy it to our staging environment and re-run all tests. Any failures signal potential breaking changes, so we address them before updating production systems. For one bank client, null-value handling issues would have disrupted transactions without detection. Fixing these beforehand prevented an outage.
Frequent testing and staged rollouts help ensure API functionality through version changes. Our automation finds edge cases that manual testing misses. For a payment processor, we built a simulator to test transaction types through their API. It uncovered a bug incorrectly calculating fees in some scenarios. Manual testing hadn’t found this, but fixing it pre-release saved the client from fee errors and revenue loss.
Investing in thorough, automated testing gives confidence in API updates and smooth version transitions. For institutions relying on APIs, it means business as usual instead of disruption. The right strategy means API changes don’t mean instability. Our proactive testing approach minimizes risks for clients in a changing tech landscape.
Derrick Boddie
Senior Web Developer & Founder, Mango Innovation
