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APIs are supposed to simplify things. But most of the ones we see in the wild do the opposite.
At TLVTech, we’ve worked on backend systems across dozens of startups—from quick MVPs to enterprise-scale platforms. And if there’s one thing we consistently fix, it’s overcomplicated, unclear, or inconsistent API design.
A good API doesn’t just “work.” It’s obvious. It’s boring. It’s predictable.
Here’s what a clean API looks like—and why so many teams get it wrong.
You don’t need to read a spec to understand what POST /users/123/reset-password does. But POST /core/actions/trigger? That’s a guessing game.
Good APIs:
/users, /projects, /sessions)/users/123/reset-password)If you need a wiki to explain your endpoints, your naming is broken.
Too many teams try to outsmart HTTP. Don’t.
Use the standard verbs:
GET to fetchPOST to createPUT or PATCH to updateDELETE to removeNo need for POST /getData or GET /createThing. HTTP already gives you semantics—use them.
GET /users/123/projects/456/comments/789/tasks
This kind of nesting looks structured—but quickly becomes unreadable, hard to test, and painful to maintain.
Unless the hierarchy truly matters, flatten it:
A common mistake: designing APIs like direct database wrappers.
Yes, the data model matters—but the API should reflect how the frontend or client uses the data.
Example:
Instead of forcing 3 requests to get user info, preferences, and subscriptions—offer a GET /users/123/dashboard endpoint that returns everything the UI needs in one go.
Backend is for composition. API is for usability.
Don't break clients with unannounced changes.
/v1/users)If your API changes weekly, no one will trust it long-term.
The best APIs feel invisible. They just make sense. No surprise responses, no guessing game with endpoints, no need to dig through docs just to get started.
At TLVTech, we treat APIs like products—because every time someone calls your API, it is part of the product.
If you're building something and want your backend to scale without chaos, let’s talk.
We use a battle-tested backend stack—Node.js, NestJS, Postgres, Docker, and GitHub Actions—that helps startups ship fast, stay stable, and scale without technical debt.
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