We’ve at all times believed in constructing in public at Buffer — and for those who’ve been round some time, you’ll know we actually imply it.
Transparency and neighborhood collaboration have been on the coronary heart of how we work for over a decade. Which is why I’m particularly excited to share a behind-the-scenes have a look at one thing we’re bringing again: our public API!
I’m Amanda, the product supervisor main the cost on this undertaking, and I wished to provide you a big-picture view of why we’re rebuilding the API, who it’s for, and the place we’re headed subsequent.
A fast look again: The Buffer API origin story
We first launched Buffer’s public API in 2012 with a small however mighty group of 15 integrations — assume Pocket, IFTTT, and different early net favorites. Enjoyable truth: just a few now-competing social instruments truly began out as Buffer integrations.
Our API was constructed with REST (the usual on the time) and allowed builders to do issues like schedule posts and handle profiles. We stored consumer privateness prime of thoughts from day one and constructed out docs to assist of us get began. By 2019, over 47,000 shoppers have been utilizing the API.
However by then, the panorama had modified lots. Following privateness scandals akin to Cambridge Analytica, social community platforms together with Meta (Fb), Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X (previously Twitter) launched stricter phrases of service and information privateness necessities. To conform, we needed to tighten management over our API utilization.
Additionally round this time, our priorities have been shifting internally. We determined to cease permitting new purposes as a result of we knew we couldn’t provide the dev expertise we wished — and our companions deserved — and not using a greater funding.
The comeback story
That greater funding I discussed? We’re prepared for it now. There are just a few huge causes we’re investing in rebuilding Buffer’s API — they usually all come again to doing proper by our neighborhood.
Right here’s a deeper look:
We wish to construct this with you
Transparency and collaboration have at all times been a part of our DNA. Rebuilding the API offers us an opportunity to create one thing that’s extra highly effective, extra accessible, and genuinely helpful — with suggestions and enter from the individuals who’ll truly use it.
We wish to unlock new potentialities for small companies and indie devs
Our mission is all about serving to small companies and creators develop sustainably. A contemporary API removes limitations and opens the door for people to customise Buffer to their wants — and even construct one thing fully new on prime of it. (We like to see it.)
We are able to’t — and shouldn’t — construct all the things ourselves
Our customers have edge instances, workflows, and desires that don’t at all times match neatly into our core roadmap — and that’s okay! A extra versatile, developer-friendly API lets others in our neighborhood construct the instruments they want, with out ready on us to do it.
We wish a UI that’s highly effective and adaptable
As we rebuild, we’re pondering forward to a future the place Buffer’s UI can flex and adapt primarily based on what customers really want — no bloat, no muddle. A greater API helps make that doable.
The tech issues too
Our outdated API was displaying its age. Rebuilding it offers us a stronger, safer basis to work from — one which’s scalable, well-documented, and prepared for no matter comes subsequent (AI instruments, automation, you identify it).
Who we’re constructing the brand new API for
As we rebuild the API, we’re fascinated by two primary teams of people that’ll be utilizing it — each equally essential, and each doing actually thrilling issues.
1. Energy customers personalizing Buffer
These of us are customizing Buffer for their very own workflows — assume social media managers, entrepreneurs, or simply super-organized creators who need issues to run their approach.
Whether or not it’s automation, no-code instruments, or constructing customized dashboards, we would like them to have the ability to use the API to save lots of time and get inventive, no formal dev background required.
Right here’s a fantastic instance of how which may look from one in all our engineers, Andrew Yates, who additionally created his personal app, Alpenglow, as a facet undertaking. (For context, Alpenglow helps pinpoint the precise time a dawn or sundown will likely be at its most stunning in any given location.)
With the API, he’s related Buffer and Alpenglow to create this workflow:
- Customers can submit dawn or sundown picture reviews within the app.
- If they provide permission, I ship the picture and caption straight to Buffer’s drafts.
With this comparatively easy set-up, Andrew had over 3,000 drafts ready for him in Buffer — sufficient for greater than two years of content material, he predicts.
Unimaginable, proper?
2. Builders constructing integrations for others
Then there’s the parents constructing third-party integrations — instruments that work with Buffer and serve total communities or organizations. These tasks normally want extra technical depth: authentication, error dealing with, privateness compliance, the works.
And whereas “developer” used to imply somebody who knew their approach round a terminal, that definition is evolving quick.
Due to AI and low-code instruments, the developer neighborhood is getting extra numerous — which is precisely why we’re targeted on making our docs, tooling, and onboarding tremendous approachable. (Extra on that coming quickly!)
Watch this area for extra
By rebuilding the API, we’re not simply strengthening our technical foundations. We’re doubling down on our dedication to the Buffer neighborhood. This work is about greater than code. It’s about making a extra open, versatile platform that provides builders, small companies, and on a regular basis customers the instruments they should construct what works for them.
I hope you’re as enthusiastic about this as I’m! If in case you have any questions, pop them within the feedback under. In case you’re a developer and wish to become involved as quickly as doable, register right here for early entry. 👀
We’ll share extra on this quickly!
