API Development Best Practices for Houston Enterprises

Internal APIs

Connect your internal systems—CRM to ERP, inventory to accounting, HR to payroll. Houston businesses with multiple software systems need internal APIs to eliminate manual data entry and reduce errors.

Partner APIs

Enable secure data exchange with vendors, suppliers, and business partners. Critical for Houston companies in supply chain, energy, and healthcare sectors.

Customer-Facing APIs

Power mobile apps, customer portals, and self-service features. Essential for Houston businesses building iOS apps or Android apps alongside web platforms.

1. Design-First Approach

Document your API before writing code. This allows stakeholders to review and provide feedback early, when changes are cheap. We use OpenAPI (Swagger) specifications for clear documentation.

2. RESTful Standards

Follow REST principles for predictable, maintainable APIs:

• Use nouns, not verbs, in endpoints
• Appropriate HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
• Consistent error handling and status codes
• Versioning from day one

3. Security Implementation

API security is non-negotiable for Houston enterprises:

• OAuth 2.0 for authentication
• Rate limiting to prevent abuse
• Input validation to prevent injection attacks
• HTTPS everywhere
• Audit logging for compliance

4. Performance Optimization

APIs must perform under load:

• Implement caching strategically
• Paginate large data sets
• Use efficient database queries
• Consider GraphQL for complex data requirements

Enterprise Application Integration

Connecting enterprise applications requires careful planning. We typically implement:

• Message queues for asynchronous processing
• Event-driven architectures for real-time updates
• Data transformation layers for format compatibility
• Error handling with retry mechanisms

Legacy System Integration

Many Houston businesses run legacy systems that lack modern API capabilities. We build middleware layers that expose legacy functionality through modern APIs without requiring system replacement.

Modern APIs increasingly incorporate AI and machine learning:

• Intelligent document processing
• Predictive analytics endpoints
• Chatbot integration
• Natural language processing services

Our Houston team builds APIs that scale. Whether you're integrating systems, building mobile apps, or creating new products, we deliver secure, performant APIs. Contact us to discuss your integration needs.