Are the APIs you use really "open"?

api500.com

4 pointsmehdim3 comments

I think there is a lot of confusion recently between an API and a service endpoints providing access via the API.

And this article really isn't about openness of APIs at all (its not even all that much about openness or APIs -- application programming interfaces -- at all.)

Its mostly about accessibility, reliability, and accountability of service endpoints, for which the openness of the APIs provided by those service endpoints is one factor.

But it uses both "open" and "API" as buzzwords divorced from any concrete meaning.

Nope. Linkedin has recently been proving that APIs are progressively closing some doors.

Twitter, faceook, Linkedin... And so much more that are in reality not open and can revoke you at any time for any reason.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com