SoundCloud API Learnings

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These are the slides from my talk at disruptivecode 2010.

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SoundCloud/APIEric Wahlforss CTO/SoundCloud

Disruptive Code 2010

Who am I?

What is SoundCloud?

What is SoundCloud?

Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

What is SoundCloud?

Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

Like Flickr for audio

What is SoundCloud?

Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

Like Flickr for audio

All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings

What is SoundCloud?

Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

Like Flickr for audio

All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings

Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis

What is SoundCloud?

Your sounds from anywhere to everywhere

Like Flickr for audio

All kinds of audio – Music, samples, loops, recordings

Almost 2 million users – From Bieber to Shamantis

An open platform

Highlights

What is an API?

What is an API?

Application Programming Interface = Platform

What is an API?

Application Programming Interface = Platform

... two systems talking to each other

What is an API?

Application Programming Interface = Platform

... two systems talking to each other

Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data

What is an API?

Application Programming Interface = Platform

... two systems talking to each other

Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data

Essential for the web

What is an API?

Application Programming Interface = Platform

... two systems talking to each other

Facilitates exchange and manipulation of data

Essential for the web

Adam Smith’s wet dream

Hyper division of labour...

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

Hyper division of labour...

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

... and a network economy

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...

... which spreads the word about your service

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...

... which spreads the word about your service

Developer community–the ultimate power users

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...

... which spreads the word about your service

Developer community–the ultimate power users

Extend your application–solve niche use cases

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

Why API? Obvious and not-so-obvious reasons

Allow people to use their own data...

... empower people–everybody loves talking about stuff that empowers them ...

... which spreads the word about your service

Developer community–the ultimate power users

Extend your application–solve niche use cases

Conceptual clarity

Inspired by http://strange.corante.com/2006/02/08/fowa-ten-reasons-why-you-need-to-build-an-api-shaun-inman

And...

It might become the core of your service!

Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

Learnings from SoundCloud

People like new things!

Eat your own dogfood

Once you launch you can’t change

Inspired by http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2010/08/the-new-api-movement-may.php

Engage the community

Don’t pay people

Write kick-ass docs

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0

http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/

http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0

http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/

http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0

http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/

http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0

http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/

http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

BizDev 1.0->1.5->2.0

http://cdixon.org/2010/08/28/good-bizdev-cannabilizies-itself/

http://caterina.net/archive/000996.html

Cool stuff

Studio One

AmpKit

Beatwave

RootMusic BandPage

MobileRoadie

ExtensionFM

Citysounds

Thanks!eric@soundcloud.com

twitter.com/ericw

We’re hiring :)soundcloud.com/jobs