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APIOps Cycles

APIOps Cycles is a Lean and service design–inspired methodology for designing, improving, and scaling APIs throughout their entire lifecycle. Developed since 2017 and continuously refined through community contributions and real-world projects across industries, APIOps Cycles provides a structured approach to API strategy using a distinctive metro map visualization where stations and lines represent critical aspects of the API lifecycle.

    Aligning engineering with products when it comes to APIs.

    The method is built around a collection of strategic canvas templates that help teams systematically address everything from customer journey mapping and value proposition definition to domain modeling, capacity planning, and risk assessment. As an open-source framework released under the Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 license, APIOps Cycles is freely available for anyone to use, adapt, and share, with the complete method consisting of localized JSON and markdown files that power both the official website and open tooling available as an npm package. Whether you’re a developer integrating the method into your products and services, or an organization seeking to establish API product strategy and best practices, APIOps Cycles offers a proven, community-backed approach supported by a network of partners who can provide guidance and expertise in implementing the methodology effectively.

    License: Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0

    Tags: Products, Operations

    Website: https://www.apiopscycles.com/

    APIOps Cycles Canvases Outline

    1. Customer Journey Canvas
    • Persona
    • Customer Discovers Need
    • Customer Need Is Resolved
    • Journey Steps
    • Pains
    • Gains
    • Inputs & Outputs
    • Interaction & Processing Rules
    1. API Value Proposition Canvas
    • Tasks
    • Gain Enabling Features
    • Pain Relieving Features
    • API Products
    1. API Business Model Canvas
    • API Value Proposition
    • API Consumer Segments
    • Developer Relations
    • Channels
    • Key Resources
    • Key Activities
    • Key Partners
    • Benefits
    • Costs
    1. Domain Canvas
    • Selected Customer Journey Steps
    • Core Entities & Business Meaning
    • Attributes & Business Importance
    • Relationships Between Entities
    • Business, Compliance & Integrity Rules
    • Security & Privacy Considerations
    1. Interaction Canvas
    • CRUD Interactions
    • CRUD Input & Output Models
    • CRUD Processing & Validation
    • Query-Driven Interactions
    • Query-Driven Input & Output Models
    • Query-Driven Processing & Validation
    • Command-Driven Interactions
    • Command-Driven Input & Output Models
    • Command-Driven Processing & Validation
    • Event-Driven Interactions
    • Event-Driven Input & Output Models
    • Event-Driven Processing & Validation
    1. REST Canvas
    • API Resources
    • API Resource Model
    • API Verbs
    • API Verb Example
    1. GraphQL Canvas
    • API Name
    • Consumer Goals
    • Key Types
    • Relationships
    • Queries
    • Mutations
    • Subscriptions
    • Authorization Rules
    • Consumer Constraints
    • Notes / Open Questions
    1. Event Canvas
    • User Task / Trigger
    • Input / Event Payload
    • Processing / Logic
    • Output / Event Result
    1. Capacity Canvas
    • Current Business Volumes
    • Future Consumption Trends
    • Peak Load and Availability Requirements
    • Caching Strategies
    • Rate Limiting Strategies
    • Scaling Strategies
    1. Business Impact Canvas
    • Availability Risks
    • Mitigate Availability Risks
    • Security Risks
    • Mitigate Security Risks
    • Data Risks
    • Mitigate Data Risks
    1. Locations Canvas
    • Location Groups
    • Location Group Characteristics
    • Locations
    • Location Characteristics
    • Location Distances
    • Location Distance Characteristics
    • Location Endpoints
    • Location Endpoint Characteristics