Every successful API program is built on a foundation of reliable tools. Here’s an inside look at the key tools that power our daily operations at That API Company, where we help businesses build and scale their API programs.
Development & Testing: Postman
Ask any of our engineers what tool they use most, and Postman will likely be their answer. While many know it as “that API testing tool,” we use it as our central hub for API development:
- We create detailed collections for each client’s API, serving as a living reference for their endpoints
- Environment variables help us seamlessly switch between development, staging, and production
- Our QA team uses the automated testing features to catch issues before they reach production
- We share collections with clients to help them understand API changes and new features
Fun fact: Last month, our team ran over 50,000 API requests through Postman. That’s a lot of testing!
Error Tracking: Sentry
In the API world, knowing about errors before your users do is crucial. Sentry has been a game-changer for us:
- Real-time error tracking across all our client’s APIs
- Detailed stack traces that help us pinpoint issues quickly
- Custom alerting that routes different types of errors to the right team members
- Error grouping that helps us spot patterns and systemic issues
The best part? Since implementing Sentry, our average time to resolve critical issues has dropped from hours to minutes.
Project Management: Linear
After trying practically every project management tool out there, Linear has become our home. Here’s why:
- Clean, keyboard-friendly interface that developers actually enjoy using
- Powerful automation that handles routine tasks for us
- Custom workflows that match how our teams actually work
- Built-in roadmapping that helps us plan client projects
Community Building: Discord
Building active developer communities around APIs is crucial for adoption. Discord has become our go-to platform:
- Separate channels for announcements, support, and general discussion
- Bot integration for automated notifications about API status and updates
- Voice channels for live debugging sessions with developers
- Easy file sharing for code snippets and examples
Design: Canva
Great APIs need great documentation and marketing materials. Canva helps our non-designers create:
- API architecture diagrams
- Technical documentation graphics
- Social media content for API announcements
- Presentation decks for client meetings
Infrastructure: GCP Cloud Run & Kubernetes
Our infrastructure needs to be as flexible as our clients’ requirements. We rely heavily on Google Cloud Platform:
Cloud Run
- Perfect for running our microservices and API endpoints
- Automatic scaling based on demand
- Pay-per-use pricing that keeps costs predictable
- Zero maintenance overhead for simple services
Kubernetes
- Handles our more complex, interconnected services
- Provides robust service discovery and load balancing
- Makes multi-region deployments straightforward
- Excellent for clients with specific compliance requirements
Monitoring & Logging: GCP Operations Suite
Keeping APIs reliable means having visibility into every aspect of their operation. GCP’s monitoring tools give us:
- Real-time performance metrics across all services
- Centralized logging with powerful search
- Custom dashboards for different stakeholders
- Automated alerts based on performance thresholds
The Right Tool for the Right Job
While these tools form the backbone of our operations, what matters most is how we use them together. Each client’s needs are different, and our tool stack lets us be flexible while maintaining consistency in our delivery.
For example, when we notice an error spike in Sentry, our team gets automatically notified in Discord or Slack, creates a ticket in Linear, and uses GCP’s monitoring tools to investigate. This integration between tools helps us resolve issues quickly and keep our clients’ APIs running smoothly.
Want to know more about how we use these tools to build successful API programs? Drop us a line – we’d love to share our experiences and help you choose the right tools for your API initiatives.
