Most legacy supply chain systems treat APIs as an afterthought—a way to patch together systems that were never meant to work together. We're taking the opposite approach with WarehouseWise.
What is API-First?
API-first means that before we build any user interface, we build the API. The UI then consumes the same API that external integrations will use. This ensures consistency and makes testing much easier.
The Traditional Approach (And Why It Fails)
Traditional software development builds the application first, then adds APIs later as an integration layer. This leads to inconsistent behavior where the UI can do things the API can't, poor documentation where APIs are documented after the fact, limited functionality where APIs expose only basic operations, and breaking changes where updates to the core app break integrations.
The API-First Approach
With API-first development, we first design the API contract by defining endpoints, data models, and operations. Then we document everything with auto-generated, always up-to-date documentation. Next, we build the backend to implement the API specification. After that, we build the frontend where the UI consumes the same APIs as integrations. Finally, we test thoroughly where API tests serve as integration tests.
Benefits for WarehouseWise Users
Flexibility: Connect any system to WarehouseWise using the same robust APIs we use internally. Reliability: If the UI can do it, the API can do it. No surprises or limitations. Future-proof: As new platforms emerge (mobile apps, IoT devices, etc.), they can all use the same API. Developer Experience: Clean, consistent, well-documented APIs that developers actually enjoy using.
Real-World Example
Want to sync inventory from WarehouseWise to your custom mobile app? The same API endpoint that our web interface uses for inventory updates is available to you. Same performance, same reliability, same features.
OpenAPI Specification
We're using OpenAPI 3.0 to document our APIs. This means interactive documentation with try-it-now features, automatic client library generation for multiple languages, API mocking for development and testing, and version control for API changes.
Authentication & Security
API-first doesn't mean compromising on security. We use OAuth 2.0 for authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), rate limiting to prevent abuse, and detailed audit logs.
Looking Ahead
As we build out the MVP, every new feature follows this API-first approach. By the time we launch, WarehouseWise will have one of the most comprehensive and developer-friendly APIs in the supply chain space.