Dynamic

Custom APIs vs Shared Libraries

Developers should learn and use custom APIs when building scalable applications that require integration with external systems, need to expose data or services to clients or partners, or aim to decouple components for maintainability meets developers should learn and use shared libraries to create modular, maintainable, and resource-efficient applications, especially in large-scale projects where code reuse is critical. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Custom APIs

Developers should learn and use custom APIs when building scalable applications that require integration with external systems, need to expose data or services to clients or partners, or aim to decouple components for maintainability

Custom APIs

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use custom APIs when building scalable applications that require integration with external systems, need to expose data or services to clients or partners, or aim to decouple components for maintainability

Pros

  • +Specific use cases include creating microservices architectures, developing mobile or web app backends, automating business processes, or enabling interoperability in IoT ecosystems
  • +Related to: rest-api, graphql

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Shared Libraries

Developers should learn and use shared libraries to create modular, maintainable, and resource-efficient applications, especially in large-scale projects where code reuse is critical

Pros

  • +They are essential for reducing binary size, enabling easy updates without recompiling entire applications, and facilitating interoperability between different software components
  • +Related to: dynamic-linking, static-libraries

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Custom APIs if: You want specific use cases include creating microservices architectures, developing mobile or web app backends, automating business processes, or enabling interoperability in iot ecosystems and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Shared Libraries if: You prioritize they are essential for reducing binary size, enabling easy updates without recompiling entire applications, and facilitating interoperability between different software components over what Custom APIs offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Custom APIs wins

Developers should learn and use custom APIs when building scalable applications that require integration with external systems, need to expose data or services to clients or partners, or aim to decouple components for maintainability

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev