EP158: How to Learn API Development

Introducing Augment Agent: an AI Agent for pro software engineers (Sponsored)

Augment Code is the first AI coding Assistant built for professional software engineers, large codebases, and production-grade projects.

Now they're excited to unveil Augment Agent, a powerful new mode for Augment Code that can help you complete software development tasks end-to-end. Agent can:

• Add new features spanning multiple files

• Queue up tests in the terminal

• Open Linear tickets, start a pull request

• Start a new branch in GitHub from recent commits

...and all kinds of other things. Skip the toy AI coding projects and build something real -- Augment Agent is
standing by to help.

---

This week’s system design refresher:

• How to Learn API Development?

• Must-Know Network Protocol Dependencies

• Top AI Coding Tools for Developers You Can Use in 2025

• 18 Key Design Patterns Every Developer Should Know

• Hiring 🚀: ByteByteGo’s First Sales & Partnerships Hire

• SPONSOR US

---

How to Learn API Development?

Learning how to develop APIs is an important skill for modern-day developers. Here’s a mind map of what all you need to learn about API development:

1. API Fundamentals
   What is an API, types of API (REST, SOAP, GraphQL, gRPC, etc.), and API vs SDK.

2. API Request/Response
   HTTP Methods, Response Codes, and Headers.

3. Authentication and Security
   Authentication mechanisms (JWT, OAuth 2, API Keys, Basic Auth) and security strategies.

4. API Design and Development
   RESTful API principles include stateless, resource-based URL, versioning, and pagination. Also, API documentation tools like OpenAPI, Postman, Swagger.

5. API Testing
   Tools for testing APIs such as Postman, cURL, SoapUI, and so on.

6. API Deployment and Integration
   Consuming APIs in different languages like JS, Python, and Java. Also, working with 3rd party APIs like the Google Maps API and the Stripe API. Learn about API Gateways like AWS, Kong, Apigee.

Over to you: What else will you add to the list for learning API development?

---

Must-Know Network Protocol Dependencies

Understanding network protocol dependencies is essential for cybersecurity and networking. Here’s a quick understanding of the same:

1. IPv4 and IPv6 are the foundation of all networking. ICMP and ICMPv6 handle diagnostics, while IPsec ensures secure communication.

2. TCP and UDP support various protocols. SCTP and DCCP serve specific cases.

3. Some TCP-based protocols are HTTP, SSH, BGP, RDP, IMAP, SMTP, POP, etc.

4. UDP-based protocols are DNS, DHCP, SIP, RTP, NTP, etc.

5. SSL/TLS encrypts HTTPS, IMAPS, and SMTPS.

6. LDAP and LDAPs are used for directory services over TCP and secured with SSL/TLS.

7. QUIC is a UDP-based replacement for TCP+TLS for faster, encrypted connections.

8. MCP or Model Context Protocol is an emerging standard for communicating with LLMs.

Over to you: Which other network protocol will you add to the list?

---

Top AI Coding Tools for Developers You Can Use in 2025

1. AI Code Assistants
   GitHub Copilot: Code completion and automatic programming tool.
   
   ChatGPT: Helps write and debug code with the latest models.
   
   Claude: Recent and specialized coding knowledge to generate accurate and up-to-date code.
   
   Amazon CodeWhisperer: AI Assistant in the IDE

2. AI-Powered IDEs
   Cursor: AI-powered IDE for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
   
   Windsurf: AI-powered IDE that tackles complex tasks independently.
   
   Replit: Create fully working apps to go live fast.

3. Team Productivity
   Cody: The enterprise AI code assistant for writing, fixing, and maintaining code.
   
   Pieces: AI-enabled productivity tool to help developers manage code snippets.
   
   Visual Copilot: Convert Figma designs into React, Vue, Svelte, Angular, or HTML code.

4. Code Quality and Completion
   Snyk: Real-time vulnerability scanning of human and AI-generated code.
   
   Tabnine: A code completion tool to accelerate software development.

Over to you: Which other AI Coding Tool will you add to the list? What’s your favorite?

---

18 Key Design Patterns Every Developer Should Know

Patterns are reusable solutions to common design problems, resulting in a smoother, more efficient development process. They serve as blueprints for building better software structures. These are some of the most popular patterns:

• Abstract Factory: Family Creator - Makes groups of related items.

• Builder: Lego Master - Builds objects step by step, keeping creation and appearance

• Prototype: Clone Maker - Creates copies of fully prepared examples.

• Singleton: One and Only - A special class with just one instance.

• Adapter: Universal Plug - Connects things with different interfaces.

• Bridge: Function Connector - Links how an object works to what it does.

• Composite: Tree Builder - Forms tree-like structures of simple and complex parts.

• Decorator: Customizer - Adds features to objects without changing their core.

• Facade: One-Stop-Shop - Represents a whole system with a single, simplified interface.

• Flyweight: Space Saver - Shares small, reusable items efficiently.

• Proxy: Stand-In Actor - Represents another object, controlling access or actions.

• Chain of Responsibility: Request Relay - Passes a request through a chain of objects until handled.

• Command: Task Wrapper - Turns a request into an object, ready for action.

• Iterator: Collection Explorer - Accesses elements in a collection one by one.

• Mediator: Communication Hub - Simplifies interactions between different classes.

• Memento: Time Capsule - Captures and restores an object's state.

• Observer: News Broadcaster - Notifies classes about changes in other objects.

• Visitor: Skillful Guest - Adds new operations to a class without altering it.

---

Hiring 🚀: ByteByteGo’s First Sales & Partnerships Hire

Location: Remote
Compensation: Based on experience and hours committed
Experience Level: 1+ years in digital media sales or partnerships

About ByteByteGo
ByteByteGo is the largest technology newsletter on Substack, breaking down complex software and system design concepts into clear, visual, and engaging formats. Our weekly newsletter reaches over a million developers, engineers, and tech leaders across the world.

About the Role
We’re looking for a sales and partnerships lead who will help grow our newsletter sponsorship business. This role will focus on securing new advertisers, nurturing existing relationships, and optimizing revenue opportunities across our newsletter and other media formats.

What You’ll Do
- Identify, pitch, and close sponsorship deals with companies targeting a technical audience.
- Manage inbound interest and proactively source new leads
- Handle sales calls and follow-ups with prospective sponsors
- Grow existing accounts through renewals, upsells, and relationship management
- Track performance and help optimize pricing, packages, and positioning

What We’re Looking For
- 1+ years of experience in sales, partnerships, or media sponsorships—ideally in tech or newsletter media
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with outbound prospecting, CRM tools, and closing deals
- Strong understanding of the tech ecosystem—developer tools, SaaS, AI, startups
- Bonus: you’re already a fan of ByteByteGo and get our voice and audience
- You’re self-motivated, organized, and ready to grow with a small team

How to Apply
Send your resume and a short note on why you’re excited about this role to jobs@bytebytego.com

---

SPONSOR US

Get your product in front of more than 1,000,000 tech professionals.

Our newsletter puts your products and services directly in front of an audience that matters - hundreds of thousands of engineering leaders and senior engineers - who have influence over significant tech decisions and big purchases.

Space Fills Up Fast - Reserve Today

Ad spots typically sell out about 4 weeks in advance. To ensure your ad reaches this influential audience, reserve your space now by emailing sponsorship@bytebytego.com.