Using API's vs the Need for Control

[PopEmersen]

In MJ's book one of the commandments is the one for control but when using an API for a mobile/web app, you as the owner of the app lose a portion of your control to said API owner.

For instance, there is the Parse API which allows you to use very little code to sign up users for your site/app. I think this is a great idea BUT i don't like the removal of control. If your app highly depends on a user base that log ins in to your app, then Parse has a lot more leverage.

What do you guys think?

 

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[andviv]

If your app highly depends on a user base that log ins in to your app, then Parse has a lot more leverage.

True, but....

If that user base is 900 Million, like in the Facebook example, and this makes the user's life better, I think it is a good trade off.

I am not that familiar with Parse.com so I can't comment too much. It looks like a great idea and their business is certainly promising.

Maybe a good use for something like Parse is to be a proof-of-concept of sorts. If things work out well then you know for sure it is worth to go for a completely custom made app for you. Also, $200/month sounds like a great price to me, given the features they are mentioning there.

 

[PopEmersen]

I think it's a great idea and just like you said, use it for proof of concept and then later transition off. It seems like a good tradeoff because you aren't reinventing the wheel and its allows you to get up and running soon, but you do lose some of the control.

 

[healthstatus]

You already don't own the platform the app is running on, the distribution method the app is being sold on. You don't need to worry about the signup API.

 

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[PopEmersen]

You already don't own the platform the app is running on, the distribution method the app is being sold on. You don't need to worry about the signup API.

Didn't think about like that, makes sense. There is a inherent lack of control anyway.