Agent-Friendly API Design#

Most APIs are designed for human developers who read documentation, interpret ambiguous error messages, and adapt their approach based on experience. Agents do not have these skills. They parse structured responses, follow explicit instructions, and fail on ambiguity. An API that is pleasant for humans to use may be impossible for an agent to use reliably.

This reference covers practical patterns for designing APIs – or modifying existing ones – so that agents can consume them effectively.

The Fidelity-Speed Tradeoff#

Every local development environment sits on a spectrum between two extremes. On one end: running everything locally with no containers, maximum speed, minimum fidelity to production. On the other end: a full Kubernetes cluster with service mesh, maximum fidelity, minimum speed. Every tool in this space makes a different bet on where the sweet spot is.

The right choice depends on your answers to three questions. How many services does your application depend on? How different is your production environment from a single machine? How long can developers tolerate waiting for changes to take effect?