🔗 API versioning should be your last resort

Versioning doesn't have to be the go-to solution when evolving an API. Instead, focusing on effective change management can lead to better API longevity. This article emphasizes that API versioning is a compatibility tool, not a design strategy.

It outlines how many API changes can be managed without resorting to creating new versions. Key principles include keeping existing fields intact, ensuring optional data remains optional, and incorporating new operations instead of modifying old ones. The discussion delves into how breaking changes happen beyond just URL modifications, bringing attention to aspects like request validation and operational shifts.

Overall, this piece encourages a mindset shift towards compatibility and thoughtful management rather than adhering to versioning as a default approach.