http://www.open-open.com/doc/view/ceee1d75382f4bbc93c8a8a2a98b4e52
Characteristics of a Good API
• Easy to learn
• Easy to use, even without documentation
• Hard to misuse
• Easy to read and maintain code that uses it
• Sufficiently powerful to satisfy requirements
• Easy to extend
• Appropriate to audience
General Principles
API Should Do One Thing and Do it Well
API Should Be As Small As Possible But No Smaller
Implementation Should Not Impact API
Minimize Accessibility of Everything
Names Matter–API is a Little Language
Documentation Matters
Effects of API Design Decisions on Performance are Real and Permanent
API Must Coexist Peacefully with Platform
