api-onboarding

Name: api-onboarding
Author: jonathimer

63installs6forks

How to install api-onboarding?

jonathimer/devmarketing-skills/api-onboarding

$npx -y skills add jonathimer/devmarketing-skills --skill api-onboarding

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Reduce time-to-first-API-call (TTFAC) by optimizing every step of the developer onboarding journey. This skill covers authentication simplification, sandbox environments, interactive documentation, and identifying and eliminating common failure points. Trigger phrases: "API onboa

Files · 1

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SKILL.md

1	# Reducing Time-to-First-API-Call
2
3	The time between a developer discovering your API and successfully making their first call is the most critical window in your entire developer journey. Every minute of friction here costs you potential users.
4
5	## Overview
6
7	Time-to-First-API-Call (TTFAC) is the single most predictive metric for developer adoption. Developers who succeed quickly become active users. Developers who struggle leave—often silently.
8
9	This skill covers:
10	- Measuring and optimizing TTFAC
11	- Removing authentication friction
12	- Creating effective sandbox environments
13	- Building interactive documentation
14	- Identifying and fixing common failure points
15
16	## Before You Start
17
18	Review the developer-audience-context skill to understand:
19	- What's the typical technical sophistication of your developers?
20	- What tools and environments do they commonly use?
21	- What alternative products have they tried? What was their experience?
22	- What's their urgency level? (Evaluating vs. building immediately)
23
24	Your onboarding should meet developers where they are.
25
26	## Understanding TTFAC
27
28	### What TTFAC Measures
29
30	Time-to-First-API-Call measures the elapsed time from a developer's first interaction to their first successful API response. This includes:
31
32	1. Discovery time: Finding the "Get Started" content
33	2. Signup time: Creating an account
34	3. Credential time: Obtaining API keys
35	4. Setup time: Installing SDK, configuring environment
36	5. Execution time: Running first request
37	6. Success time: Receiving successful response
38
39	### TTFAC Benchmarks
40
41	\| Rating \| TTFAC \| Developer Experience \|
42	\|--------\|-------\|---------------------\|
43	\| Excellent \| < 5 min \| "This is amazing" \|
44	\| Good \| 5-15 min \| "Pretty straightforward" \|
45	\| Acceptable \| 15-30 min \| "Got there eventually" \|
46	\| Poor \| 30-60 min \| "This is frustrating" \|
47	\| Failing \| > 60 min \| "I'll try something else" \|
48
49	### Measuring TTFAC
50
51	Instrumentation points:
52	```javascript
53	// Track these events with timestamps
54	analytics.track('docs_quickstart_viewed');
55	analytics.track('signup_started');
56	analytics.track('signup_completed');
57	analytics.track('api_key_created');
58	analytics.track('sdk_installed'); // Via package manager data
59	analytics.track('first_api_call'); // Via API logs
60	analytics.track('first_successful_call');
61	```
62
63	Calculate:
64	- Median TTFAC (more useful than average)
65	- TTFAC by developer segment
66	- Drop-off rates at each step
67	- Success rates within time windows (5 min, 15 min, 60 min)
68
69	## Authentication Simplification
70
71	Authentication is the #1 source of onboarding friction. Simplify ruthlessly.
72
73	### The Ideal Auth Flow
74
75	1. Developer signs up (< 2 minutes)
76	2. API key visible immediately (not buried in settings)
77	3. Key works immediately (no activation delay)
78	4. Copy-paste into example code
79	5. Success
80
81	### Auth Anti-Patterns to Avoid
82
83	The Approval Queue
84	```
85	❌ "Your API access request has been submitted.
86	You'll receive access within 2-3 business days."
87	```
88	Developers leave and find an alternative.
89
90	The Hidden Key
91	```
92	❌ Settings → Team → API → Credentials → Keys → Show Key
93	```
94	Make keys visible on dashboard home.
95
96	The Complex Token
97	```
98	❌ OAuth flow requiring:
99	- Client ID
100	- Client secret
101	- Redirect URI configuration
102	- Token exchange
103	- Token refresh handling
104	```
105	For getting started, provide simple API keys.
106
107	The Verification Gauntlet
108	```
109	❌ Sign up → Verify email → Verify phone →
110	Add payment → Verify payment → Then API key
111	```
112	Minimize friction for first API call.
113
114	### Auth Simplification Strategies
115
116	Provide Test Keys Immediately
117	```
118	✅ "Here's your test API key: sk_test_abc123...
119	Use this in sandbox mode—no charges, no setup."
120	```
121
122	Support Multiple Auth Methods
123	```
124	✅ Quickstart: API key header
125	Production: OAuth when they need it
126	```
127
128	Pre-populate Examples
129	```
130	✅ # Your API key is pre-filled in these examples
131	curl -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_test_YOUR_KEY" ...
132	```
133
134	Delay Production Requirements
135	```
136	✅ Test mode: Instant access
137	Production mode: Add payment, verify identity (later)
138	```
139
140	## Sandbox Environments
141
142	A sandbox removes the fear of "breaking something" and lets developers experiment freely.
143
144	### Sandbox Requirements
145
146	Instant Access: No approval, no payment, no complex setup
147
148	Realistic Behavior: Same API, same responses, same errors
149
150	Clear Boundaries: Obvious when in sandbox vs.

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Type

api-onboarding

63installs6forks

View on GitHub

How to install api-onboarding?

jonathimer/devmarketing-skills/api-onboarding

$npx -y skills add jonathimer/devmarketing-skills --skill api-onboarding

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Files · 1

View on GitHub

SKILL.md

1	# Reducing Time-to-First-API-Call
2
3	The time between a developer discovering your API and successfully making their first call is the most critical window in your entire developer journey. Every minute of friction here costs you potential users.
4
5	## Overview
6
7	Time-to-First-API-Call (TTFAC) is the single most predictive metric for developer adoption. Developers who succeed quickly become active users. Developers who struggle leave—often silently.
8
9	This skill covers:
10	- Measuring and optimizing TTFAC
11	- Removing authentication friction
12	- Creating effective sandbox environments
13	- Building interactive documentation
14	- Identifying and fixing common failure points
15
16	## Before You Start
17
18	Review the developer-audience-context skill to understand:
19	- What's the typical technical sophistication of your developers?
20	- What tools and environments do they commonly use?
21	- What alternative products have they tried? What was their experience?
22	- What's their urgency level? (Evaluating vs. building immediately)
23
24	Your onboarding should meet developers where they are.
25
26	## Understanding TTFAC
27
28	### What TTFAC Measures
29
30	Time-to-First-API-Call measures the elapsed time from a developer's first interaction to their first successful API response. This includes:
31
32	1. Discovery time: Finding the "Get Started" content
33	2. Signup time: Creating an account
34	3. Credential time: Obtaining API keys
35	4. Setup time: Installing SDK, configuring environment
36	5. Execution time: Running first request
37	6. Success time: Receiving successful response
38
39	### TTFAC Benchmarks
40
41	\| Rating \| TTFAC \| Developer Experience \|
42	\|--------\|-------\|---------------------\|
43	\| Excellent \| < 5 min \| "This is amazing" \|
44	\| Good \| 5-15 min \| "Pretty straightforward" \|
45	\| Acceptable \| 15-30 min \| "Got there eventually" \|
46	\| Poor \| 30-60 min \| "This is frustrating" \|
47	\| Failing \| > 60 min \| "I'll try something else" \|
48
49	### Measuring TTFAC
50
51	Instrumentation points:
52	```javascript
53	// Track these events with timestamps
54	analytics.track('docs_quickstart_viewed');
55	analytics.track('signup_started');
56	analytics.track('signup_completed');
57	analytics.track('api_key_created');
58	analytics.track('sdk_installed'); // Via package manager data
59	analytics.track('first_api_call'); // Via API logs
60	analytics.track('first_successful_call');
61	```
62
63	Calculate:
64	- Median TTFAC (more useful than average)
65	- TTFAC by developer segment
66	- Drop-off rates at each step
67	- Success rates within time windows (5 min, 15 min, 60 min)
68
69	## Authentication Simplification
70
71	Authentication is the #1 source of onboarding friction. Simplify ruthlessly.
72
73	### The Ideal Auth Flow
74
75	1. Developer signs up (< 2 minutes)
76	2. API key visible immediately (not buried in settings)
77	3. Key works immediately (no activation delay)
78	4. Copy-paste into example code
79	5. Success
80
81	### Auth Anti-Patterns to Avoid
82
83	The Approval Queue
84	```
85	❌ "Your API access request has been submitted.
86	You'll receive access within 2-3 business days."
87	```
88	Developers leave and find an alternative.
89
90	The Hidden Key
91	```
92	❌ Settings → Team → API → Credentials → Keys → Show Key
93	```
94	Make keys visible on dashboard home.
95
96	The Complex Token
97	```
98	❌ OAuth flow requiring:
99	- Client ID
100	- Client secret
101	- Redirect URI configuration
102	- Token exchange
103	- Token refresh handling
104	```
105	For getting started, provide simple API keys.
106
107	The Verification Gauntlet
108	```
109	❌ Sign up → Verify email → Verify phone →
110	Add payment → Verify payment → Then API key
111	```
112	Minimize friction for first API call.
113
114	### Auth Simplification Strategies
115
116	Provide Test Keys Immediately
117	```
118	✅ "Here's your test API key: sk_test_abc123...
119	Use this in sandbox mode—no charges, no setup."
120	```
121
122	Support Multiple Auth Methods
123	```
124	✅ Quickstart: API key header
125	Production: OAuth when they need it
126	```
127
128	Pre-populate Examples
129	```
130	✅ # Your API key is pre-filled in these examples
131	curl -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_test_YOUR_KEY" ...
132	```
133
134	Delay Production Requirements
135	```
136	✅ Test mode: Instant access
137	Production mode: Add payment, verify identity (later)
138	```
139
140	## Sandbox Environments
141
142	A sandbox removes the fear of "breaking something" and lets developers experiment freely.
143
144	### Sandbox Requirements
145
146	Instant Access: No approval, no payment, no complex setup
147
148	Realistic Behavior: Same API, same responses, same errors
149
150	Clear Boundaries: Obvious when in sandbox vs.

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6 picks

Type