MuleSoft Developer with RESTful API Salary in 2024

Where is RESTful API used?

Social Media Shenanigans

• Imagine your tweets auto-magically floating through cyber-space. RESTful API lets social networks chatter, sending your selfies on a world tour.

Shop 'til You Drop Platforms

• APIs transform your card swipes into a shopping spree paradise by talking to services responsible for emptying your wallet, one click at a time.

Thin Air Flight Finders

• Wingless searching for winged machines: APIs serve up the cheapest seats in the skies. It's window or aisle at the mercy of the RESTful maître d'.

Smart Home Hodgepodge

• Your fridge orders milk, your lights are clairvoyant – this domestic utopia's choreographed by APIs, knitting the Internet of Things into an obedient pet.

RESTful API Alternatives

GraphQL

A query language for your API, allowing clients to request exactly what they need and easily get nested resources.

{
  user(id: "1") {
    name
    posts {
      title
    }
  }
}

• Efficient data retrieval

• Flexible queries

• Strongly typed system

• Slightly higher learning curve

• Can be complex to set up

• Over-fetching or under-fetching can still occur

gRPC

A high-performance RPC framework using HTTP/2, Protocol Buffers; suitable for microservices communication.

syntax = "proto3";

service Greeter {
  rpc SayHello (HelloRequest) returns (HelloReply) {}
}

message HelloRequest {
  string greeting = 1;
}

message HelloReply {
  string reply = 1;
}

• Low latency, high throughput

• Supports streaming needs

• Native binary serialization

• Steep learning curve

• Integration with HTTP/1.1 systems can be hard

• Limited browser support

WebSocket

Enables full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection, perfect for real-time data.

const socket = new WebSocket('ws://localhost:3000');

socket.onopen = function(event) {
  socket.send('Hello Server!');
}

socket.onmessage = function(event) {
  console.log('Received:', event.data);
}

• Real-time bidirectional event-based communication

• Reduces unnecessary network overhead

• No HTTP header metadata on messages

• Not built for RESTful paradigms

• Can be susceptible to security issues

• Lacks built-in message retransmission

Quick Facts about RESTful API

The Origins of REST

Imagine it's 2000, Y2K was a bust, and everyone's breathing a sigh of relief. Enter Roy Fielding, not a football coach as his name might suggest, but a sharp computer scientist. He pops the REST architectural style into his doctoral dissertation like it's no big deal, but bam! It revolutionizes the way web services chat. The term REST stands for 'Representational State Transfer', which is subtly hinting at how web interactions should be a chill passing of state representations. This was the blueprint for how the modern web should 'converse.'

RESTful APIs Take Center Stage

By 2005, developers were done clinking champagne glasses over the birth of AJAX, and RESTful APIs began stealing the spotlight. It wasn't an update or sequel, more like a realization that the 'RESTful' way of making web requests was cleaner than a whistle at a germaphobe convention. The beauty of REST was its stateless interactions, like a selective amnesia that ensures each API call is self-contained, neat, and tidy.

JSON, the Darling of REST

Once upon a time in the early 2000s, XML was the king of data formats for RESTful services. It was everywhere, like glitter after a preschool art project. But then JSON strutted in, and with its easy-to-read format, it quickly became the darling of RESTful API design. Why? Because who wouldn't prefer

{"this": "neat"}

over

<?xml version="1.0"?><this>messy</this>

?

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert RESTful API developer?

Top 10 RESTful API Related Tech

1. 
   

   Python & Flask

   
   

   
   Y’know that one language that slithers its way into any coding shindig? It’s Python, with its top hat and Flask, a lightweight WSGI web application framework. This duo's like biscuits and gravy for RESTful APIs, making complex tasks as simple as pie. Flask takes simplicity to a whole new level—like being able to kickstart an API with a mere handful of lines. Sneak a peek at this snazzy bit:

   from flask import Flask, jsonify
   
   app = Flask(__name__)
   
   @app.route('/api/wisdom', methods=['GET'])
   def impart_wisdom():
       return jsonify({"advice": "Don't use a cannon to kill a fly."}), 200
   
   if __name__ == '__main__':
       app.run(debug=True)

   
   Just like that, you’ve got yourself a wisecracking API!
   

    

1. 
   

   JavaScript & Node.js

   
   

   
   In the land of event-driven programming, Node.js is the crowned king, making it a prime choice for RESTful API services. Pair it with Express.js, and you'll have a setup faster than a squirrel on energy drinks. It's the go-to for building quick and scalable network applications. Here's a taste:

   const express = require('express');
   const app = express();
   
   app.get('/api/shout', (req, res) => {
       res.send('Hello World louder!');
   });
   
   app.listen(3000, () => {
       console.log('Listening on port 3000');
   });

   
   And voilà, your API is now hollering to the world!
   

    

1. 
   

   C# & ASP.NET Core

   
   

   
   If we stroll down to the Microsoft alley, we bump into C# walking hand-in-hand with ASP.NET Core. Perfect for blending enterprise muscle with elegant code for mighty fine APIs. Like a master chef with a well-oiled pan, you can whip up secure, performant web APIs that scale with grace. Eye this sparkling example:

   using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
   
   [ApiController]
   [Route("api/[controller]")]
   public class DinnerController : ControllerBase
   {
       [HttpGet]
       public ActionResult<string> GetMenu()
       {
           return "Cauliflower bites with a side of async tasks!";
       }
   }

   
   Just like that, your API serves a futuristic digital feast!
   

    

1. 
   

   Ruby & Ruby on Rails

   
   

   
   Here comes Ruby, waltzing in with Rails, an elegant couple known for their "Convention over Configuration" philosophy. Quick to deploy, it’s like a ninja coder that crafts RESTful APIs before your coffee gets cold. Check out this charming snippet:

   class VisionsController < ApplicationController
     def index
       visions = Vision.all
       render json: visions
     end
   end

   
   Like magic, simplicity, and elegance combined, Ruby on Rails makes API creation a walk in a very pleasant park.
   

    

1. 
   

   Java & Spring Boot

   
   

   
   Marching in next, we have Java with its faithful squire, Spring Boot. These old guards still got the moves, especially when it comes to creating sturdy RESTful backbones. Armed with Spring Boot’s magic, you can conjure up APIs with minimal fuss and maximum robustness. Look at this ancient spell:

   @RestController
   @RequestMapping("/api")
   public class FortuneController {
   
       @GetMapping("/fortune")
       public ResponseEntity<String> getFortune() {
           return ResponseEntity.ok("Expect great things!");
       }
   }

   
   Your API is now ready to distribute digital cookies filled with wisdom!
   

    

1. 
   

   Postman

   
   

   
   Now let’s shift gears to the Swiss Army knife of API development: Postman. It's more than just a tool; it's a complete ecosystem for API sleuthing. With this gem, testing, documenting, and sharing your APIs is as smooth as a jazz tune on a Sunday morning. Send requests, analyze the responses, collaborate with your team, and even automate tests. Postman is the knight in shining armor for RESTful battles.

1. 
   

   Swagger (OpenAPI)

   
   

   
   Enter Swagger, now knighted as OpenAPI, the maestro of API documentation. A blueprint that choreographs your API's dance moves, ensuring they're elegant, understandable, and accessible. This crowd-pleaser not only auto-generates slick documentation but helps design APIs that groove well together. It’s like having a backstage pass to every API’s secret moves.

1. 
   

   REST Assured

   
   

   
   If you dream in the land of Java, REST Assured is your fairy godmother for API testing. This majestic library sprinkles your testing phase with pixie dust, making sure your API calls are not just shots in the dark. Write given-when-then statements and watch your API tests transform into an enchanting screenplay that ensures a happily ever after every deployment.

1. 
   

   Docker

   
   

   
   Fancy your RESTful services with a side of containerization? Docker's your chef! It'll pack your API into neat containers, ensuring they run with the same swagger everywhere, from development to deployment. Gone are the days of "but it works on my machine!"—Docker's like having a portable stage for your API rockstars, so they can perform their greatest hits in any venue.

1. 
   

   OAuth 2.0 & JWT

   
   

   
   Wrapping up our list is the dynamic duo for security: OAuth 2.0 and JWT (JSON Web Tokens). They’re the bouncers at the club, checking IDs and making sure your API’s private info doesn't end up in a tabloid. With OAuth handing out VIP passes and JWT ensuring everyone's who they say they are, you can kick back knowing your API is as secure as a celebrity's phone number.