Tanmai Gopal: Unlocking the Potential of Unified APIs

In this episode of Maintainable, Robby Russell sits down with Tanmai Gopal, the CEO and co-founder of Hasura. Tanmai shares his insights into the characteristics of well-maintained software and the importance of a codebase that no team member fears. He emphasizes the need for accessibility and understandability in code, making it easier for developers to work with and iterate upon.

Tanmai dives deep into the metaphor of technical debt, urging teams to prioritize product outcomes over best practices. He highlights the value of addressing technical debt contextually and in a way that aligns with product goals.

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the concept of the "super graph" in GraphQL. Tanmai explains how a unified API, created through federated GraphQL, can streamline API integration and reduce latency. He compares GraphQL with RESTful APIs, showcasing the advantages of a graph-based approach for handling complex data relationships.

Tanmai also introduces Hasura's platform, which introspects databases, code, and APIs to create a comprehensive super graph. This platform simplifies API management, making it easier for developers to maintain and evolve their applications.

Listeners will also learn about Hasura's upcoming user conference and the new features they plan to unveil. Tanmai shares his top science fiction book recommendations and where to follow his thoughts on software engineering online.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of a fearless codebase for well-maintained software.
• Strategies to improve code accessibility and understandability.
• The metaphor of technical debt and its contextual importance.
• The concept and benefits of a super graph in GraphQL.
• How Hasura simplifies API management through introspection.
• Upcoming Hasura user conference and new features.

Resources Mentioned:

• Hasura
• Tanmai Gopal on LinkedIn
• N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy
• Naomi Novik's Uprooted
• Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries

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