[ecommando]

Except that throughout the years, the manufacture of cars has become commoditized, and there are many more engine manufacturers than there were, so it's virtually impossible for a single manufacturer to corner the market on engines. Additionally, since the parts can all be fabricated by a multitude of vendors, there's no risk to the car company of a single point of failure.

[jeffreymcmanus]

OK, so your argument isn't about APIs, it's about single points of failure. Great. Manage that problem.

[ecommando]

It's about risk mitigation as it pertains to the use of third party APIs. I believe there are too many startups basing their businesses on the APIs of others.

Had I simply written about risk mitigation, it would have been up to the reader to apply it to the use of API's, which clearly startups are not doing.

With respect to the use of those APIs as a core business function, the viability of their continued use is only as secure as the CEO of the company that offers them is honest.

If history is any measure, that's not very secure.

[jeffreymcmanus]

Every technology company, without exception, bases their business on the API of others.