API Development in C++. Creating High-Performance Interfaces

Modern software development is unthinkable without creating high-quality Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The book "API Development in C++" is a comprehensive guide that will take you from the fundamentals of interface design to building high-load, secure, and scalable services in C++.

Who is this book for?

• For C++ developers at Middle level and above who want to master creating server applications and APIs.
• For system architects designing microservice solutions with critical performance requirements.
• For engineers transitioning from other languages (Java, Python, Go) to C++ who need a structured presentation of best practices.
• For senior university students in technical fields studying network programming and distributed systems.

What will you learn from the book?

• API Design: RESTful and RPC styles, versioning, contracts and specifications (OpenAPI, Protocol Buffers).
• Network Protocols: deep dive into HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, WebSocket and gRPC, including keep-alive configuration, compression, and multiplexing.
• Asynchronous Programming: using Boost.Asio, C++20 coroutines, thread pools, and reactor models for non-blocking I/O.
• Security: authentication (JWT, OAuth 2.0), authorization, encryption (TLS/SSL), protection against common attacks (SQL injection, CSRF, DoS).
• Performance: benchmarking, profiling (perf, Valgrind), serialization optimization, memory management in high-load scenarios.
• Tooling: building with CMake, containerization (Docker), CI/CD, testing (Google Test, integration tests).
• Practical Examples: creating a full-fledged REST service, implementing a gRPC server, integrating with databases (PostgreSQL via libpqxx), working with message queues (RabbitMQ).

Why C++? The C++ language provides a unique combination of hardware-level performance and the flexibility of modern abstractions. The book shows how to use this power to create APIs capable of handling millions of requests per second with minimal latency. You will learn to avoid common pitfalls related to memory management, multithreading, and protocol compatibility.

The book is rich in code listings, architectural diagrams, and step-by-step instructions. All examples are tested on GCC 13 and Clang 16, compatible with C++20/23. At the end of each chapter, you will find exercises to reinforce the material.

After reading, you will be able to independently design and implement high-quality APIs that will become a reliable foundation for your services and microservice architectures. The book will serve as a desktop reference both for engineers working on the core of a product and for those developing peripheral services.