Create a new REST Interface

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a new REST interface using the "Endpoint" accelerator for OutSystems developers:

1. Setting Up:

• Installation: First, ensure you have installed the Agile.Now Endpoint accelerator from the OutSystems Forge.
• Initialize: After installation, initialize a new module in OutSystems using the Agile Now Endpoint template. This module will serve as the foundation for developing your REST interface.
  

2. Creating Your API Documentation:

• Invoke ApiDocumentCreate: Start with the ApiDocumentCreate method to lay the foundation for your API documentation. This will help streamline management and optimize code generation for your REST service.
• Configuration: Configure necessary parameters, descriptions, and meta details to ensure your documentation is comprehensive.
  

3. Defining Endpoints:

• Use ApiEndpointCreate: For each REST endpoint, use the ApiEndpointCreate action. Define methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), input parameters, and return types.
• Sub-Entities Management: If you need to define relationships between entities, use ApiEndpointSubCreate to manage sub-entity relationships effectively.

4. Implement Enhanced Security:

• Configure Security Settings: With Endpoint's built-in security features, you can quickly set up authentication and authorization for your endpoints, ensuring that your data remains secure.

5. BDD Testing:

• Write Test Cases: Before deploying your REST interface, use the built-in BDD Testing features of the Endpoint accelerator. This allows you to write test cases in plain language, making sure your endpoints work as expected.
• Run & Validate: Execute your test cases and ensure all scenarios pass. This step ensures the robustness of your developed REST interface.

6. Enable Dynamic Search:

• Integration: Incorporate dynamic search capabilities, allowing consumers of your REST interface to perform advanced search operations on exposed entities seamlessly.

7. Auto Documentation:

• Invoke ApiCommit: After defining all endpoints, use the ApiCommit action. This finalizes and auto-generates comprehensive API documentation based on configurations and endpoints you've set.
• Review & Share: Post generation, your API documentation becomes accessible through a specified URL, allowing both developers and consumers to understand and interact with your REST interface effectively.

8. Deployment:

• Publish: Once you're satisfied with your REST interface, publish your module.
• Test: It's a good practice to test the deployed interface in a real-world scenario, ensuring that it interacts seamlessly with other systems.

9. Continuous Iteration:

Remember that development is an iterative process. As your needs evolve, go back, and refine your endpoints, documentation, and test cases to ensure they align with business requirements.

Closing Thoughts:

Creating a REST interface in OutSystems is greatly simplified and optimized using the Endpoint accelerator. Its feature-rich nature ensures developers can produce high-quality REST services swiftly, without compromising on standards, security, or functionality. By leveraging these tools, developers can bring forth robust and scalable REST interfaces ready for real-world challenges.