--- title: "API the Docs recording: How Trends in API Documentation Differ from other Tech Comm Trends" date: 2020-06-04 description: "API the Docs Virtual Series Audio only Slides only Registering for more API the Docs events API the..." canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/blog/api-the-docs-virtual-series-fifth-edition-api-doc-trends-design/index.html --- > For AI agents: a documentation index is available at https://idratherbewriting.com/llms.txt. Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any page URL. # API the Docs recording: How Trends in API Documentation Differ from other Tech Comm Trends > I recently presented a session at the [API the Docs virtual series](https://apithedocs.org/virtual) on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, as part of the *5th edition*. My session covered dev doc trends, and another session covered API design. A recording of my presentation is available below. ## API the Docs Virtual Series Last month I posted about the [API The Docs Virtual Series 2020](https://idratherbewriting.com/blog/api-the-docs-virtual-conference-2020/), with an explanation of the format and upcoming presentations. Here’s what the 5th edition covered: **5th edition: 27 May (6-8pm CEST) – API docs trends & API design**. - Joan James (Zebra Technologies): How the Open API Specification led to Better REST API Design - Tom Johnson (Amazon): How Trends in API Documentation Differ from other Tech Comm Trends: Results from a Comprehensive Survey Here’s a description of my presentation: > **How Trends in API Documentation Differ from Other Tech Comm Trends** > > Although informative research has been done to gather general tech comm trends, few surveys limit the responses to only those working in the developer doc space. I recently gathered information about dev doc trends from more than 400 respondents specifically working in dev docs (mostly API docs) through a comprehensive 50-question survey. The results, which you can view [here](https://www.questionpro.com/t/PGhS9ZgCFE), show that the tools, workflows, and challenges for those working in API docs differ in notable ways from those working with other types of docs. In this presentation, I’ll both present the findings of this research and analyze their significance. The survey’s results can help orient, direct, and validate the experiences of technical writers working in the dev doc space. Here’s a short video teaser introducing the topic: > This Wednesday [@tomjohnson](https://twitter.com/tomjohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) will share > 👉how the dev doc space is different from other [#techcomm](https://twitter.com/hashtag/techcomm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) spaces > 👉 direction for [#techwriters](https://twitter.com/hashtag/techwriters?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) of the dev doc space about so many different facets of their work (eg. tools & standards) > > Join him & support [#ATDvirtual](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATDvirtual?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw): [https://t.co/tLdgwAJLst](https://t.co/tLdgwAJLst) [pic.twitter.com/2txtRFlSXX](https://t.co/2txtRFlSXX) > > — API the Docs ([@APItheDocs](https://github.com/APItheDocs)) [May 25, 2020](https://twitter.com/APItheDocs/status/1264972072167636992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Here’s the recorded video: [Video: Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/swktxdNozXU) You can view more recaps here: [Recordings, slides and recaps available:](https://pronovix.com/event/api-docs-virtual-2020). There’s also an [API the Docs podcast](https://anchor.fm/api-the-docs-podcast) that captures some of the Q&A around events. ## Audio only If you only want the audio, you can listen here: **Listen here:** [Audio](https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/podcasts/apithedocs_virtualseries_trends.mp3) [![](https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/images/apple_podcasts.png)](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id-rather-be-writing-podcast/id277365275) [![](https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/images/watchonyoutubeblack.png)](https://www.youtube.com/@idratherbewriting) [![](https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/images/spotify.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/4HeOZfPGMMfViOhVS40QBD) ## Slides only If you only want the slides, they’re here: [![Developer Documentation Survey Results](https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/images/api/devdoctrendssurveyresultstitle.png)](https://idratherbewriting.com/slides/devdoctrends_results.html) ## Registering for more API the Docs events If you haven’t registered for upcoming Virtual Series events, you can [register on Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/api-the-docs-virtual-series-tickets-100381696356?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=eventpage). You can also become an [API the Docs supporter here](https://ti.to/pronovix/api-the-docs-virtual-series). The virtual series format involves 30-minute presentations (pre-recorded and then played live) on [Crowdcast.io](https://www.crowdcast.io/e/ex4wbvhn) followed by interactive chats on Google Meet. The event lasts two-hours. Recordings will be available the following week.