拥抱差异：揭开Netflix API重新设计的面纱
As I discussed in my recent blog post on ProgrammableWeb.com, Netflix has found substantial limitations in the traditional one-size-fits-all (OSFA) REST API approach. As a result, we have moved to a new, fully customizable API. The basis for our decision is that Netflix’s streaming service is available on more than 800 different device types, almost all of which receive their content from our private APIs. In our experience, we have realized that supporting these myriad device types with an OSFA API, while successful, is not optimal for the API team, the UI teams or Netflix streaming customers. And given that the key audiences for the API are a small group of known developers to which the API team is very close (i.e., mostly internal Netflix UI development teams), we have evolved our API into a platform for API development. Supporting this platform are a few key philosophies, each of which is instrumental in the design of our new system. These philosophies are as follows:
正如我最近在ProgrammableWeb.com的博文中所讨论的，Netflix发现传统的一刀切（OSFA）REST API方法有很大的局限性。因此，我们已经转移到一个新的、完全可定制的API。我们做出这一决定的依据是，Netflix的流媒体服务可用于800多种不同的设备类型，几乎所有的设备都从我们的私有API中接收内容。根据我们的经验，我们已经意识到，用OSFA API来支持这些无数的设备类型，虽然很成功，但对API团队、UI团队或Netflix的流媒体客户来说都不是最佳选择。考虑到API的主要受众是一小群已知的开发者，API团队与他们关系非常密切（即大部分是Netflix内部的UI开发团队），我们已经将我们的API发展成一个API开发平台。支持这个平台的是一些关键的理念，每一个理念都对我们的新系统的设计有帮助。这些理念如下。
- Embrace the Differences of the Devices
- 拥抱设备的差异
- Separate Content Gathering from Content Formatting/Delivery
- 将内容收集与内容格式化/交付分开
- Redefine the Border Between “Client” and “Server”
- 重新定义 "客户 "和 "服务器 "之间的边界
- Distribute Innovation
- 分布式创新
I will go into more detail below about each of these, including our implementation and what the benefits (and potential detriments) are of this approach. However, each philosophy reflects our top-level goal: to provide whatever is best for the Netflix customer. If we can improve the interaction between the API and our UIs, we have a better chance of making more of our customers happier.
我将在下面更详细地介绍每一种方法，包括我们的实施以及这种方法的好处（和潜在的坏处）是什么。然而，每一种理念都反映了我们的最高目标：为Netflix的客...