API & Technical Literacy

PM technical literacy spectrum

Không cần code, nhưng cần read code + spec integration. Litmus test: bạn đọc API doc Stripe và spec được flow checkout không?

Core concepts

• REST API — verb (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), status code (2xx, 4xx, 5xx).
• JSON payload — request body, response body.
• Authentication — API key, OAuth, JWT.
• Webhook — server-to-server callback.
• Async vs sync — queue, retry, idempotency.
• Rate limit — quota, backoff.
• Pagination — cursor vs offset.
• GraphQL — alternative to REST, client-specified query.

Reading API doc — Stripe example

Stripe doc là gold standard. PM nên đọc và identify:

• Authentication method.
• Endpoint nào dùng cho use case của bạn.
• Required vs optional field.
• Error code và handling.
• Webhook event để listen.
• Test mode vs production.

Spec integration cho PRD

1. System diagram — who calls whom.
2. Sequence diagram — order of API call.
3. Data contract — schema input/output.
4. Error handling — retry policy, fallback UX.
5. Monitoring — what alert when fails.

Vietnam-specific integration

• VNPay, MoMo, ZaloPay payment API.
• VietQR transfer.
• eKYC API (FPT.AI, VinAI).
• Shipping API (GHN, GHTK, J&T).

Common pitfalls

• Spec dựa trên website screenshot mà không đọc API doc → reality khác.
• Bỏ qua webhook → poll inefficient.
• Không hiểu idempotency → duplicate charge.