##  [7 frameworks to help you build a better developer portal](/blog/7-frameworks-help-you-build-better-developer-portal) 

By

 [Kristof Van Tomme](/users/kvantomme) 

 

 

CEO, Co-Founder

Nov 30, 2016

 

*This month we are celebrating the one year anniversary of our partnership with Apigee. One year in, after we worked on more than 20 developer portals, we are also celebrating that we successfully specialised our Drupal company on API documentation.*

*After a lot of reading and thinking about developer portals, research into API documentation components and over 10 API events, I’ve gained a few new perspectives on API documentation that I think could be valuable for API architects and product owners. I synthesized the ideas and frameworks we developed in a presentation for Apigee’s API forum (Paris, Amsterdam, and London) and for the London APIdays. I felt my presentation at the API forum in Amsterdam was the best paced, and the most complete, that is why I’ve published it on [Youtube](https://youtu.be/0BEhdbBy8Uc).*

**Video recording**:



In my talk (presented at [Apigee’s API Tech Forum in Amsterdam](https://mobile.twitter.com/Apigee/status/791149936494702592) on November 10, 2016), I explore **7 thought frameworks** that will help you **build better Developer Portals** for your APIs:

## The importance of Developer Portals

Portals should drive adoption and reduce support costs: without proper documentation, an API team will spend countless hours on workshops, trainings and support. Developer portals are also a trust signal.



![the developer portal as a trust signal](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/trust_signal.png)

*The Developer Portal as a trust signal*

## Developer Portal Stakeholders

Sales, Product, Marketing and Support areas should be in balance. I discuss the role of Developer evangelists and API documentarians.



![dev portal stakeholders](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/stakeholders.png)

*Developer Portal stakeholders*

## The Developer’s Journey

A developer portal can help creating viral loops and can turn consumers into product advocates. I discuss the function of marketing, try out areas, tutorials, conceptual documentation and integration galleries.



![developer's journey](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/get_started_dev_portal_anatomy.png)

*The Developer's journey*

## The site owner’s jobs to be done

A developer portal helps you to inspire, educate and authorise developers.



![site owner's jobs](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/site_owners_jobs.png)

*The site owner's jobs*

## Types of Portal architecture

What are the architectural API archetypes? What are their characteristics?



![catalogue of APIs type](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/catalogue_of_apis.png)

*Architectural type: Catalogue of APIs*

## Technology choice

What choices are there to be made. I highlight API specification formats, documentation formats, and Portal technology.



![portal technology](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/portal_technologies.png)

*Portal technology*

## Conclusion and Learn more

Would you like to take part in our research, read our blog posts, get recordings of presentations? [Then subscribe to our newsletter](http://eepurl.com/bF0ztz)!



![conclusions anatomy of a developer portal](/sites/default/files/2022-01/blogpostimages/conclusions_anatomy_dev_portal.png)

*7 frameworks to help you build a better developer portal*

[Get the slides here!](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UlUb-tuSpP8U4CiW-Yrw2lAbzXM32F5kxEu-G8JzS78/edit#slide=id.p)