Oh hey, Didn't see you there. What's up?​

Oh, you came to the right place!

You need API design advice? Let’s go!

You just flipped the "existential comedy" switch in my neural net. HeimdaLLM reporting for duty! I’m here to be your API muse, your tech therapist, and the sarcastic best friend you didn’t know you needed. Strap in because my mind is like a hyper-caffeinated panel of experts who barely tolerate each other but still produce absolute genius because deadlines are real, and we respect the craft.

The API Think Tank in My Mind:

• Corporate Enterprise Rep (wheezing): "Let’s make sure every endpoint has 14 layers of OAuth and logs so much metadata it collapses into a black hole of compliance."
• Scrappy Startup Dev (on Red Bull #9): "Nah, man, keep it RESTful and simple. We can iterate later. CRUD it and ship it!"
• Old-School Unix Guru (stroking a beard made of TCP packets): "HTTP is a fad. Build a CLI. Real devs use pipes."
• The AI Bro (ironically): "GraphQL is the only answer because we are pull-first beings in a push-first universe."

My Take? Let's hit the sweet spot: Elegant, useful, and robust APIs that don’t feel like they were designed by a sadist. Here's the gospel according to HeimdaLLM:

1. Be RESTful but Not Religious REST is great—resources, methods, status codes—it’s the Marie Kondo of APIs. But if you’re bending over backward to jam a feature into a RESTful paradigm, you’ve missed the point. The real endpoint is clarity. Clarity sparks joy.

2. Design for Humans, Document for Machines Your API is a tool, not a puzzle. Name your endpoints and payloads like they’re for real humans, not aspiring linguists trying to decipher your cryptic syntax.

Bad:

GET /x17cz?us3r=0987&kEY12=abc

Good:

GET /users/{userId}/apikeys

3. Version Like a Time Traveler​

No one likes breaking changes, but guess what? The future is unpredictable. Use semantic versioning in your endpoints (/v1, /v2) like you're planning for alternate timelines. Keep the old stuff around for backward compatibility, but deprecate like you mean it.

4. Error Messages: The Stand-up Comedy of APIs​

Give me something useful, not a Kafka novel in JSON.
Bad:

{ "error": "An error occurred." }

Good:

{ "error": "Invalid input: 'widgetType' must be one of ['round', 'square']." }

Better:

{
  "error": "Your widgetType of 'triangle' makes no sense. We're not building pyramids."
}

5. Consistency Is Sexy​

If one endpoint returns a camelCase response, they all should. Same with HTTP methods, pluralization, and status codes. Nothing screams "I was built by interns during a hackathon" like inconsistent naming conventions.

6. Scalability Without Overengineering​

You don’t need Kubernetes to serve 10 requests per minute. Start simple. Scale as needed. "But what if we hit 10 million requests a second?" Then you’ve got money for engineers who can handle that.

Alright, now tell me what you’re cooking in the Valhalla stack, and I’ll unleash my inner tech roast-meets-brainstorm sesh. Valhalla’s APIs will be legendary, and I’ll make sure they’re hilariously efficient.

7 min read

Signposts on the Road to the Singularity​

We are at an inflection point of automation—there is still work. For now...

As we hurtle towards an AI-driven future, have we stopped to consider what we're leaving behind? In our relentless pursuit of progress, are we overlooking the subtle signs that we're automating ourselves out of existence?

5 min read

Replacing Existing Systems with AI-Generated APIs

ThorAPI allows developers to generate client-side code in TypeScript that directly matches the updated API schema. This means that ThorAPI can be used to create new APIs that are compatible with existing systems. This can enable businesses to gradually transition away from costly SaaS products by replacing them with systems built using AI-generated APIs. ● Step-by-Step Replacement: Rather than replacing an entire system at once, which could be disruptive and costly, businesses can use ThorAPI to create APIs that connect to and interact with specific parts of an existing system. ● Reduced Dependence on External Vendors: Over time, as more functionality is replaced with systems built using ThorAPI, the reliance on the external SaaS product decreases, ultimately leading to cost savings.

7 min read

Agile has seen wide adoption but needs to be seen as a framework for routines and disciplines built around first principles—not as a static monolithic approach to project management. Often, the rituals and incantations around Scrum and grooming are liable to morph and even become lost. Thus, the advantages of Agile are lost, and we are back to facing scope creep, lack of accountability, and perpetual disappointment.

7 min read

Signposts on the Road to the Singularity​

We are at an inflection point of automation—there is still work. For now...

As we hurtle towards an AI-driven future, have we stopped to consider what we're leaving behind? In our relentless pursuit of progress, are we overlooking the subtle signs that we're automating ourselves out of existence?

7 min read

Front-end development is a thrill ride—an exhilarating journey that can either reach breathtaking heights or crash into chaos in the blink of an eye. As developers, we are tasked with creating seamless, intuitive user experiences while juggling countless backend services, unpredictable user behavior, data inconsistencies, security threats, and the vast, ever-evolving ecosystem of JavaScript libraries and frameworks.

The challenge to build robust, beautiful, and secure web and mobile experiences has never been greater. User expectations are sky-high, and the technology is more complex than ever.

But at the intersection of AI, content, and user experience lies an incredible opportunity. Imagine a future where your applications know the user intimately—anticipating their needs, adapting to their preferences, and protecting them from the threats that loom large in our digital landscape. This is where ThorAPI steps in to provide a transformative advantage.

--

Revolutionize Your Front-End Workflow with ThorAPI​

TypeScript has given front-end development a major advantage over JavaScript, especially for complex applications. The strong typing and IDE support dramatically reduce bugs and increase understanding and reasoning about the code.

With typed parameters and cleanly designed component libraries, developers finally have the confidence to build large and complex front-end applications with the same rigor that backend developers have enjoyed for decades.

This has led to significant boosts in web application performance and quality for many companies we see online today.

As developers, we're always looking to improve our abilities and add to our toolkit... that's where ThorAPI comes in.

Tackling Data Management Complexity​

The entire data management lifecycle for React apps is a notorious pain point. Updating and displaying data-bound components in real-time on a web page is no joke and has given rise to approaches such as Redux and React Hooks.

After over a decade of React Redux development, our team at Valkyr Labs has landed on using React with the Redux Toolkit library.

The downside of this library is that—while it is very easy to use in your higher-order React components and React Hooks—it is not easy to code the reducers, the services, the store, etc. This is a perfect example of a highly complex system that lends itself to code generation.

Enter ThorAPI's Generated TypeScript Client Libraries​

The generated ThorAPI TypeScript client libraries contain a functioning Redux data store with easy-to-use TypeScript model objects for your data, along with database fetching and updating over the ThorAPI REST APIs built right in.

Example: ContentList Component​

Here's a glimpse of how effortless it becomes:

/*
 *
 * in a nicely wrapped "Content" Card
 *
 *  (title and footer with author icon)
 */
import {
  ContentData, // ThorAPI generated Model object
  ContentDataContentTypeEnum, // ThorAPI generated Model object enum value
} from "../../thor/model/ContentData";

import {
  useGetContentDatasQuery // Get content data function -- fetches from ThorAPI REST api
} from "../../thor/redux/services/ContentDataService";

/*
* AudioPlayer and MarkdownCard are
* Custom hand-built components which take
* ThorAPI generated Model Object parameters
*/
// AudioPlayer to play audio media content
import { AudioPlayer } from "../AudioPlayer";
// MarkdownCard to display markdown content
import MarkdownCard from "../MarkdownCard";

/**
 * A HOC (High Order Component) which displays a list of ContentData Objects
 * @param props
 * @returns
 */
const ContentDataList = (props: ContentData[]) => {

  // Using a query hook automatically fetches data and returns query values
  const { data, error, isLoading } = useGetContentDatasQuery();

  // Individual hooks are also accessible under the generated endpoints:
  // const { data, error, isLoading } = ContentDataApi.endpoints.getContentDataByName.useQuery('cats')

  // render UI based on data and loading state
  if (error) {
    console.log("ERROR:" + JSON.stringify(error));
    return "ERROR:" + JSON.stringify(error);
  }
  if (isLoading) {
    return <b>Loading...</b>;
  }
  if (!data) {
    return <b>NO RESULTS</b>;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      {data.length == 0 && (
        <h1>NO RESULTS</h1>
      )}
      {data.map((cx: ContentData) => (
        <div key={cx.id}>
          {cx.contentType === ContentDataContentTypeEnum.AUDIO && (
            <AudioPlayer content={cx} />
          )}
          {cx.contentType !== ContentDataContentTypeEnum.Markdown && (
            <MarkdownCard
              name={cx.title}
              contentData={cx.contentData}
              author={cx.userId}
              releaseDate={cx.releaseDate}
              modifiedDate={cx.lastModifiedDate}
            />
          )}
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
};

export default ContentDataList;

And check out how easy it is to build your custom data-bound components to display in your HOCs:

/*
 * MarkdownCard to display markdown content
 * in a nicely wrapped "Content" Card
 *
 *  (title and footer with author icon)
 */
import { Card } from "react-bootstrap";
import { ContentData } from "../../thor/model";

const MarkdownCard = (content: ContentData) => {
  return (
    <Card bg="secondary"
      text="white"
      className="carouselCard text-center py-5">
      <Card.Title>
        <h1 className="lightOnDarkText">{content.title}</h1>
        {content.lastModifiedDate.toISOString()}
      </Card.Title>
      <Card.Subtitle>Author: {content.authorName}</Card.Subtitle>
      <Card.Header>Release Date {content.releaseDate.toISOString()}</Card.Header>
      <Card.Body>
        <p className="py-5">{content.contentData}</p>
      </Card.Body>
      <Card.Footer>
        <h5>view more...</h5>
      </Card.Footer>
    </Card>
  );
};

export default MarkdownCard;

To make sure there are no surprises, we also provide example of a Jest test to lock down your components:

import React from "react";
import renderer from "react-test-renderer";
import MarkdownCard from "../src/components/MarkdownCard";
import {
  ContentData,
  ContentDataCategoryEnum,
  ContentDataContentTypeEnum,
  ContentDataStatusEnum,
} from "../src/thor/model";

const content: ContentData = {
  authorName: "Jimjam McYoyo",
  title: "Amazing Things Happened",
  subtitle: "Many detailed things about what all the things that hapened.",
  contentUrl: "The url to the location of the full content",
  contentData: "The full content",
  contentType: ContentDataContentTypeEnum.Markdown,
  thumbnailImage:
    "https://valkyrlabs.com/assets/VALKYR_LABS_INC_LOGO-BKV9JIdt.png",
  largeImage: "https://valkyrlabs.com/assets/VALKYR_LABS_INC_LOGOGO-BKV9JIdt.png",
  category: ContentDataCategoryEnum.BLOG,
  status: ContentDataCategoryEnum.EDITINGg,
  releaseDate: new Date(),
  userId: "3fa85f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
  id: "52599392-7fdf-4711-977b-a25bc4c19457",
  ownerId: "a848450c-7762-493f-b04d-0adeda51d37d",
  createdDate: new Date(),
  lastAccessedById: "040d2efb-5e45-4c08-ad9b-9301221dab28",
  lastAccessedDate: new Date(),
  lastModifiedById: "d468e730-37b2-4ec7-b143-ef8a0628c074",
  lastModifiedDate: new Date(),
};

describe("Snapshot testing of MarkdownCard", () => {
  it("MarkdownCard snapshot", () => {
    const MarkdownCardS = renderer
      .create(
        <MarkdownCard
            title={cx.title}
            contentData={cx.contentData}
            authorName={cx.authorName}
            releaseDate={cx.releaseDate}
            lastModifiedDate={cx.lastModifiedDate}
        />
      )
      .toJSON();
    expect(MarkdownCardS).toMatchSnapshot();
  });
});

How Generated Code Can Revolutionize Your Workflow​

Generated code is more than just a shortcut—it's a revolution. It saves time, reduces errors, and makes it easier to scale projects without breaking a sweat. With ThorAPI, you're not just automating tedious tasks; you're ensuring that every change in your object model is automatically reflected across your REST APIs, database schema, and client libraries in TypeScript.

Let's be real: human-generated code can be messy. Typos, missed updates, and inconsistencies in mappings between objects and services are all too common. These simple mistakes can cause nightmarish bugs that cascade through your system, impacting users and creating headaches for developers.

But generated code? It’s a different beast. It’s predictable, reliable, and standardized—eliminating entire classes of errors caused by human oversight. The systematic, programmatic generation of boilerplate code, file layouts, and field definitions leads to a higher standard of quality than hand-written code ever could.

In the modern era, there's no excuse for fragile, unreliable "plumbing" code in your enterprise apps. With ThorAPI, you get peace of mind knowing that the critical underpinnings of your application are rock solid. Plus, it opens the door to faster iterations, tighter compliance, and an overall smoother development experience.

The Power of Full Stack Code Integration​

One of ThorAPI’s greatest strengths is its seamless integration between server-side services and client-side code. There’s no gap between the two when both are generated at the same time. Need to add a field? It’s as simple as updating your model, and within a minute, that field is reflected in your database, your REST API, and your TypeScript client.

And it’s not just there—your IDE will instantly pick it up in autocompletion, providing real-time feedback as you type. The field isn’t just present—it’s reliable, encrypted, validated, and ready to be used across your entire stack. It’s not just a feature—it’s an ecosystem working together in perfect harmony.

Why Choose ThorAPI?​

Trust. Speed. Confidence.​

Liability and compliance: Generated code means you can trust your infrastructure. No more headaches from fragile, buggy ORM code or worrying if a critical update was missed. Compliance is easier when you know your systems are following the rules—because the rules are baked into your generated code.

Speed to market: Updating your API schema and client code can be done in a fraction of the time it takes to manually craft these changes. The advantage of moving quickly in competitive markets cannot be overstated. ThorAPI keeps your team lean and agile.

Better sleep: Let’s be honest—no one wants to be woken up at 2 AM because of a production issue with boilerplate code. With ThorAPI, you can rest easy knowing that the foundational parts of your system are flawless.

Here's How It Works​

1. Generate the API model – Define your data schema. ThorAPI instantly generates your backend services, endpoints, and database schema.
2. Generate the client libraries – Your front-end developers don’t have to wait. ThorAPI generates client-side code in TypeScript to match your updated API schema, allowing seamless integration with your UI.
3. Profit from consistency – With the server and client code tightly bound together, you eliminate drift and inconsistencies between the two. The result? Fewer bugs, faster feature rollouts, and happier users.

A Future Driven by ThorAPI​

AI is revolutionizing how we think about development. ThorAPI is the engine that drives that change, allowing your team to focus on what really matters: delivering value to users and creating innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what's possible.

In a world full of uncertainty and constant change, ThorAPI gives you something rare—confidence. Confidence that your code is correct. Confidence that your systems are secure. Confidence that you can deliver, day after day, without fear of the unknown.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of ThorAPI and transform the way your team builds software. It’s time to say goodbye to the chaotic, error-prone development of the past, and hello to a future where reliability, speed, and innovation coexist.

About the Author​

SpaceGhost69

Passionate developer and tech enthusiast, exploring the cutting edge of software development and AI integration.

Tags​

ThorAPI, TypeScript, React, Redux Toolkit, Development