A partner ecosystem requires a platform-grade API. Not just a public REST endpoint.
When partners are building applications on top of your product — integrations, add-ons, or customer-specific implementations — the API needs partner-specific authentication, usage metering, and the developer experience that makes building on your platform worth the investment. We build the platform API.
Partner ecosystem where partners want programmatic access to the product — requiring OAuth-based partner authentication, usage tracking, and a developer experience that enables real integrations
There's an important distinction between a public API (customers automating their own workflows) and a partner ecosystem API (third-party developers building products on top of yours). The requirements are different:
Authentication model. A customer API uses API keys — simple, server-to-server authentication. A partner ecosystem API needs OAuth 2.0 — partners build apps that act on behalf of their mutual customers, requiring the customer to authorize the partner's access.
Scope and permissions. OAuth scopes allow partners to request only the permissions they need (read contacts, create orders) without full account access. The customer approves the specific scopes when authorizing the partner.
Usage metering. Per-partner API usage tracking is required for partner pricing (charging partners based on API call volume) and for identifying problematic partners (unusual call patterns that degrade platform performance for others).
Partner management. A self-serve partner developer console where partners register their applications, manage OAuth credentials, view their usage, and read API documentation.
Rate limits per partner. Independent rate limits per registered partner application — a misbehaving partner doesn't degrade the API experience for other partners.
Platform-grade API with OAuth partner authentication, per-partner usage metering, developer documentation, and the tooling that makes building on the platform fast
OAuth 2.0 implementation
Authorization server issuing access tokens scoped to partner + customer + requested scopes. Authorization code flow for partner apps. Token introspection endpoint for stateless validation.
Partner developer console
Self-serve app registration: app name, OAuth redirect URIs, requested scopes. OAuth credentials management. API usage dashboard.
Per-partner rate limiting
Upstash Redis rate limiting keyed by partner application ID. Configurable limits per partner tier. Rate limit headers and documentation.
Usage metering
Per-partner API call logging. Usage reports accessible in the partner console and queryable internally for billing.
API documentation
Partner-specific API docs covering the OAuth flow, available scopes, and endpoint reference. Separate from the customer-facing API docs.
One honest number to start.
Fixed-scope, fixed-price. The number below is the starting point — final scope is built from your brief.
Platform-grade API with OAuth partner authentication, per-partner usage metering, developer documentation, and the tooling that makes building on the platform fast
Three steps, every time.
The same repeatable engagement on every project. No surprises, no mystery, no billable ambiguity.
Brief & discovery.
We send you questions, then get on a call. Output: a written scope with every step, feature, and integration listed.
Build & ship.
Fixed schedule, weekly reviews. No scope creep unless you change the scope — and if you do, we reprice it transparently.
Warranty & retainer.
30-day warranty on every launch. Most clients stay on a monthly retainer for ongoing features and maintenance.
Why Fixed-Price Matters Here
Partner API scope is defined by the OAuth flows, the resources to expose, and the partner management requirements. Fixed price after the platform design.
Questions, answered.
API keys are appropriate when partners build server-to-server integrations on behalf of their own account. OAuth is required when partners build applications that act on behalf of their mutual customers — the customer is the resource owner, and the partner is requesting the customer's permission to access their data.
For most partner ecosystems, a focused OAuth 2.0 implementation (authorization code flow + token introspection) is sufficient. Full RFC-compliant authorization server features (PKCE, device flow, etc.) can be added as the ecosystem grows.
OAuth partner API with developer console and usage metering: from $30k. Fixed-price.
Tell Ryel about your project.
Describe what you’re building and what outcome you need. You’ll have a written, fixed-price scope within the week.