METHOD TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF APIS AND TO CONTROL RUN-TIME EXECUTION OF AN API

1 . A computer-implemented method for API versioning, the method comprising:

providing, by one or more computer processors, annotations differentiating two or more versions of an API;

collecting, by one or more computer processors, statistics associated with the two or more versions of the API;

intercepting, by one or more computer processors, a call from a client to access one of the two or more versions of the API;

identifying, by one or more computer processors, a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics; and

re-routing, by one or more computer processors, API execution to the identified best-fit version during run-time.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the call from the client to access one of the two or more versions of the API comprises a call to access a previously selected default version.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the annotations are implemented in the form of a programming language extension.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the collected statistics comprise version-specific information related to one or more of stability, execution time, and accuracy experienced by customers using the API.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics further comprises:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, from the client, a selected parameter; and

searching, by one or more computer processors, for the selected parameter in a statistics repository.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the call from the client is intercepted responsive to detection of a performance problem.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein detection of a performance problem further comprises:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, a user selection prioritizing a parameter;

analyzing, by one or more computer processors, the collected statistics; and

determining, by one or more computer processors, that performance is poor with respect to the prioritized parameter.

8 . A computer program product for API versioning, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to provide annotations differentiating two or more versions of an API;

program instructions to collect statistics associated with the two or more versions of the API;

program instructions to intercept a call from a client to access one of the two or more versions of the API;

program instructions to identify a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics; and

program instructions to re-route API execution to the identified best-fit version during run-time.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the call from the client to access one of the two or more versions of the API comprises a call to access a previously selected default version.

10 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the annotations are implemented in the form of a programming language extension.

11 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the collected statistics comprise version-specific information related to one or more of stability, execution time, and accuracy experienced by customers using the API.

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein program instructions to identify a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics further comprise:

program instructions to receive, from the client, a selected parameter; and

program instructions to search for the selected parameter in a statistics repository.

13 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the call from the client is intercepted responsive to detection of a performance problem.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to receive a user selection prioritizing a parameter;

program instructions to analyze the collected statistics; and

program instructions to determine that performance is poor with respect to the prioritized parameter.

15 . A computer system for API versioning, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to provide annotations differentiating two or more versions of an API;

program instructions to collect statistics associated with the two or more versions of the API;

program instructions to intercept a call from a client to access one of the two or more versions of the API;

program instructions to identify a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics; and

program instructions to re-route API execution to the identified best-fit version during run-time.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the annotations are implemented in the form of a programming language extension.

17 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the collected statistics comprise version-specific information related to one or more of stability, execution time, and accuracy experienced by customers using the API.

18 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein program instructions to identify a best-fit version for the client based on employing analytical elements on the collected statistics further comprise:

program instructions to receive, from the client, a selected parameter; and

program instructions to search for the selected parameter in a statistics repository.

19 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the call from the client is intercepted responsive to detection of a performance problem.

20 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to receive a user selection prioritizing a parameter;

program instructions to analyze the collected statistics; and

program instructions to determine that performance is poor with respect to the prioritized parameter.