api-onboarding

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• README.md
• SKILL.md

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Reducing Time-to-First-API-Call

The time between a developer discovering your API and successfully making their first call is the most critical window in your entire developer journey. Every minute of friction here costs you potential users.

## Overview

Time-to-First-API-Call (TTFAC) is the single most predictive metric for developer adoption. Developers who succeed quickly become active users. Developers who struggle leave—often silently.

This skill covers:
- Measuring and optimizing TTFAC
- Removing authentication friction
- Creating effective sandbox environments
- Building interactive documentation
- Identifying and fixing common failure points

## Before You Start

Review the **developer-audience-context** skill to understand:
- What's the typical technical sophistication of your developers?
- What tools and environments do they commonly use?
- What alternative products have they tried? What was their experience?
- What's their urgency level? (Evaluating vs. building immediately)

Your onboarding should meet developers where they are.

## Understanding TTFAC

### What TTFAC Measures

Time-to-First-API-Call measures the elapsed time from a developer's first interaction to their first successful API response. This includes:

1. **Discovery time**: Finding the "Get Started" content
2. **Signup time**: Creating an account
3. **Credential time**: Obtaining API keys
4. **Setup time**: Installing SDK, configuring environment
5. **Execution time**: Running first request
6. **Success time**: Receiving successful response

### TTFAC Benchmarks

| Rating | TTFAC | Developer Experience |
|--------|-------|---------------------|
| **Excellent** | < 5 min | "This is amazing" |
| **Good** | 5-15 min | "Pretty straightforward" |
| **Acceptable** | 15-30 min | "Got there eventually" |
| **Poor** | 30-60 min | "This is frustrating" |
| **Failing** | > 60 min | "I'll try something else" |

### Measuring TTFAC

**Instrumentation points:**
```javascript
// Track these events with timestamps
analytics.track('docs_quickstart_viewed');
analytics.track('signup_started');
analytics.track('signup_completed');
analytics.track('api_key_created');
analytics.track('sdk_installed');     // Via package manager data
analytics.track('first_api_call');    // Via API logs
analytics.track('first_successful_call');
```

**Calculate:**
- Median TTFAC (more useful than average)
- TTFAC by developer segment
- Drop-off rates at each step
- Success rates within time windows (5 min, 15 min, 60 min)

## Authentication Simplification

Authentication is the #1 source of onboarding friction. Simplify ruthlessly.

### The Ideal Auth Flow

1. Developer signs up (< 2 minutes)
2. API key visible immediately (not buried in settings)
3. Key works immediately (no activation delay)
4. Copy-paste into example code
5. Success

### Auth Anti-Patterns to Avoid

**The Approval Queue**
```
❌ "Your API access request has been submitted.
    You'll receive access within 2-3 business days."
```
Developers leave and find an alternative.

**The Hidden Key**
```
❌ Settings → Team → API → Credentials → Keys → Show Key
```
Make keys visible on dashboard home.

**The Complex Token**
```
❌ OAuth flow requiring:
   - Client ID
   - Client secret
   - Redirect URI configuration
   - Token exchange
   - Token refresh handling
```
For getting started, provide simple API keys.

**The Verification Gauntlet**
```
❌ Sign up → Verify email → Verify phone →
   Add payment → Verify payment → Then API key
```
Minimize friction for first API call.

### Auth Simplification Strategies

**Provide Test Keys Immediately**
```
✅ "Here's your test API key: sk_test_abc123...
    Use this in sandbox mode—no charges, no setup."

From jonathimer/devmarketing-skills, MIT.

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