Software Development and Delivery is Changing - Are You Ready?
The traditional API design process today is bottlenecked by limited time and budgets, forcing teams to choose between delivery speed and design quality.
This "rush to code" introduces significant technical debt and fails to support the agility required for modern AI strategies.
What we have now found is that teams are able to leverage a repeatable, scalable API design process in conjunction with today’s LLM capabilities.
The result: More time for architectural decisions and faster feedback loops due to reduced manual effort.
We are no longer just building software; we are orchestrating the intent of the AI-driven enterprise.
Align-Define-Design-Refine (ADDR) at-a-Glance
ADDR has been implemented in organizations around-the-world for more than a decade. It can be used with or without AI enhancement to help align your business, product mindset, and technical capabilities. While ADDR started as an API design first process, it is evolving into a comprehensive, top-down, capability-centric methodology for making specifications a reality.
Align – Get everyone on the same page.
Align business and technical stakeholders on desired outcomes and business goals.
Define – Map outcomes into capabilities.
Turn business outcomes into digital capabilities and map them into your existing and emerging systems.
Design – Create the solution blueprint.
Model APIs, Events, and architecture that deliver desired outcomes.
Refine – Test and improve before full rollout.
Prototype your APIs and other digital assets, run mock integrations, and incorporate feedback.
Featured ADDR Playbooks
ADDR is for more than API design. We have extended the ADDR across a variety of needs, from the software delivery lifecycle and AI transformation efforts, to business process engineering. Select a featured ADDR playbook, below, or explore all of our playbooks:
ADDR for Design First APIs
ADDR has been used by 10,000+ individuals and teams to design great APIs that align your business, developers, and desired user outcomes.
AI Prompts for API Design
Combine your preferred LLM with our starter prompts to accelerate the API design process. Do more thinking and less typing while designing great web APIs faster.
ADDR for MCP Tools
Ensure your MCP tool investments align the right context with your backend and third-party systems - while accelerating your developer and business workforce.