Stainless Helps OpenAI, Anthropic, and Others Build SDKs for Their APIs
As the AI landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, a common thread has emerged among top-tier AI startups like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Together AI. Beyond their focus on generative AI, these companies share a crucial secret to their success: they utilize Stainless, a cutting-edge platform created by ex-Stripe staffer Alex Rattray.
Who is Alex Rattray?
Alex Rattray’s journey to creating Stainless began at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied economics. However, it was his passion for building and creating that truly defined his path. From an underground newspaper in high school to a bike-share program in college, Rattray has always been driven by innovation.
While studying at UPenn, Rattray picked up programming on the side, which eventually led him to a job as an engineer on Stripe’s developer platform team. During his tenure at Stripe, Rattray played a pivotal role in revamping API documentation and launching the system that powers Stripe’s API client SDK.
The Problem with Manual SDK Development
As Rattray worked on these projects, he observed a glaring issue: companies were struggling to build SDKs for their APIs at scale. "Handwriting the SDKs couldn’t scale," he told TechCrunch. The process of creating and maintaining SDKs was tedious, time-consuming, and prone to errors.
Moreover, API designers faced an overwhelming number of "bikeshed" questions, which they had to painstakingly resolve and enforce consistency around. Rattray realized that this approach was not only inefficient but also limited the potential for innovation.
Introducing Stainless: The Solution
Rattray’s solution was Stainless, a platform that takes in an API spec and generates SDKs in various programming languages, including Python, TypeScript, Kotlin, Go, and Java. As APIs evolve and change, Stainless’ platform pushes updates with options for versioning and publishing changelogs.
The Benefits of Stainless
So, why do OpenAI, Anthropic, and Together AI rely on Stainless? The answer lies in its ability to:
- Accelerate Development: By automating the SDK development process, companies can focus on more critical tasks, such as innovation and growth.
- Enhance Consistency: Stainless ensures that API designers enforce consistency across all SDKs, reducing errors and improving overall quality.
- Boost Collaboration: With a unified platform for API documentation and SDK management, teams can collaborate more efficiently and effectively.
The Future of AI and Startup Innovation
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Together AI are at the forefront of innovation. By leveraging the power of generative AI through platforms like Stainless, they are poised to drive unprecedented growth and success in the industry.
In conclusion, the Stainless advantage is a game-changer for startups and established companies alike. As the demand for efficient, scalable, and innovative solutions continues to grow, the importance of platforms like Stainless cannot be overstated.
About the Author
Kyle Wiggers is a senior reporter at TechCrunch with a special interest in artificial intelligence. His writing has appeared in VentureBeat and Digital Trends, as well as various gadget blogs.
Follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleWiggers
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