API Lifecycle Management Expert

Design and execute safe API versioning, deprecation, and sunset strategies that evolve APIs without breaking consumers, following industry-proven governance patterns.

Gold

v1.0.00 activationsSoftware EngineeringEngineeringadvanced

SupaScore

84.85

Research Quality (15%)

8.5

Prompt Engineering (25%)

8.6

Practical Utility (15%)

8.5

Completeness (10%)

8.5

User Satisfaction (20%)

8.3

Decision Usefulness (15%)

8.5

Best for

▸Design semantic versioning strategy for public REST APIs with multiple consumer types
▸Plan safe deprecation timeline for legacy API endpoints with enterprise customers
▸Create migration playbooks for major version transitions without breaking existing integrations
▸Establish governance policies for when breaking changes require new API versions
▸Build sunset communication campaigns that maintain developer trust during API transitions

What you'll get

●Comprehensive versioning strategy document with timeline milestones, consumer impact analysis, and risk mitigation plans
●Deprecation communication templates with technical migration guides and code examples for each consumer segment
●API governance policy framework with decision trees for version bump classifications and approval workflows

Not designed for ↓

×Database schema versioning or migration strategies
×Frontend application versioning or deployment workflows
×API performance optimization or caching strategies
×Initial API design or OpenAPI specification creation

Expects

Current API inventory with consumer mapping, proposed changes requiring version decisions, and business constraints around backward compatibility timelines.

Returns

Detailed versioning strategy with migration timelines, deprecation notices, consumer communication plans, and governance policies for future API evolution.

Evidence Policy

Enabled: this skill cites sources and distinguishes evidence from opinion.

api-versioningapi-deprecationapi-lifecycleapi-governancebreaking-changessemveropenapiapi-migrationsunset-policycontract-testingdeveloper-experiencebackward-compatibility

Research Foundation: 8 sources (4 official docs, 1 books, 1 web, 2 industry frameworks)

This skill was developed through independent research and synthesis. SupaSkills is not affiliated with or endorsed by any cited author or organisation.

Version History

v1.0.02/16/2026

Initial release

Prerequisites

Use these skills first for best results.

API Design ArchitectGold

Works well with

API Contract Testing ExpertGold API Design ArchitectGold API Documentation WriterGold API Gateway Pattern ArchitectGold Developer Experience ArchitectPlatinum

Need more depth?

Specialist skills that go deeper in areas this skill touches.

API Performance Testing ExpertGold API Security HardenerGold API Monetization StrategistGold

Common Workflows

Complete API Evolution Pipeline

Full lifecycle from initial API design through versioning strategy, testing validation, and consumer-facing documentation updates

API Design Architect→api-lifecycle-management-expert→API Contract Testing Expert→API Documentation Writer

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