5 Steps to Create API’s at Warp Speed 

Supercharge your dev skills and build your API in record time using Python and FastAPI

March 9, 2023

By: Michael Cardoza

Quit dawdling with slow and outdated approaches and say goodbye to the tedious process of building APIs from scratch!

Embracing Lightning-Speed Development

Introducing the champions of rapid development: Python and FastAPI!

Join forces with this formidable duo, and embark on a journey of unmatched speed and efficiency. In the next few minutes, you’ll unlock the magic of creating APIs, broken down into five incredibly straightforward steps.

Step-by-Step Guide to Rapid API Creation

1. Setting Up Your Python3 Environment

With a few taps on your keyboard, lay the foundation of your exciting project.

1  $ mkdir app && cd app
2  $ python3 -m venv venv
3  $ source venv/bin/activate
4 

2. Installing the Necessary Packages

Before we begin crafting, let’s arm ourselves with the essential tools.

1  $ pip install fastapi
2  $ pip install "uvicorn[standard]"
3

3. Drafting Your First FastAPI Script

Time to put pen to paper (or, more aptly, fingers to keys). Watch as lines of code morph into an interactive digital interface.

1  from typing import Union
2
3  from fastapi import FastAPI
4
5  app = FastAPI()
6
7
8  @app.get("/")
9  def read_root():
10    return {"say-hello": "Hello Bits Kingdom"}
11  
12
13 @app.get("/items/{item_id}")
14 def read_item(item_id: int, q: Union[str, None] = None):
15 return {"item_id": item_id, "q": q}
16

4. Initiating Uvicorn in Your Terminal

Fire up the engines and behold the birth of your application.

1  $ uvicorn main:app --reload
2
3  INFO:     Uvicorn running on http://127.0.0.1:8000 (Press CTRL+C to quit)
4  INFO:     Started reloader process [28720]
5  INFO:     Started server process [28722]
6  INFO:     Waiting for application startup.
7  INFO:     Application startup complete.
8

5. Testing Your Creation


The moment of truth! Launch your browser and see your creation come to life.
Open your browser at http://127.0.0.1:8000 or http://127.0.0.1:8000/items/5?q=somequery

1  {
2  "say-hello": "Hello Bits Kingdom"
3  }

Craving More Coding Insights?

Can’t get enough of our Bits Tips? Our dev experts are constantly chipping in with tips that help you improve your coding in a snap! Check out these Terminal, Shell, or Console secrets from a super coder!


✍🏾 This article was written by our copywriter, Sofia, in collaboration with our DEV expert, Michael.