We Standardized the API. We Didn't Standardize the Application.

A hands-on walkthrough of creating API applications across six major providers — Notion, Slack, LinkedIn, GitHub, Cloudflare, and Google — reveals that while OpenAPI standardized how to describe APIs, there is no standard for how to become a consumer of one. Each provider uses different vocabulary, gating mechanisms, scope models, and credential types. The divergence was tolerable when developers managed a handful of APIs, but becomes a serious problem as API counts scale and AI agents need to navigate these portals programmatically. Slack's JSON/YAML app manifest is highlighted as the only agent-friendly artifact among the six. The post argues for a cross-provider application manifest standard that captures credential types, scope vocabularies, resource selection models, verification states, and TTL/rotation policies.