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A comprehensive guide on how to manage versioning in YAML files for API specifications, ensuring consistency across your API release.
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How to Version YAML Files for Your API Specifications

Managing API specifications effectively is crucial to ensure that your applications communicate seamlessly and efficiently. However, when it involves multiple YAML files, the challenge of versioning becomes apparent. If you are currently facing the dilemma of determining how to assign versions to your YAML files for an API, you are not alone. This guide will help clarify the versioning strategy you can adopt when working with API specifications in YAML format.

Understanding the Versioning Dilemma

The core of your question revolves around a common concern: when you make a breaking change to one of your YAML files, should all other files be versioned together? Here is the scenario you presented: you update one file to version 2.0.0 due to a breaking change, while other files remain at 1.0.0. This situation raises the question about how to determine the overall version of the API specification being presented to consumers.

Semantic Versioning Basics

Before delving into the solution, it’s important to understand the semantic versioning strategy you're using, defined as major.minor.patch:

Major: incremented for breaking changes that would require changes in client applications.

Minor: incremented for adding functionality in a backward-compatible manner.

Patch: incremented for backward-compatible bug fixes.

The Recommended Approach to Versioning Your YAML Files

To maintain clarity and consistency across your API specifications, consider adopting the following guidelines:

1. Versioning the Full Set of Files

When dealing with a set of files, it is essential to treat the entire collection as a single entity. Therefore, the best practice is as follows:

Tag the Full Set: No matter which file is changed, always increment the version for the full set of YAML files. This provides consistency and tells consumers exactly which version of the API they are working with.

Why This Matters: If you have a YAML file at version 2.0.0 referencing another at 1.0.0, it may create confusion for consumers. They would not know which version of the API they are using since the files would be out of sync.

2. Implications of Versioning Decisions

Changing the version of the entire API specification has significant implications:

Clarity for API Consumers: Consumers can confidently know that they are using a cohesive version of the API without mismatched dependencies.

Management of Updates: When consumers are aware of the versions being utilized, it simplifies the management of their integration with your API.

Conclusion: Maintain Consistency

In conclusion, when you experience a breaking change in one of your YAML files, it is imperative to tag the full set of files with a new version, regardless of whether they have been modified or not. This ensures that API consumers are always aware of what they are integrating with and prevents potential errors that could arise from version mismatches. Adopting this practice leads to a more robust and user-friendly API, fostering trust and ease of use among developers.

By following these guidelines, you ensure a smooth versioning experience for your API specifications, making your development process more efficient and your API easier to use.