Feedback: api-reference-overview

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://www.assemblyai.com/docs/api-reference/overview
Category: api-reference
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:31:45 pm

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Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:31:44 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis & Recommendations

Overall Assessment

This API overview documentation is well-structured and covers essential topics, but has several areas for improvement in clarity, completeness, and user experience.

Specific Issues & Recommendations

1. Missing Critical Information

API Versioning Strategy

• Issue: The versioning section is incomplete and unclear about version lifecycle
• Fix: Add comprehensive versioning information:

## Versioning

The AssemblyAI API uses path-based versioning (e.g., `/v2`).

**Current Version**: v2 (recommended)
**Supported Versions**: v1 (deprecated), v2
**Version Lifecycle**:
- v1: Deprecated as of [DATE], will be sunset on [DATE]
- v2: Current stable version, introduced [DATE]

When backwards-incompatible changes occur, we:
1. Release a new version
2. Provide 6-month migration period
3. Send deprecation notices via email and dashboard

For API updates, see our [Changelog](https://www.assemblyai.com/changelog).

Missing Authentication Details

• Issue: No information about API key format, security best practices, or token scopes
• Fix: Add comprehensive auth section:

### API Key Security
- **Format**: Keys start with `aa_` followed by 32 alphanumeric characters
- **Storage**: Store keys as environment variables, never in code repositories
- **Rotation**: Keys can be rotated in the dashboard with zero downtime
- **Scopes**: All keys have full access to your account resources

2. Unclear Explanations

EU Endpoint Note

• Issue: Lacks clarity on data residency implications and selection criteria
• Fix: Expand explanation:

<Note title="EU Data Residency">
To use our EU servers for GDPR compliance and data residency requirements,
replace `api.assemblyai.com` with `api.eu.assemblyai.com`.

**Supported**: Async STT, LeMUR
**Not Supported**: Streaming STT (use US endpoint)
**Data Location**: All processing occurs within EU data centers
**Performance**: May have higher latency for non-EU users
</Note>

Pagination Array Notation

• Issue: page_details[i] notation is confusing - it’s not an array
• Fix: Correct the table:

| Property                     | Description                            |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `page_details.limit`         | Maximum number of resources in a page. |
| `page_details.result_count`  | Total number of available resources.   |
| `page_details.current_url`   | URL to the current page.               |
| `page_details.prev_url`      | URL to the previous page (null if first). |
| `page_details.next_url`      | URL to the next page (null if last).  |

3. Better Examples Needed

Complete cURL Examples

• Issue: Examples lack complete request/response pairs
• Fix: Add comprehensive examples:

# Complete authenticated request with response
curl -X GET https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript \
  -H 'Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json'

# Response
{
  "page_details": {
    "limit": 10,
    "result_count": 25,
    "current_url": "https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript",
    "prev_url": null,
    "next_url": "https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/transcript?after_id=abc123"
  },
  "transcripts": [...]
}

SDK Code Examples

• Issue: Only links to SDK documentation, no inline examples
• Fix: Add quick-start code snippets:

# Python SDK example
import assemblyai as aai

aai.settings.api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"
transcriber = aai.Transcriber()
transcript = transcriber.transcribe("https://example.com/audio.mp3")
print(transcript.text)

4. Improved Structure

Add Quick Navigation

• Issue: No table of contents for long page
• Fix: Add navigation at the top:

## Quick Navigation
- [Authentication](#authorization)
- [Client SDKs](#client-sdks)
- [Error Handling](#errors)
- [Rate Limits](#rate-limits)
- [Pagination](#pagination)
- [Versioning](#versioning)

Reorganize Error Section

• Issue: Error information is scattered and incomplete
• Fix: Create comprehensive error handling section:

## Error Handling

### HTTP Status Codes
[existing table]

### Error Response Format
All errors return JSON with consistent structure:
```json
{
  "error": "Human-readable error message",
  "error_code": "MACHINE_READABLE_CODE",
  "details": {
    "field": "Additional context when applicable"
  }
}

Common Error Scenarios

• 401 Unauthorized: Check API key format and validity
• 429 Rate Limited: Implement exponential backoff
• 400 Bad Request: Validate request parameters

Retry Logic

Implement exponential backoff for 5xx errors:

• Initial delay: 1 second
• Maximum delay: 60 seconds
• Maximum retries: 3

### 5. User Pain Points

**Missing Rate Limit Guidance**
- **Issue**: No guidance on handling rate limits gracefully
- **Fix**: Add practical rate limiting section:
```markdown
### Handling Rate Limits
When you receive a 429 response:

1. **Check headers** for reset time
2. **Implement exponential backoff**
3. **Queue requests** rather than failing immediately

```python
import time
import requests

def make_request_with_backoff(url, headers, max_retries=3):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
        if response.status_code == 429:
            reset_time = int(response.headers.get('X-RateLimit-Reset', 60))
            time.sleep(min(reset_time, 60))
            continue
        return response
    raise Exception("Max retries exceeded")

**No Troubleshooting Section**
- **Issue**: Users need help debugging common issues
- **Fix**: Add troubleshooting guide:
```markdown
## Troubleshooting

### Audio File Issues
- **403 Forbidden**: Check if URL is publicly accessible
- **Unsupported format**: Convert to WAV, MP3, or M4A
- **File too short**: Ensure audio is longer than 160ms

### Authentication Issues
- **Invalid API key**: Verify key in dashboard
- **Missing header**: Ensure `Authorization` header is set
- **Wrong endpoint**: Check if using correct base URL

### Getting Help
- Check [Status Page](https://status.assemblyai.com) for outages
- Search [Community Forum](https://forum.assemblyai.com)
- Contact [Support](mailto:support@assemblyai.com) with request ID

Priority Implementation Order

1. High Priority: Fix pagination notation, add complete auth details, improve error examples
2. Medium Priority: Add troubleshooting section, expand EU endpoint explanation
3. Low Priority: Add navigation, more SDK examples, comprehensive rate limiting guide

These changes will significantly improve user experience and reduce support requests by providing clearer guidance and more actionable information.

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