REST Lens was born from research. The evaluation engine at the heart of REST Lens is S.E.O.R.A. (Static Evaluator Of RESTful APIs), developed through academic research into automated API design validation. We believe in supporting the research community that made this possible.
What's Included
REST Lens for Research provides researchers with enhanced capabilities to conduct API design studies:
Free Access
Full access to REST Lens at no cost for qualifying research projects. No credit card required, no trial period—just the tools you need for your research.
Higher Rate Limits
Research often requires analyzing large datasets. REST Lens for Research includes significantly higher API rate limits to support:
- Large-scale API specification studies
- Longitudinal analysis of API evolution
- Cross-sectional comparisons across many APIs
Bulk Evaluation Support
Upload and evaluate multiple specifications efficiently:
- Batch upload via API
- Parallel evaluation processing
- Structured result exports for statistical analysis
Controlled Dashboard Access
Share results with research participants without requiring them to create accounts:
- Generate time-limited access links
- Control what participants can view
- Perfect for user studies and surveys
- No account creation friction for participants
Eligibility
REST Lens for Research is available to researchers who are:
- Affiliated with a university (faculty, staff, or graduate students)
- Part of an established research organization (research institutes, think tanks, non-profits focused on research)
Note: Undergraduate students are not eligible for the research program.
We welcome researchers from all disciplines—computer science, software engineering, information systems, and beyond.
How to Apply
Send us an email at [email protected] with:
- Your affiliation: University/organization name and your role
- Research description: Brief overview of your research project (2-3 paragraphs)
- Expected usage: Approximate number of API specifications you plan to analyze
- Timeline: Expected duration of your research
We typically respond within 2-3 business days.
Research We'd Love to Support
We're particularly excited about research in areas such as:
- API design quality: Measuring and improving REST API design practices
- API evolution: How APIs change over time and the impact on consumers
- Developer experience: How API design affects developer productivity and satisfaction
- Industry practices: Analyzing real-world API design patterns across industries
- Tooling effectiveness: Evaluating the impact of automated design feedback
Have a different research angle? We'd love to hear about it.
Questions?
Reach out to us at [email protected]. We're always happy to discuss how REST Lens can support your research.