REST in Pieces: RESTful Design Rule Violations in Student-Built Web Apps

TL;DR

This study analyzes 40 student-built web applications to identify common violations of REST API design rules, revealing frequent errors that suggest the need for improved education and automated tooling in software development courses.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence of prevalent REST design violations in student projects and advocates for targeted instruction and automated tools to enhance API quality.

Findings

98% missing hyphens in endpoint paths

88% incorrect pluralization

83% misuse of HTTP methods

Abstract

In Computer Science Bachelor's programs, software quality is often underemphasized due to limited time and a focus on foundational skills, leaving many students unprepared for industry expectations. To better understand the typical quality of student code and inform both education and hiring practices, we analyze 40 full-stack web applications developed in a third-year Web Technologies course. Using an automated static analysis pipeline, we assess adherence to REST API design rules. Results reveal frequent violations of foundational conventions, such as missing hyphens in endpoint paths (98%), incorrect pluralization (88%), and misuse of HTTP methods (83%). These findings highlight the need for more focused instruction on API design and support the adoption of automated tools to improve code quality in student projects.