I just saw the news about Tesla’s new API pricing, and I’m kind of freaking out. I’ve been working on this cool app that uses Tesla’s API, and I did some quick math based on their new pricing model. Turns out it would cost me around $60 million a year to keep my app running! That’s insane!
Has anyone else looked into this? Are other developers as worried as I am? I’m wondering if there’s any way to optimize API calls or if Tesla might reconsider their pricing for smaller developers.
I really don’t want to shut down my project, but at these prices, I don’t see how I can keep it going. Any thoughts or advice would be super helpful. Thanks!
I’ve been in a similar boat with API pricing changes before, and it’s definitely a gut punch. Here’s what worked for me:
First, I’d suggest doing a deep dive into your API usage patterns. You might be surprised at how many calls you can eliminate or batch together. I managed to cut my usage by almost 40% just by optimizing my code and implementing smarter caching.
Have you considered a hybrid approach? Maybe you can offload some functionality to the device itself, reducing API calls. Or look into alternative data sources for non-critical features.
If all else fails, you might need to pivot. Could your app’s core functionality be adapted to work with other car brands or a more general audience? Sometimes these setbacks lead to even better ideas.
Don’t throw in the towel yet. The developer community is pretty resourceful - I’m sure we’ll find ways to adapt to this new landscape.
I’ve been following this situation closely, and it’s definitely concerning for many developers in the Tesla ecosystem. The new pricing structure seems to heavily favor larger companies with deeper pockets, which could stifle innovation from independent developers and smaller startups.
From what I’ve gathered, Tesla hasn’t provided much clarity on potential exceptions or tiers for smaller-scale applications. It might be worth reaching out to their developer relations team to see if they have any plans to address these concerns.
In the meantime, you could consider implementing aggressive caching strategies or reducing the frequency of API calls to minimize costs. Another option might be to explore alternative data sources or APIs that could partially replace Tesla’s API functionality.
Ultimately, if Tesla doesn’t adjust their pricing model, we may see a significant shift in the third-party app landscape for Tesla vehicles. It’s a challenging situation, and I hope they’ll reconsider their approach to support the developer community that has contributed so much to their ecosystem.
wow, thats rough man. i feel ya. 60 mil is insane! maybe try optimizing ur api calls? or see if u can use caching to reduce requests. tesla might change their mind if enough devs complain. dont give up yet, ur app sounds cool. keep us posted on what happens!