Design public APIs to work seamlessly across different programming languages and platforms. Follow these key principles: 1. Use platform-agnostic types in public interfaces: - Prefer `int` over `size_t` for array sizes and indices - Avoid unsigned types that don't translate well to other languages - Use explicit size types (int32_t, int64_t) when specific sizes are required 2. Add proper binding annotations for cross-language support: ```cpp class CV_EXPORTS_W MyClass { public: CV_WRAP void process(int size); // Not size_t CV_WRAP_AS(processBytes) Mat process(InputArray data); // Alias for clarity }; ``` 3. Avoid passing language-specific objects through plugin/module boundaries: - Don't pass STL containers or C++ objects through plugin APIs - Use C-style interfaces or abstract base classes for plugin APIs - Consider providing factory functions for complex objects 4. Maintain binary compatibility: - Don't modify existing function signatures - Create new overloads or functions for extended functionality - Document API version changes clearly Following these guidelines ensures your API works reliably across Python, Java, and C++ while maintaining long-term stability.