I don't mind responses that go beyond the narrow bounds of what I asked. It's like learning a new language: sometimes it's best to immerse myself in the new culture and see what I can absorb.
I like learning new software through following tutorials (though this runs the risk of learning outdated information). I'm starting working through The Ultimate Guide To The WordPress REST API (written in September 2015 by Josh Pollock). He recommends using Vagrant, VirtualBox, and Git, which I've downloaded and installed on my computer
Is The Ultimate Guide To The WordPress REST API a good resource (obtained from here)?
Do you know of any better (perhaps newer) tutorials for the WordPress REST API?