Every day we hear that we must evolve to the world of APIs, that we must leave behind the classic SOA. We hear about the advantages of this model and how developers can self-provide and reuse existing APIs. We also hear about how we can expose our business to partners through APIs, etc. But what is an API really? How do they be designed, and what do vendors offer to manage and operate them? We’ll introduce you to the world of application programming interfaces and how one of the leading API management vendors solves this challenge.
What is an API?
An API (application programming interface) is an interface that facilitates access to services or databases, allowing the interconnection of modules and applications, facilitating access to their backend and thus enabling the reuse of services.
Through programming, it allows us to open data and functionality to other developers, companies, or even departments within the same company. Thus, it becomes the new way organizations will exchange data, services, and resources with both partners and the general public.
What problems do they solve and what aspects should we consider?
Connectivity: Their use allows for the remote connection of software components.
Technological independence: The use of a given API does not necessarily have to be associated with the use of a specific technology (.NET, Java, etc.).
Functionality: The generated and published APIs must meet a need and offer complete functionality.
Security: The publication of certain functionalities to third parties entails this challenge.
Scalability: Enabling services for use by third-party systems can lead to a significant increase in the number of calls to the system. The service exposed through the API must be implemented using easily scalable solutions.
Agility to change: As the potential number of API users increases, so does the number of possible needs/improvements for them. The architecture created must facilitate the evolution of APIs and functionalities, allowing for a rapid response that meets the expectations of the large number of users and allows for a response ahead of the competition.
Documentation: The API creation process is associated with a documentation and publication process. The goal is to have a platform, an API portal, where potential users can access all the necessary details for their use.
Access levels: The use of APIs implies a level of service provided by them. To guarantee this level of service, it is essential to control the level of access to these APIs. This control can be used to monetize the service, allowing for the creation of different access levels and, therefore, different costs.
How do we control all these aspects?
We can define API Management as the process of publishing, promoting, and monitoring APIs in a secure and scalable environment. Furthermore, the term includes all resources focused on creation, documentation, and socialization. This concept is the key to the success of an API platform, as it will provide solutions to the problems we will encounter.
What is Mulesoft’s approach to the world of APIs?
Mulesoft has one of the market-leading products, Anypoint Platform, which not only aims to be a technological integration platform but also promotes an API management methodology that facilitates the use and reuse of its APIs.
The “API-led connectivity” approach offered by the tool is a way of connecting data and applications through reusable and functionally complete APIs. These APIs are developed to perform a specific role by converting data into processes and offering different integration methods.
The solution proposed by Mulesoft includes the three pillars necessary for API management in a single product:
API Gateway
API Manager
API Portal
Furthermore, by incorporating its own Runtime as well as numerous connectors to the most important systems on the market (Salesforce, SAP, Siebel, etc.), it also includes the capabilities of an ESB. It also covers the entire software lifecycle and includes a DevOps-oriented product approach.
The “API-Led Connectivity” approach is based on the generation of reusable assets and a three-tier architecture, not only with proprietary components but also using hybrid architectures.
- API Experience
This layer is used by consumer systems. It is consumer-oriented, facilitating and optimizing integration according to their needs. Furthermore, it is developed with consumer reuse in mind.