‹/› Devsworld News

Devsworld Home

Oracle Acquires Apiary, Pushes API Development

By Steve Anderson
January 20, 2017

Recently, Oracle made a deal in which it would acquire Apiary, a company which developed a powerful new tool for aiding in the development of application programming interfaces (APIs). Given that Oracle is a major developing force in APIs overall, the deal was likely to give Oracle a lot of new capability in the process.

Though there's no word on the terms of the deal, particularly in regard to the actual price involved, what we do know is sufficiently telling. Apiary has already been seen delivering its products sufficiently to have a hand in the development of hundreds of thousands of APIs, as well as products directly relating to these APIs in some cases. With Apiary's APIFlow, users get help at a variety of points spanning the entire API development cycle, starting from initial design and working all the way up to testing and documentation.

Better yet, APIFlow supports both OpenAPI and API Blueprint standards, which allow for better overall development. Throw it in together with Oracle's product line, and the end result is a package that should go a long way toward helping companies better work with the ever more digital economy.

Apiary's founder and CEO, Jakub Nešetril, commented, “Oracle customers will have unique access to a comprehensive API management platform providing control and increased agility, enabling them to focus on innovation. We are excited to join Oracle and bring even more value to customers as part of Oracle's Integration Cloud.”

Basically, this looks like a move equivalent to selling shovels in a gold rush. It's an old tactic—some might say time-honored instead—but it's one that's worked well over the years. Instead of joining in the rush to stake claims and develop while surrounded by competition, others instead offer the tools necessary to develop and stake those claims. It's commonly a much less crowded market proposition—fewer people ever think that way—but it can still be a major profit driver all the same. Already Oracle's systems are delivering value in terms of not just making, but also governing and even monetizing, API releases, so the addition of one more tools to help on that front should only make Oracle a stronger proposition.

In the end, the Oracle and Apiary combination should deliver a lot of value into the market, especially for Oracle. Those using Oracle tools will likely make better APIs and come out ahead in the field, but if it ever catches on that Oracle's tools are table stakes to compete in digital development, it could mean a landslide hit for Oracle.




Edited by Alicia Young

Contributing Writer

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Telecom API Market Set for Big Gains

By: Steve Anderson    3/24/2017

A rapidly increasing need for APIs and similar measures is expected to drive big gains in this market through 2021.

Read More

Flowroute to Discuss Common API Mistakes at All About the API

By: Alicia Young    2/8/2017

Doug Waller of Flowroute will be taking part in a panel at the All About The API event, collocated with ITEXPO, to discuss common mistakes that occur …

Read More

Wear Your Lifestyle with Google's Awareness API

By: Alicia Young    2/8/2017

Google has teamed up with H&M's digital fashion house Ivyrevel to use its Awareness API in a unique way. The duo wants to digitally design customized …

Read More

10 Trends that Will Impact Open-Source Technology

By: Special Guest    2/8/2017

Open source has become an integral piece of every developer's arsenal. The power of the community, the wisdom of many, and the ability to hook into va…

Read More

What the Google Hangouts API Shutdown Means

By: Special Guest    2/6/2017

Google's in an interesting place with Hangouts and chat with both the enterprise and the consumer. One thing is clear - what it's doing with Hangouts …

Read More