Utilize Apigee to integrate two apps using APIs

[alex-litvak]

We’re currently utilizing Tibco to integrate two applications for data transfer and manipulations. One application outside and another inside of the company. Both apps have APIs. Apparently, support and other staff getting too expensive with Tibco. Can we switch to Apigee and utilize their services for the same purpose? Can Apigee do data validation and/or manipulation? If anyone has similar experience please share. Thank you in advance

[arijitdutta]

Apigee can be a good solution for anything that deals with API endpoints. It has plenty of options to configure various scenarios and manipulate the data based on business logic.

Manipulation can be done using policies which are divided into 4 categories -

1. Traffic Management
2. Mediation
3. Security
4. Extension

More details here https://docs.apigee.com/api-platform/reference/policies/reference-overview-policy.html

Policies can also be applied conditionally https://docs.apigee.com/api-platform/reference/conditions-reference

More specialised use cases can also be handled through writing a layer in nodejs in Apigee environment https://docs.apigee.com/api-platform/nodejs/node-overview

If you may share specific usecases about what kind of data manipulation your team wishes to do, I may be able to suggest specific policies that may help.

[alex-litvak]

We’re getting a flat file from one appl and need to separate it by different fields for another; like caseID, description, URL, etc.

Also, what do we need to have integrated APIs for two apps? API Proxy/Policy? Can you please share some example diagram?

Thanks

[dchiesa1]

Can you be more specific about the structure of the flat file? Is it a CSV? Can you give a sample of what the file looks like?

When you say "separate it by different fields"... what does that mean? I understand "different fields", but what does "separate it" mean? What is your expected output after "separating it"?

At that point, what do you do with the separated data? Is there a second endpoint you are calling? What do the requests and responses look like for that 2nd endpoint?

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Apigee Edge is good for integrating different APIs. Simple workflows are no problem. If you're doing a complex workflow, you could do it, but Apigee Edge is probably not the right tool for you.

[arijitdutta]

@Alex Litvak If you have access to the system that gives out a flat file, best will be to create a new endpoint that gives out the fields separately. It will be most efficient in terms of maintenance and performance. In case you don't have access to the system, you may create a nodejs layer in Apigee https://docs.apigee.com/api-platform/nodejs/node-overview.

>>"Also, what do we need to have integrated APIs for two apps? API Proxy/Policy?"

Proxy in Apigee edge is the "url" that you may use to mask the original endpoint. Policies are the set of rules/functions you apply to it. https://docs.apigee.com/api-platform/develop/policy-attachment-and-enforcement

[alex-litvak]

We have application "A" with a REST APIs and application "B" with REST APIs. We need to get some data from appl A, validate and insert to appl B. Then when changes to any data happened in appl B, validate and move those to appl A. Can we do this with Apigee?

Thanks

[arijitdutta]

Insertion and push notifications will happen at the app level, not in Edge. You may set up validation in Edge if you may.
However, if I understand your case correctly, this API isn't public and you are trying to communicate internally between two systems. If that is the scenario, you probably don't need Apigee. You can set up IP restriction on the APIs and communicate between the systems directly.