APISIX as a high-performance micro-gateway
The concept of an API Gateway has been there for several years. An API Gateway acts as the single entry point into the system. Hence, in a nutshell, all requests from clients will first go through the API Gateway, and then will be routed to the relevant service. In addition to request routing, it can perform additional duties such as request transformations, authentication, and load balancing. Therefore this can be used either to expose your applications to the internet or inside the intranet for your microservices to communicate with each other.
More than a decade ago API gateways didn’t have such high-performance requirements. At that time, internet traffic mainly ran from the browser to the server, and there was less traffic from microservices or the intranet. Most of the API Gateways built at the time were limited to the technologies at that time.
However, there is a lot of traffic now, with mobile phones, IoT devices, and different data publishing devices connected to the internet. This will keep on increasing with the introduction of 5G technologies. At the same time, the internal traffic is also getting increased with the increasing adoption of technologies such as microservices. Therefore in this developing high-volume technology land space, there are new requirements for high-performing, fault-tolerant, and dynamic API gateways. Apache APISIX is built with high-performance in mind.
Our team at Chain Analytica is currently using APISIX as a micro gateway in our ZilkRoad Platform. ZilkRoad is a B2B supply chain collaboration platform that empowers SME manufacturers & logistics service providers to collaborate seamlessly in a connected value chain. Using ZilkRoad SMEs can discover matching suppliers, logistic partners and financial partners in a unified platform with enhanced collaboration, visibility, and intelligence with the power of Industry 4.0.
The following is a feather cast, our CTO Nirojan gave for the Apache Software Foundation on APISIX. Our CTO is a committer and a PMC member in Apache APISIX. Chain Analytica team members are avid open-source contributors who have contributed to many Apache Software projects including Apache APISIX.
