[V5.0.7 or later]

Managing the application lifecycle

By using the application lifecycle capability, you can have separate Development and Production endpoints for the same API. Applications that are subscribed to use the API initially have Development status, and can call the API only through Development endpoints. When application testing is complete, the application developer can request to upgrade the application to Production status; when the request is approved, the application is upgraded and can call the API through Production endpoints.

Configuring IBM API Connect to use the application lifecycle

To configure the IBM® API Connect to use the application lifecyle, you must complete the following steps:
  1. Configure separate Development and Production DataPower® Gateway services in the Cloud Manager user interface. You configure a DataPower Gateway service to be either a Development or Production gateway service as follows:
    1. Click Services.
    2. Either configure a new DataPower Gateway service, or modify an existing service, by completing one or other of the following actions:
      • To create a new service, click Add > Add DataPower Service.
      • To modify an existing service, click the Service Settings icon The Service Settings icon alongside the service that you want to modify.
    3. In the Supported Application Types field, select the type of application traffic that can flow through this DataPower Gateway service. The options are as follows:
      • Production: this Gateway service is for use with production applications only.
      • Development: this Gateway service is for use with development applications only.
      • Both (default): this Gateway service supports both development and production applications.
    4. When you are finished, click Create or Save depending on whether you are creating a new service or modifying an existing one.
  2. Configure the Catalog to use the Development and Production DataPower Gateway services; for details, see Using multiple DataPower Gateway services with a Catalog.
  3. Enable development application workflow in the Catalog; complete the following steps:
    1. On the Dashboard of the API Manager UI, select the Catalog that you want to work with.
    2. Click Settings > Portal, then select Development Application Workflow.
    3. Click the Save icon save icon.

Using application lifecycle in the Developer Portal

If development application workflow is enabled for the Catalog associated with your Developer Portal, then when you register a new application it initially has Development status. When you then subscribe the application to use an API, it can make API calls only to Development endpoints. When you have completed your application testing, you can request to upgrade your application to Production status; for details, see Upgrading a Development application to Production status.

After the application upgrade request has been approved, the application can make calls to Production endpoints.

Approving an application upgrade request

A request to upgrade a Development application to Production status is approved or declined in the API Manager UI; for details, see Approving application upgrade requests.