Connectors
Build flows with hundreds of prebuilt connectors for SaaS products, APIs, message queues and mainframes
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A simplified approach to exploring, creating, and publishing connectors

With the Automation Explorer and Connector Development Kit (CDK), you can integrate faster with an online hub that allows you to easily create and deploy connectors that can be reused throughout your organization.

Automation Explorer
Automation Explorer is a comprehensive online hub for discovering, learning and accessing IBM supported and community-built integration assets, particularly connectors and templates. Launch the Automation Explorer
Pre-built connectors and templates

IBM App Connect is equipped with hundreds of pre-built connectors and customizable templates to rapidly connect applications and easily build integration flows.

Explore the catalog Amazon

Connect and interact with various AWS services, such as Amazon SNS, Amazon EventBridge and more, to enhance interoperability between AWS and external systems.

Salesforce

Connect between Salesforce CRM and external systems, to facilitate data synchronization, real-time communication, and workflow automation.

Microsoft

Connect and interact with various Microsoft services, such as Microsoft Teams, Azure, Dynamics 365, and more, as well as external systems and applications.

Connector Development Kit

The Connector Development Kit (CDK) is a simple to use, low-code developer experience that enables you to build your own connectors in less than a day

Learn how to create, configure and deploy your own connectors
How CDK works
Discover Users can use our Automation Explorer to see and learn about the connectors that already exist and are ready to use. If you can’t find a specific connector inside automation explorer, you can navigate to our CDK Tab to login and begin developing your own custom connectors. Explore the catalog

Develop Create connectors from an Open API document or from scratch. Configure the credential properties, define all the schemas, and connect and test your configuration. Learn how to create your own connector

Consume Leverage your custom built connector by downloading it from the CDK and importing it into App Connect to use in your integration flows. You also have the ability to publish it to the greater community. Once submitted, IBM will review and then publish it to the public catalog on Automation Explorer. Learn how to publish your connector

FAQ

To start using the Connector Development Kit, go to the IBM Automation Explorer, select Connector Development Kit in the navigation bar and follow the instructions to create an account.

With the Connector Development Kit you can create your own connector from scratch or by using the OpenAPI documentation of the app you are configuring a connection to.

  1. Create a connector using an OpenAPI doc–this is the easiest and quickest way to create a connector. All you need is the v2 or v3 spec of the OpenAPI document and you're ready to go. After you have imported the document you have the option to customize the connector as you wish.

  2. Create a connector from scratch–if an OpenAPI document is not available then you have the option to create a connector from scratch. If you choose this option then you should have a good understanding of the applications REST API.

To download a connector, complete the following steps:

  1. From the Connector Development Kit homepage, locate the connector that you want to work with

  2. Ensure that the connector is marked as completed

  3. On the connector tile, click the three dot Menu icon

  4. Click Download. A new window is displayed to confirm that you want to download. Download the connector as a .car file to your local machine

  5. Import into App Connect. Navigate to the connector catalog in an App Connect instance, and then click on Import connector or API

To publish a connector, complete the following steps:

  1. From the Connector Development Kit homepage, locate the connector that you want to work with

  2. Ensure that the connector is marked as completed

  3. Click on the connector tile

  4. Click the Menu icon

  5. Click Publish. A new window is displayed to indicate that the connector will be reviewed and approved by IBM before it can be made available in the IBM Automation Explorer

  6. Complete the Publisher and Website fields

  7. Click Publish. When you publish a connector you make it available for users to access it in the IBM Automation Explorer. Connectors created in the Connector Development Kit are called community connectors

Resources IBM Connector Development Kit Documentation

Learn how to create, configure and deploy your own connectors.

App Connect Community

Ask a question in the App Connect user community, or search the history to see if it’s been asked before.

Automation Explorer

Automation Explorer is an invaluable resource for new customers looking to learn more about IBM's App Connect and how it can help them streamline their integration processes.

Get started with IBM App Connect

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More ways to explore Documentation Resources Community