Generating API archives for DevOps

Use the build toolkit zconbt command to generate the API archive from API projects that are created in the API toolkit.

Before you begin

zosConnect-2.0 Applies to zosConnect-2.0.

Ensure that the IBM® z/OS® Connect build toolkit is installed. For more information, see Installing the IBM z/OS Connect build toolkit.

About this task

zosConnect-2.0 Applies to zosConnect-2.0.

An API archive (.aar) file contains the information that is needed by IBM z/OS Connect to provide the API. The API project directories can also be checked in to source control management system and therefore automatically built and deployed as part of a DevOps pipeline. You can use the build toolkit to build the API projects into deployable archive files and use scripts to copy the files to the API directory.

Procedure

  1. Obtain the latest API source files from your source control management system and put them in a location that the zconbt command can access.
  2. Use the zconbt command to generate the API archive. Use the --projectDirectory parameter to specify the project directory, and --file parameter to specify the file name for the generated API archive.
    For example:
    zconbt --projectDirectory=C:/APIs/purchaseAPI --file=C:/APIs/purchaseAPI.aar
    zconbt --projectDirectory=./u/apiProjects/lookupAPI --file=./u/AARs/lookup.aar
    Note: If you are running on Microsoft Windows, use either a double backslash \\ or a forward slash character / in the path name.
    Note: If you are running on z/OS, you can use the sample JCL provided in <hlq>.SBAQSAMP(BAQZCBT) to run the zconbt.zos command. You must customize the sample JCL following the instructions in BAQZCBT.
  3. If any errors occur, make the necessary corrections and repeat the procedure.
  4. You can now deploy the API archive file by copying it to the designated API directory.

Results

An API is automatically deployed when the API archive is copied into the API directory if the server is configured to monitor the API directory for changes.

What to do next

For more information about API archive management, see Automated API management.