#210 - Creator of WireMock: Building a Successful Open Source Project and The Art of API Mocking - Tom Akehurst

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Tired of API dependencies slowing down your development and testing?

Dive into my conversation with Tom Akehurst, creator of WireMock, and discover the art of using API mocking to build successful software in complex distributed environments.

Key topics discussed:

• The origin story of WireMock, born from integration challenges at Disney
• How WireMock became a leading API mocking tool with millions of monthly downloads
• Insights on building and maintaining successful open-source projects
• The key benefits of API mocking for developer productivity and experience
• The shift from the traditional testing pyramid to a “testing trophy” approach
• Leveraging API mocking for API-first design and rapid prototyping
• The distinction between API mocking and contract testing
• The future of API testing and development in the age of microservices and AI

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out your journey in API development, this episode provides valuable insights into the power of API mocking and the journey of building a successful open-source project.  

Timestamps:

• (02:11) Career Turning Points
• (08:08) WireMock OSS Success Story
• (15:15) Welcoming & Aligning with Contributors
• (18:05) Benefits of WireMock & API Mocking Tools
• (19:59) API Mocking & Testing Pyramid
• (22:05) API Mocking vs Contract Testing
• (25:25) The Economics of API Mocking
• (27:27) API First Design
• (32:32) Impact to the Developer Experience & Productivity
• (35:32) Working More Effectively with Distributed Systems
• (38:15) API Virtualization/Simulation
• (41:13) AI Advancement in API Development
• (44:25) Building API for AI Agents
• (47:25) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Tom Akehurst’s Bio
Tom Akehurst is the creator of WireMock, the open source API mocking tool, which he’s now been working on for well over a decade. Lately he’s also the CTO and co-founder of WireMock, Inc., where he’s helping complex engineering organisations effectively adopt API simulation techniques in order to build better software faster.

Tom has been developing software for over 20 years. He’s built large-scale web systems for media, travel, hospitality, retail and government, applying lean, eXtreme Programming, Continuous Delivery and DevOps principles along the way.

Follow Tom:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/tomakehurst
• Email – tom@wiremock.org
• WireMock – wiremock.org

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Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/210.
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