Amazon API Gateway vs RAML: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this markdown code, we will compare Amazon API Gateway and RAML to highlight their key differences.

1. Scalability: Amazon API Gateway offers highly scalable and managed infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on building their API. On the other hand, RAML is a specification language that does not provide any built-in scaling capabilities. Developers using RAML need to rely on other tools and technologies for scaling their APIs.

2. Vendor Lock-in: When using Amazon API Gateway, there is a certain level of vendor lock-in. This means that once you build and deploy your API on Amazon API Gateway, migrating to a different platform or service can be challenging. RAML, being an open standard, offers more flexibility as it allows developers to easily migrate their APIs to different platforms or tools.

3. Pricing: Amazon API Gateway follows a pay-per-usage pricing model. This means that developers pay for the number of API calls, data transfer, and caching they utilize. On the other hand, RAML does not have any direct pricing model as it is a specification language. However, it may involve costs for implementing and maintaining the tools and technologies required for building and managing the API.

4. Tooling and Ecosystem: Amazon API Gateway has a comprehensive set of tools and integrates well with other AWS services, such as Lambda for serverless execution. It also has a vibrant ecosystem with extensive documentation and community support. RAML, being a specification language, does not have a specific set of tools or ecosystem built around it. However, there are tools available that can parse and validate RAML files.

5. Migration of Existing APIs: Migrating existing APIs to Amazon API Gateway can be a complex process, requiring modifications and adjustments to work with the AWS infrastructure and services. With RAML, there is an advantage of being able to define APIs without any dependencies on a particular platform. This makes it easier to migrate existing APIs to a RAML compatible service or tool.

6. Security and Compliance: Amazon API Gateway provides various security features, including authentication, authorization, and access control options. It also offers integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for secure API management. RAML, being a specification language, does not directly address security and compliance concerns. Developers using RAML need to implement and manage security measures separately.

In summary, Amazon API Gateway provides scalable infrastructure, but it brings vendor lock-in, has a pay-per-usage pricing model, and a comprehensive set of tools and ecosystem. On the other hand, RAML offers flexibility, easier migration of existing APIs, but lacks built-in scalability and security features.