Connect that make mainframe data and functions available over REST HTTP APIs. These can then be future exposed by an API gateway such as IBM API Connect, for example in order to add API management capabilities. For more information on the options for connecting to mainframes, see the IBM Redpaper IBM Z Integration Guide for Hybrid Cloud and the API Economy , REDP5319 ( http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/redp5319.html?Open ). 

## 5.5 Application integration: IBM App Connect 

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration includes a market-leading application integration capability. It enables the implementation of API and event-driven integrations and provides extensive adaptation to on-premises and cloud-based applications. It provides tooling that is optimized to the users’ skillsets, so that they can be productive in a matter of hours and achieve real results in days. Powerful underlying capabilities facilitate the implementation of even the most complex integration patterns. As a result, data can be moved quickly, accurately and robustly. 

The Application Integration capabilities are also sold separately as IBM App Connect (and previously  Integration Bus ). 

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration delivers a range of application integration capabilities and features including theses: 

GLYPH<SM590000> The ability to build and expose APIs through a no-code approach that can be easily managed through an API Lifecycle (discussed in 5.3, “API Li fecycle: IBM API Connect” on page 147) 

GLYPH<SM590000> Extended connectivity across Cloud Services, Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud platforms, and on-premises applications 

GLYPH<SM590000> Lightweight integration runtimes for cloud native and container-based deployment 

GLYPH<SM590000> Deployment options that can enable clients to achieve a balance between control, management overhead, and budget 

GLYPH<SM590000> New, simple tooling for all styles of user that works together to expose and integrate enterprise systems 

## 5.5.1 User-aligned integration tooling 

The Application Integration features include an upgraded desktop user interface that is coupled with new award-winning browser-based tooling. Together, they bring together the teams that own and manage the data with those that have the context to apply it. Digital businesses rely on data that is delivered in the right context, to the right client touch point, at the required time. The tooling provides frictionless access to enterprise data at the front line of the clients’ business, whether those individuals are in IT or citizen integrators in the line of business. 

It provides new integrated tooling experiences for the spectrum of users across the digital enterprise: 

GLYPH<SM590000> For the core IT teams that manage the key systems and packaged applications, there is a rich tooling experience to support all styles of interaction, powerful mapping, parsing, and transformation. A broad range of functions —including built-in unit testing and the ability to perform pre-deploy validation, alongside linked browser-based tooling for the line-of-business teams — ensures that both developers and non-technical users can rapidly build integration without the need for code. 

