Elevating API Innovation at DeveloperWeek 2025
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Frank Kilcommins, Principal API Technical Evangelist at SmartBear, is set to deliver groundbreaking insights at DeveloperWeek 2025, the world’s largest independent developer and engineering conference and expo. With a robust history spanning over 15 years in the technology industry, Frank brings a wealth of expertise that merges software engineering, enterprise architecture, and a fervent dedication to advancing the API community. His presentations, including the much-anticipated “Intro to Contract Testing: Evolving APIs Safely” and “Describing API Workflows with Arazzo,” offer a deep dive into modern API development practices that cater to the intricate demands of microservices and modular API architectures. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the Santa Clara Convention Center as well as online later that week, Frank will introduce the concept of contract testing—a scalable, innovative solution that simplifies provider-consumer validation, addresses the challenges posed by managing dependencies and end-to-end testing, and counters the persistent issues of so-called “zombie APIs.” Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, he will reveal how contract testing not only rebalances the testing pyramid but also leverages OpenAPI artifacts to foster a collaborative environment for API development and innovation.
SmartBear’s presence at the conference is further amplified by the recognition of its award-winning API Hub, which is being honored with the 2025 DEVIES Award for excellence in API Management & Support. This accolade underscores SmartBear’s commitment to streamlining the API development process for modern teams seeking to deliver reliable and valuable APIs. Frank’s follow-up session at the OpenAPI Summit on February 12, 2025, titled “Describing API Workflows with Arazzo,” promises to showcase a revolutionary workflow specification developed by the OpenAPI Initiative. During this session, he will guide attendees through the intricacies of Arazzo, a tool designed to simplify multi-step API interactions by offering reusable, programmatically readable workflows. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience live demonstrations of AI-driven innovations such as Arazzo Specification GPT, hands-on editing with VSCode, and the use of Spectral for validation with custom rules that enforce team style guides. This immersive session aims to equip API developers with actionable techniques to streamline documentation and enhance both human and machine readability in API workflow processes.
The event will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, located at 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA, with in-person sessions from February 11 to February 13, 2025, and live online presentations extending into February 18 through February 20, 2025. Frank’s dual role as an industry thought leader and a board member of the OpenAPI Initiative is evident in his tireless efforts to inspire and support both the API community and SmartBear’s customers throughout the entire API development lifecycle. His sessions at DeveloperWeek are expected to deliver transformative insights that simplify the complexities of API testing, accelerate delivery, and ultimately drive innovation in API workflows, ensuring that both developers and enterprises can harness the power of well-orchestrated API strategies. For additional information on DeveloperWeek, please visit the conference website, and to learn more about SmartBear’s API Hub and its award-winning capabilities, explore the resources available on the SmartBear website.