We use Kong for our API gateway, handling all public traffic. It is an open-source tool, and even though we are a startup, it provides us with stability without incurring high costs initially.
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Custom plugin capability with enhanced high traffic handling and lightweight performance
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Kong has helped us by performing smoothly even when we receive millions of requests, which prevents any latency issues impacting our applications. We have also been able to enhance security by writing our own plugins and easily integrating with various tools and platforms.
What is most valuable?
Kong's most valuable features are its lightweight performance when handling millions of requests and the ability to write custom plugins to enhance security, such as end-to-end encryption, even in the open-source version.
What needs improvement?
The open-source version of Kong does not support a dashboard, which would be very helpful. We use an open-source tool called Konga for basic dashboard needs, but it lacks support. It would be better if there was a comprehensive dashboard included in the open-source community version.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Kong for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Initially, we faced stability issues during an upgrade process due to migration problems with the schema. However, Kong has improved significantly, and maintaining stability is easier now when following their improved documentation and using Helm for deployment.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We've put in place SPA auto-scaling within our Kubernetes deployment, which efficiently handles increased traffic by automatically spinning up new pods, ensuring smooth scalability.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I am currently using a new gateway called Tyk. However, Kong is far better as an open-source tool.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Kong's pricing is reasonable, as the open-source version provides sufficient functionality for a startup like ours without requiring a high initial investment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Tyke as a new gateway solution.
What other advice do I have?
If you are looking for a stable open-source gateway, Kong is a solid choice. It performs well under high traffic with low latency. For newcomers, it is advisable to explore its robust features and ability to manage high TPS effectively.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
The versatility of Kong Gateway
What do you like best about the product?
Kong Gateway is compatible with most APIs created by vendors with the use of MTLS. It ensures safety of data while allowing the consistent flow of connectivity between servers.
What do you dislike about the product?
As of the moment, nothing to mention on this part as Kong API is working for us perfectly.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Kong Gateway allows MTLS to be dependable by ensuring that data entries are compatible with our server features.
Amazing API Gateway
What do you like best about the product?
It allow us to integrate with various IDP integration using azure, okta , aws cognito and many more.
Provide amazing functionalities of plugin and we can also create custom plugin by building lua code.
Provide developer protal functionalities for the developer to onborad api to show them to the outer World.
Good customer support.
Provide amazing functionalities of plugin and we can also create custom plugin by building lua code.
Provide developer protal functionalities for the developer to onborad api to show them to the outer World.
Good customer support.
What do you dislike about the product?
Documentation is not proper like we debugging takes a lot of time.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It provide functionality of sso that is really amazing to integrate it with third party provider.
Comprehensive Review for Kong API Gateway
What do you like best about the product?
High Performance and Scalability
Extensive Plugin Architecture
Comprehensive API Management
Strong Security Features
Service Mesh Integration
Active Community and Support
Extensive Plugin Architecture
Comprehensive API Management
Strong Security Features
Service Mesh Integration
Active Community and Support
What do you dislike about the product?
Complexity of Advanced Features
Steep Learning Curve for Custom Plugins
Occasional Gaps in Documentation
High Cost of Enterprise Edition
Potential for Configuration Challenges
Steep Learning Curve for Custom Plugins
Occasional Gaps in Documentation
High Cost of Enterprise Edition
Potential for Configuration Challenges
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
API Management
Problem: Complex and time-consuming management of multiple APIs.
Benefit: Streamlines and automates API management, reducing manual workload.
Security
Problem: Ensuring API security against unauthorized access and threats.
Benefit: Enhances security with features like OAuth2, JWT, IP whitelisting, and data encryption.
Scalability
Problem: Handling high volumes of API requests without performance issues.
Benefit: High-performance architecture ensures scalability and low latency.
Extensibility
Problem: Difficulty in customizing API functionality.
Benefit: Extensive plugin architecture allows for tailored solutions and enhanced functionality.
Service Mesh Integration
Problem: Complex integration of APIs within microservices environments.
Benefit: Seamless compatibility with service mesh architectures and container orchestration platforms.
Problem: Complex and time-consuming management of multiple APIs.
Benefit: Streamlines and automates API management, reducing manual workload.
Security
Problem: Ensuring API security against unauthorized access and threats.
Benefit: Enhances security with features like OAuth2, JWT, IP whitelisting, and data encryption.
Scalability
Problem: Handling high volumes of API requests without performance issues.
Benefit: High-performance architecture ensures scalability and low latency.
Extensibility
Problem: Difficulty in customizing API functionality.
Benefit: Extensive plugin architecture allows for tailored solutions and enhanced functionality.
Service Mesh Integration
Problem: Complex integration of APIs within microservices environments.
Benefit: Seamless compatibility with service mesh architectures and container orchestration platforms.
API Legend
What do you like best about the product?
In my view, the standout feature of the Kong gateway is the simplicity of setting up its data planes, especially with Docker compatibility, making it user-friendly.
Additionally, I love the Kong's custom plugin feature, which allows me to enhance API capabilities according to my needs.
Additionally, I love the Kong's custom plugin feature, which allows me to enhance API capabilities according to my needs.
What do you dislike about the product?
I believe that the Kong API gateway lacks certain features, such as monetization options in the developer portal, which could provide additional benefits for organization
utilizing the portal for API sales. Additionally, I think there should be limits on the number of applications developers can create from the developer portal.
utilizing the portal for API sales. Additionally, I think there should be limits on the number of applications developers can create from the developer portal.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
The Kong API gateway effectively addresses several issues, including:
1. Enabling the addition of headers to my/client request payloads before forwarding them to the upstream, thanks to the request transformer plugin.
2. Safeguarding my service from DDOS attacks through rate-limiting plugins.
3. Facilitating response caching via the Response Cache plugin, thereby reducing response times.
1. Enabling the addition of headers to my/client request payloads before forwarding them to the upstream, thanks to the request transformer plugin.
2. Safeguarding my service from DDOS attacks through rate-limiting plugins.
3. Facilitating response caching via the Response Cache plugin, thereby reducing response times.
Developing a Product and Positioning It as a Future Market Leader
What do you like best about the product?
- High performance and scalability
- Modular plugin architecture
- Robust security features
- Compatibility with service mesh
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for data transformation
- User-friendly setup and operation
- Modular plugin architecture
- Robust security features
- Compatibility with service mesh
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for data transformation
- User-friendly setup and operation
What do you dislike about the product?
Debugging and Troubleshooting Kong
Common Issues and Solutions
Debugging Tools and Techniques
Performance Issues
Community and Support
Common Issues and Solutions
Debugging Tools and Techniques
Performance Issues
Community and Support
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
- API Traffic Control
- Security Measures
- Flexibility and Customization
- Monitoring and Observability
- Security Measures
- Flexibility and Customization
- Monitoring and Observability
Kong is best tool for future
What do you like best about the product?
1. API Managment
2. Routing
3. Custom plugin using Lua code
4. we can easily put authentication using JWT, Key auth and OPENID connect.
5. Best thing is that plugin precedences
6. We can easily public the kong service to the dev portal using API Product
7. we can easily inegrate with third party IDP
2. Routing
3. Custom plugin using Lua code
4. we can easily put authentication using JWT, Key auth and OPENID connect.
5. Best thing is that plugin precedences
6. We can easily public the kong service to the dev portal using API Product
7. we can easily inegrate with third party IDP
What do you dislike about the product?
1. Org specific Dev portal
2. Dev portal is not really mature
3. Documentation is not really good
4. API product rate limiting plugins are not avaibale
2. Dev portal is not really mature
3. Documentation is not really good
4. API product rate limiting plugins are not avaibale
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
1. Low Latency
2. We can monitize API using Dev portal
3. Easy to setup
4. Booming product
5. Easy to use
2. We can monitize API using Dev portal
3. Easy to setup
4. Booming product
5. Easy to use
Great and useful tool - kong
What do you like best about the product?
1. API Managment
2. Routing
3. Cutom plugin using Lua code
4. we can easily put authentication using JWT, Key auth and OPENID connect.
5. Best thing is that plugin precedences
6. Authorization using ACL plugin
7. We can easily public the kong service to the dev portal using API Product
8. New commers can easily learn kong by using kongacademy
9. we can easily inegrate with third party IDP
2. Routing
3. Cutom plugin using Lua code
4. we can easily put authentication using JWT, Key auth and OPENID connect.
5. Best thing is that plugin precedences
6. Authorization using ACL plugin
7. We can easily public the kong service to the dev portal using API Product
8. New commers can easily learn kong by using kongacademy
9. we can easily inegrate with third party IDP
What do you dislike about the product?
1. Org specific Dev portal
2. Dev portal is not really mature
3. Documentation is not really good
2. Dev portal is not really mature
3. Documentation is not really good
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
1. Low Latency
2. We can monitize API using Dev portal
3. Easy to setup
4. Booming product
2. We can monitize API using Dev portal
3. Easy to setup
4. Booming product
product review
What do you like best about the product?
Scalablity, flexibility, security, plugins which helps a lot in short and long term in software products.
What do you dislike about the product?
lack of proper documentation which easily can be understood. Bit complex and difficult to learn for beginners.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It provides scalability, flexibility and security and allow to use plugins which makes it great choice to use in product building.
Product review
What do you like best about the product?
Flexibility, scalability, security ,builtin analytics and monitoring capabilities
What do you dislike about the product?
Complexity and limited developer portal features
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Centralized Api management, extensibility and plug-in ecosystem.
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