Espresso Logic brings NoSQL and SQL data together into a single API

One of the biggest problems developers face when building data-driven apps is having to access data from multiple data sources, according to R. Paul Singh, CEO of Espresso Logic.

“What we are seeing and hearing is a lot of customers’ data isn’t in SQL only; they also have it in NoSQL databases,” he said. “Having to access and combine data from multiple sources isn’t easy and takes a significant amount of time.”

In order to make back-end development more efficient, Espresso Logic is releasing a new functionality that merges NoSQL and SQL data into one common REST API for developing data-driven apps.

(Related: NoSQL options keep popping up)

“Our customers want more than a pass-through API,” said Singh. “They want an API that enforces authentication, access control and business logic.”

Currently, the new functionality does not apply to all NoSQL databases and has only been tested with MongoDB, but Singh noted that the company will add more NoSQL databases as it sees demand for them.

“Combining the emerging wave of NoSQL adoption with relational engines is an attractive proposition,” said Merv Adrian, research VP for information management at Gartner. “Most sizable business processes are being composed out of multiple flows of data, often associated with their own engines for part of the workflow. Simplification is a goal that will become more important as proliferation of the new tools continues, especially in enterprises.”

The REST APIs provide real-time access from MongoDB and SQL databases without having to copy data across multiple sources, allowing developers to create resource endpoints that span multiple collections and provide authentication, access control, validation, and event handling for MongoDB.

“From an app dev perspective, there is a clear advantage in having to deal with just one API for all of the data that’s needed for the app, regardless of where it comes from. [It] makes life much simpler for the developer, and easier to maintain the app,” said Martha Bennett, Forrester analyst.

More information is available here.