Fern
Claim this toolGenerate and publish SDKs and create stunning API documentation from your API specification.
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Reviews onG2
1 review trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Paid plans only
Biggest pro
Generates high-quality, language-idiomatic SDKs, saving significant development time.
Biggest con
No free tier available, requiring a commitment to a paid plan.
TL;DR - Fern
- Generates idiomatic SDKs in multiple languages from API specifications.
- Automates the creation of interactive, SEO-optimized API documentation.
- Saves engineering time and enhances the developer experience for API consumers.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
What is Fern?
Fern is a platform that helps companies elevate their developer experience by automating the generation of SDKs and creating comprehensive API documentation. It allows users to start with an API specification (OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, OpenRPC, gRPC, or Fern Definition) and automatically generate client libraries in multiple languages, including TypeScript, Python, Go, Java, Ruby, C#, and PHP.
Beyond SDK generation, Fern also provides a robust documentation platform. It enables users to create SEO-optimized, versioned API documentation with features like API key injection, access control, and interactive API explorers. The platform supports docs-as-code workflows, allowing documentation to be versioned and released using Git, and offers customization options with JavaScript, CSS, and React components. Fern aims to save engineering time and improve the developer experience for API consumers.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generates high-quality, language-idiomatic SDKs, saving significant development time.
- Provides a comprehensive and customizable documentation platform with advanced features.
- Supports various API specification formats, offering flexibility.
- Includes built-in features like OAuth, pagination, and retries in generated SDKs.
- Offers enterprise solutions with dedicated support for perfecting OpenAPI specs and launching SDKs.
Cons
- No free tier available, requiring a commitment to a paid plan.
- Swift and Rust SDK generation are listed as 'coming soon', limiting current language support.
Ratings Across the Web
5(1 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
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Key Features
SDK Generation (TypeScript, Python, Go, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby)Supports OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, OpenRPC, gRPC, Fern Definition specsCustom code extension for generated SDKsAutomated package publishing to registries (npm, pypi, maven)OAuth 2.0 authentication support in SDKsServer-sent events (SSE) support in SDKsAutomatic pagination in SDKsPolymorphism (Unions) handling in SDKs
Pricing
Paid
Fern offers paid plans. Visit their website for current pricing details.
Reviews
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Fern FAQ
How does Fern help improve the developer experience for API consumers?
Fern elevates the developer experience by automating the generation of client libraries in multiple languages, such as TypeScript, Python, and Java, directly from an API specification. It also provides comprehensive, interactive, and SEO-optimized API documentation, making it easier for developers to understand and integrate with APIs.
Which teams would benefit most from using Fern?
Teams focused on API development and developer relations would find Fern most beneficial, as it streamlines the creation of high-quality SDKs and robust API documentation. It is particularly useful for engineering teams looking to save development time and improve the onboarding experience for API consumers.
How does Fern compare to ReadMe for API documentation?
Fern provides a comprehensive documentation platform with features like API key injection and access control, similar to ReadMe. However, Fern also automates the generation of language-idiomatic SDKs directly from various API specifications, a core capability that complements its documentation offerings.
What kind of API specifications does Fern support for generating SDKs?
Fern supports a wide array of API specification formats for generating SDKs, including OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, OpenRPC, gRPC, and its own Fern Definition. This flexibility allows users to leverage existing specifications to automate client library creation.
What are the current limitations regarding language support for SDK generation in Fern?
While Fern supports major languages like TypeScript, Python, Go, Java, Ruby, C#, and PHP for SDK generation, support for Swift and Rust is currently listed as 'coming soon'. This means users requiring SDKs in these specific languages may need to wait for future updates.
How is Fern priced?
Fern is offered as a paid product and does not include a permanently free tier. Users interested in the platform will need to commit to one of its paid plans to access its features for SDK generation and API documentation.
Can Fern integrate with existing development workflows for documentation?
Yes, Fern supports docs-as-code workflows, enabling documentation to be versioned and released using Git, which integrates well with existing development practices. It also offers customization options with JavaScript, CSS, and React components for tailored documentation experiences.
Source: buildwithfern.com