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WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus VS Apache Synapse

Compare WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus VS Apache Synapse and see what are their differences

WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus logo WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus

WSO2 ESB enables enterprises to be more agile in delivering new digital products and services, both internally as well as across digital ecosystems.

Apache Synapse logo Apache Synapse

On-Premise Data Integration
  • WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-14
  • Apache Synapse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-17

WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus features and specs

  • Open Source
    WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus (WSO2 ESB) is open-source software, allowing users to access, modify, and distribute the source code without licensing costs, which increases flexibility and reduces overall expenses.
  • Extensibility and Customization
    The architecture of WSO2 ESB supports easy integration with additional components and customization options, enabling organizations to tailor the ESB to meet specific business requirements.
  • Scalability
    WSO2 ESB is designed to scale both horizontally and vertically, allowing it to handle growing data volumes and increasing transaction rates efficiently as enterprise needs evolve.
  • Robust Community Support
    Being open source, WSO2 ESB has a strong developer community that contributes to forums, documentation, and best practices, offering valuable resources and support for troubleshooting and development.
  • Comprehensive Integration Capabilities
    WSO2 ESB supports a wide range of protocols and standards, providing flexibility and ease in connecting disparate systems and speeding up the integration process.

Possible disadvantages of WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus

  • Complex Initial Setup
    Initial setup and configuration of WSO2 ESB can be complex and time-consuming, especially without prior experience or without leveraging professional support services.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive features and capabilities, users may face a steep learning curve when implementing WSO2 ESB, requiring thorough understanding and training.
  • Performance Overhead
    Under certain configurations or heavy loads, WSO2 ESB might introduce latency or processing overheads, which could impact performance compared to some lighter-weight alternatives.
  • Dependence on Documentation and Community
    Users might heavily rely on documentation and community support for problem-solving and implementation guidance, which can be inconsistent depending on user contributions and updates.
  • Resource Intensive
    WSO2 ESB can be resource-intensive, requiring substantial memory and CPU resources for optimal performance, which may increase infrastructure costs.

Apache Synapse features and specs

  • Scalability
    Apache Synapse is designed to handle a large number of concurrent connections, making it suitable for high-load environments and scalable architectures.
  • Flexibility
    It offers a flexible system for managing web services interactions, with support for numerous protocols such as HTTP/S, JMS, and more, allowing integration with diverse systems.
  • Lightweight
    Synapse is lightweight in terms of configuration and operation, which can be an advantage in environments where resource efficiency is critical.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Apache Synapse is freely available and benefits from community contributions and improvements.
  • Extensible
    Developers can extend its capabilities to meet specific business requirements by using custom scripts and mediators.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Synapse

  • Complexity
    Setting up and configuring Apache Synapse can be complex, requiring a deep understanding of its architecture and components, which can be a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Documentation
    Users may find the documentation lacking in certain areas, which can make troubleshooting and learning more difficult for newer users.
  • Performance Overhead
    Under certain circumstances, there might be performance overhead due to the way Synapse processes requests, which can be an issue in highly performance-sensitive applications.
  • Community Support
    While it is open-source, the community and support around Apache Synapse might not be as large or active as some other integration solutions.
  • Limited Features Compared to Competitors
    Apache Synapse might lack some advanced features present in commercial solutions, which could be a limitation for enterprise-level requirements.

Analysis of WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus

Overall verdict

  • Overall, WSO2 ESB is considered a good choice for organizations seeking a cost-effective and versatile integration solution. Its ability to handle complex integration scenarios and support for various standards makes it a reliable option in the market.

Why this product is good

  • WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is highly regarded for its open-source model, flexibility, and strong integration capabilities. It supports a wide range of protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, JMS, and more, allowing for effective communication between different software applications. Moreover, it offers robust features for service orchestration, mediation, and API management, which are critical for building efficient and scalable enterprise solutions.

Recommended for

    WSO2 ESB is recommended for medium to large enterprises that require an open-source, customizable, and comprehensive integration platform to manage their service-oriented architecture (SOA) and microservices projects. It is particularly suitable for companies with in-house technical expertise to leverage its full potential and those looking for a solution that can grow and adapt as their integration needs evolve.

WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus videos

Introduction to WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus Tooling

Apache Synapse videos

API Facade Pattern with Apache Synapse

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus and Apache Synapse)
Data Integration
60 60%
40% 40
Web Service Automation
54 54%
46% 46
ETL
58 58%
42% 42
Open Source
73 73%
27% 27

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus and Apache Synapse, you can also consider the following products

Apache Camel - Apache Camel is a versatile open-source integration framework based on known enterprise integration patterns.

Software AG webMethods - Software AG’s webMethods enables you to quickly integrate systems, partners, data, devices and SaaS applications

Azure Service Bus - Learn how to set up messaging that connects applications and services across on-premises and cloud environments. Tutorials, videos, API references, and more.

IBM App Connect - IBM App Connect is the all-in-one integration tool for connecting apps, integrating data, building APIs and acting on events

Peregrine Connect - The only enterprise integration product built on Microsoft .NET. Peregrine enables you to quickly and easily connect your line-of-business systems.

CData Arc - Secure Data Integration & Managed File Transfer (MFT)