Apache Camel is an open source integration platform.
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Make
Score 9.2 out of 10
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Make (formerly Integromat) automates integration between applications. It features data transformation capabilities within a no-code graphic interface.
The former Integromat was acquired by Celonis in 2020, and the current product Make is a Celonis brand.
Message brokering across different systems, with transactionality and the ability to have fine tuned control over what happens using Java (or other languages), instead of a heavy, proprietary languages. One situation that it doesn't fit very well (as far as I have experienced) is when your workflow requires significant data mapping. While possible when using Java tooling, some other visual data mapping tools in other integration frameworks are easier to work with.
Integromat is the best tool for business automation in my opinion because unlike Zapier it allows us to integrate with any API even if the app is not available which allows us to create automation even with the less known apps that we use or the ones that we built internally for our own company.
Camel has an easy learning curve. It is fairly well documented and there are about 5-6 books on Camel.
There is a large user group and blogs devoted to all things Camel and the developers of Camel provide quick answers and have also been very quick to patch Camel, when bugs are reported.
Camel integrates well with well known frameworks like Spring, and other middleware products like Apache Karaf and Servicemix.
There are over 150 components for the Camel framework that help integrate with diverse software platforms.
Make's easy to understand user interface helps you to visualize what's happening at all times. Could use some tweaks around the navigation from a scenario specifically in the folders and back navigations. I can't tell you the amount of time wasted in that area. When you branch, you can't bring a branch back together in the same scenario which is kind of a bummer as well.
The pricing schema is very attractive, almost 50% lower than the competition. You could start from free and then grow. It has a pretty big library of connections to other apps and services, which really helps you when everything is a mess. Integromat has a really easy-to-use interface. You could do almost everything with fewer than 5 clicks. Scenarios (automation steps to complete a routine) have graphics so you can configure them more easily.
If you are looking for a Java-based open source low cost equivalent to webMethods or Azure Logic Apps, Apache Camel is an excellent choice as it is mature and widely deployed, and included in many vendored Java application servers too such as Redhat JBoss EAP. Apache Camel is lacking on the GUI tooling side compared to commercial products such as webMethods or Azure Logic Apps.
Integromat allows us to do everything we used to do on Zapier but it doesn't limit us to only the popular apps, with Integromat we're integrating custom APIs and we get data from different servers through GET requests and it's exactly what we needed and Zapier couldn't provide it.
Very fast time to market in that so many components are available to use immediately.
Error handling mechanisms and patterns of practice are robust and easy to use which in turn has made our application more robust from the start, so fewer bugs.
However, testing and debugging routes is more challenging than working is standard Java so that takes more time (less time than writing the components from scratch).
Most people don't know Camel coming in and many junior developers find it overwhelming and are not enthusiastic to learn it. So finding people that want to develop/maintain it is a challenge.