September 2025 Summaries

Fern's Swift SDK generator is now available, providing iOS developers with a streamlined and idiomatic Swift client for API integration, designed to reduce errors and accelerate development. Unlike other generators, Fern's approach focuses on minimalistic namespacing and clean, maintainable code, drawing inspiration from existing popular libraries while addressing their limitations. The SDK includes modern features like async/await support, zero external dependencies, and automatic retries with exponential backoff, ensuring robust and forward-compatible integration. Fern's generator also automates SDK publishing to GitHub for Swift Package Manager, simplifying the update process whenever APIs change. Initially tested with select partners, the tool has been praised for its ease of use and developer-friendly design, targeting fintech, healthtech, and enterprise SaaS companies. Developers can easily start using the generator by installing the Fern CLI and pointing it at their API specification to generate a production-ready SDK.

Ask Fern, an AI assistant for documentation, has undergone three key enhancements to improve user experience. First, it has been integrated into a sidebar, allowing users to query it while navigating documentation without needing to switch contexts. Second, a new Documents API enables users to connect Ask Fern to external content such as blog posts, marketing sites, and help centers, providing more comprehensive answers by indexing additional custom materials. Lastly, Ask Fern now offers filtering capabilities based on version, product, and role-based access control (RBAC), allowing users to receive more tailored responses and maintain the privacy of sensitive information.

Fern has introduced Self-Hosted Docs and SDKs, enabling enterprises in regulated industries such as government, healthcare, and financial services to manage their deployments on their own infrastructure, addressing the need for greater control over data residency, compliance, and audit standards. Unlike static solutions, Fern's self-hosted option prioritizes an interactive developer experience by replicating elements of the hosted Fern experience, such as search and live integrations, using technologies like Meilisearch and MinIO within Docker containers. This self-hosted solution allows organizations to deploy on-premises or in private clouds with flexible setups and integration with existing CI/CD pipelines, offering full control over data and content. Fern also provides dedicated support for advanced requirements, enabling teams to distribute SDKs securely with custom authentication methods and private package managers. Users have the option to upgrade at their discretion, while maintaining control over their development environments and infrastructure alignment.