Open source: how and why we built the most popular cloud-native API gateway

Tyk, a cloud-native API gateway, was developed by CEO Martin Buhr as a solution to the limitations of existing API gateways, which were often expensive, complex, and not suitable for a cloud-native architecture. Originally a side project intended to secure traffic and provide analytics, Tyk evolved as Buhr identified a gap in the market for a lightweight, flexible, and open-source gateway. The decision to open source the gateway was driven by the growing enterprise preference for open-source solutions, which offer transparency and reduce vendor lock-in risks. Despite challenges like managing memory leaks and maintaining community engagement, Tyk gained traction by being both a practical tool for small-scale API management and an adaptable solution for larger enterprise needs. The company initially focused on revenue and customer needs over community building, but has since shifted to invest more in the open-source community. Tyk's open-source origins provide enterprise customers with visibility and flexibility, and future plans include expanding open-source offerings to include testing frameworks and a command-line interface to enhance user experience.