Rubrik launched a new Open Source initiative today called Rubrik Build. The idea is to extend their API-First architecture to developers so they can create applications, automation, and integrations that don’t exist today. Rubrik has entrusted this effort to Rebecca Fitzhugh who has released a great blog post about it.

The biggest challenge with these types of projects is building a community around it. To address this, Rubrik has created build.rubrik.com where they have SDKs for Go, PowerShell, and Python. They have also released tools for integration with Terraform, vRealize, Ansible, and CloudForms. They have done a good job of providing copious amounts of documentation and relevant use cases.

Open Source is popular with a lot of the VCs these days. In conversations with many of the folks on Sand Hill Road, they are actively encouraging startups to have an effective Open Source strategy, so it is great to see a $3.3B unicorn jumping in on the action.

I know of several Rubrik customers who are already working on ways to automate aspects of their data protection environment, this initiative will give them great resources to expand on those efforts. The goal as Rebecca Fitzhugh states it is to make this project accessible to anyone and drive participation from newcomers to experienced developers alike.

As she puts it, “We have already seen many examples of our customers leveraging our APIs to solve complexity created from managing a myriad of software application across on-premises and public cloud. Because the API economy affects all of us equally, we have designed this program so our customers and partners can help us build the future of cloud data management.”