Integrating Swagger UI for FHIR in InterSystems IRIS For Health: Streamlining API Testing

Details

The article emphasizes the utility of using a Swagger UI—an interface conforming to the Open API 2.0 specification—when developing front-end applications or communicating with a REST API. The core announcement is the integration of this Swagger capability into the InterSystems IRIS FHIR template for FHIR R4. The technical steps provided involve ensuring Docker is installed, cloning the specified repository (`intersystems-community/iris-fhir-template`), and running `docker compose up -d` to set up the environment. Once operational, users can access the Swagger UI via a local URL (e.g., http://localhost:32783/swagger-ui/index.html) or through VS Code menus. A practical example given is testing the patient data entry process using a specific patient ID (3). The primary benefit highlighted is that developers can manually test the API, inspect its responses, and validate the contained data structure in a visual manner. This feature significantly accelerates debugging and testing cycles for systems integrating with FHIR APIs. (The article concludes by inviting comments, feedback, and pull requests.)