From bf36bb852ab55ae9007cb5889f7ece4f86ef5e21 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Devin Logan Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:55:12 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 1/3] add sdks how it works page --- fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx | 55 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ fern/products/sdks/sdks.yml | 2 ++ 2 files changed, 57 insertions(+) create mode 100644 fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx diff --git a/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx b/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8ed738635 --- /dev/null +++ b/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +--- +title: How SDKs work +description: Learn how Fern generates SDKs using cloud infrastructure +--- + +Fern combines your API specifications with generator configurations and custom code to produce SDKs in multiple languages. By default, SDK generation runs on Fern's managed cloud infrastructure. + + + Alternatively, [you can run SDK generation on your own infrastructure](/sdks/deep-dives/self-hosted) to meet specific security or compliance requirements. + + +## Generation workflow + +Before generating SDKs, you'll configure your `fern/` folder with SDK generators specified in `generators.yml` and connect your API specification. You can also add custom code, tests, and other configuration as needed. + +Running `fern generate` kicks off the cloud generation process and involves a few key steps: + + + +Fern allocates compute resources with Fiddle and pulls the appropriate Docker image for your specified generator version. + + +The Docker container executes the generation logic and produces your SDK's core files (models, client code, API methods). + + +Fern verifies your organization registration to ensure the complete SDK can be generated. Without organization verification, only partial SDK files (core code without package metadata) are produced. + + +Fern completes the SDK by adding package distribution files such as `pyproject.toml`, `package.json`, README, and any dependencies. + + +Fern publishes or saves the complete SDK to your configured location (local filesystem, GitHub repository, package registry). After publication, developers can use your SDKs to integrate with your APIs. + + + + + +```mermaid +sequenceDiagram + autonumber + participant Dev as Developer + participant Fern as Fern + participant Docker as Docker Container + participant Dest as Output Destination + + Dev->>Fern: fern generate + Fern->>Fern: Allocate cloud compute + Fern->>Docker: Pull & run generator image + Docker->>Docker: Generate core SDK files + Docker->>Fern: Return partial SDK + Fern->>Fern: Verify organization + Fern->>Fern: Add package metadata + Fern->>Dest: Output complete SDK +``` + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/fern/products/sdks/sdks.yml b/fern/products/sdks/sdks.yml index a023942f4..6db00d108 100644 --- a/fern/products/sdks/sdks.yml +++ b/fern/products/sdks/sdks.yml @@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ navigation: - page: Introduction path: ./introduction.mdx slug: introduction + - page: How it works + path: ./how-it-works.mdx - page: Quickstart path: ./fern-folder.mdx slug: quickstart From 0180e98d1e6ecba8828d75c35f171d5781c5f510 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Devin Logan Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:56:38 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/3] add link to self hosted page --- fern/products/sdks/guides/self-hosted.mdx | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/fern/products/sdks/guides/self-hosted.mdx b/fern/products/sdks/guides/self-hosted.mdx index 02fd71bf6..09b95c6f2 100644 --- a/fern/products/sdks/guides/self-hosted.mdx +++ b/fern/products/sdks/guides/self-hosted.mdx @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ description: Fern supports self-hosting SDK generation so that you can run SDK g -Fern SDK generation runs on Fern's infrastructure by default. Self-hosting allows you to run SDK generation on your own infrastructure to meet specific security or compliance requirements. +Fern SDK generation [runs on Fern's infrastructure by default](/sdks/overview/how-it-works). Self-hosting allows you to run SDK generation on your own infrastructure to meet specific security or compliance requirements. ## When to use self-hosting From c53f885c9df95d8e8dc15496f6b29254ee75ef7b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Devin Logan Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2025 14:07:29 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Update fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx Co-authored-by: Thomas Baker --- fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx b/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx index 8ed738635..e84e3c074 100644 --- a/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx +++ b/fern/products/sdks/how-it-works.mdx @@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Running `fern generate` kicks off the cloud generation process and involves a fe -Fern allocates compute resources with Fiddle and pulls the appropriate Docker image for your specified generator version. +Fern allocates compute resources and pulls the appropriate Docker image for your specified generator version. The Docker container executes the generation logic and produces your SDK's core files (models, client code, API methods).