Proposal for Enhancing IBM App Connect Designer: Custom Naming for Generated Accounts

Currently, IBM App Connect Designer automatically assigns generic names to accounts, such as Account 1, Account 2, Account 3. While functional, this naming convention can create challenges for users managing multiple integrations, especially in environments with numerous accounts tied to different stages, environments, or providers.

Key Points:

Challenges with Current Naming Convention:

• Lack of Context: Default account names do not provide meaningful context, making it difficult to identify the purpose or usage of each account (e.g., distinguishing between staging and production environments).
• Error-Prone Configurations: When users manage multiple accounts, confusion caused by non-descriptive names can lead to errors in selecting or managing the correct account for a given flow.

Proposed Enhancement:

• Allow users to assign custom names to accounts created in the App Connect Designer, either during creation or as part of the account editing process.
• Examples of custom names:
  • AWS-HML-1
  • AWS-PROD-2
  • Salesforce-Staging
  • Azure-Production-1
• Ensure these custom names are reflected consistently throughout the interface (e.g., in flows, logs, and debugging tools).

Benefits:

• Improved Clarity: Custom names provide immediate context, reducing ambiguity when managing accounts in complex environments.
• Increased Productivity: Simplifies workflows by allowing users to quickly identify and select the correct accounts.
• Enhanced Usability: Improves the overall user experience by aligning account management with organizational naming conventions.

Implementation Considerations:

• Add an optional field for custom names during account setup.
• Validate names for uniqueness to prevent duplication and confusion.
• Provide a mechanism to rename existing accounts without disrupting active integrations.