Cisco DevNet

Cisco DevNet is Cisco's developer program, technical learning environment, and community platform for people who build applications, automations, integrations, and operational tools around Cisco products and platforms. Its audience includes software developers, network engineers, DevOps practitioners, IT professionals, students, system integrators, and Cisco partners. Rather than functioning as a conventional consumer-facing product brand, DevNet is an ecosystem that exposes Cisco technology to developers through documentation, application programming interfaces, sample code, tutorials, events, certification, community discussion, and temporary laboratory environments. The program covers a broad portion of Cisco's technology portfolio. Its subject areas have included software-defined networking, enterprise networking, security, cloud, data-center infrastructure, Internet of Things, collaboration, observability, and open-source development. The developer.cisco.com website organizes product API guides and technical documentation, offers self-paced Learning Labs, provides sandbox environments for testing code, and links users to examples and reusable projects. Depending on the technology, developers may work with REST APIs, software development kits, webhooks, command-line interfaces, or older XML-based interfaces. The platform is intended to reduce the friction of evaluating Cisco technologies and to encourage programmatic management rather than relying exclusively on manual device configuration. Cisco's developer outreach predates the DevNet name. The company began formal developer initiatives around its Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Devices program in 2000, when much of the activity involved customization of Cisco voice and IP-telephony systems. That work expanded into the Cisco Technology Developer Program and later into the Cisco Developer Community and Cisco Developer Network. By 2009, the earlier initiatives were supporting a wider set of APIs, documentation, forums, downloads, and an early form of sandbox access. Cisco launched DevNet in 2014 under the leadership of Susie Wee as a more unified program spanning multiple technology categories. A central part of DevNet's value proposition is practical access. Learning Labs break subjects into guided exercises and learning tracks, while sandboxes provide temporary environments in which users can experiment with Cisco software or, for some technologies, remotely accessible lab equipment. Code Exchange and related repositories help developers discover, download, and contribute sample projects. DevNet Exchange has also provided a showcase for partner-developed solutions and applications that integrate with Cisco products. Together, these components position the program as both a technical education service and a partner-enablement channel. DevNet has supported the growth of a Cisco-oriented developer community through hackathons, coding camps, online content, video material, and in-person events. The DevNet Zone at Cisco Live gives the program a visible presence at Cisco's major customer and partner conference. DevNet Create, introduced as a conference for application developers and DevOps audiences, extended that outreach beyond traditional networking specialists. The program has also been associated with awards recognizing developer-portal experience, community outreach, and developer-experience innovation. Certification broadened the program's role from an informal documentation and community resource into a skills-development pathway. DevNet certification preparation emphasizes network fundamentals, programming—especially Python—DevOps tooling and practices, infrastructure APIs, and application development and deployment. Candidates can use self-directed material or structured instruction from training providers. Cisco DevNet remains closely tied to Cisco's broader strategy of making networking, security, collaboration, and infrastructure programmable, w…

Cisco's developer-relations work developed alongside the company's expansion from routing and switching into voice, collaboration, security, data-center infrastructure, cloud, IoT, and software. Around 2000, Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Devices initiative supported developers who were customizing Cisco VoIP phone systems and related communications technologies. As the range of possible integrations increased, Cisco created the Cisco Technology Developer Program. That effort evolved into the Cisco Developer Community and then the Cisco Developer Network, commonly associated with the 2009 period. The earlier programs gradually broadened their technical scope. Instead of concentrating only on telephony customizations, they provided access to a growing collection of Cisco APIs, technical guides, forums, downloads, and examples. An early sandbox concept allowed developers to test ideas in an environment closer to a working Cisco deployment than a purely local coding exercise. This shift reflected the increasing importance of software-defined networking, automation, orchestration, and application integration in enterprise IT. Cisco launched Cisco DevNet in 2014 under the leadership of Susie Wee. The new program consolidated developer resources across networking, security, cloud, data center, collaboration, IoT, and open-source development. Its website combined product-specific API documentation with educational material, community functions, videos, and hands-on environments. The unified structure was designed to serve both traditional network professionals learning software skills and software developers who needed to work with Cisco infrastructure. Learning Labs became one of the program's principal educational mechanisms. These self-paced materials organize technical subjects into guided exercises and tracks, including software-defined networking and other networking-focused topics. DevNet sandboxes complement the tutorials by giving users a place to run code and test integrations. Some environments are virtual, while others provide access to physical or remotely managed laboratory equipment, depending on the technology. Code examples and repositories further support experimentation, and Code Exchange gives users a way to locate, download, and contribute reusable projects. DevNet also functions as a partner and community showcase. DevNet Exchange has presented applications, solutions, and code produced by Cisco partners and other developers. Cisco has used hackathons, coding camps, online videos, and community events to encourage practical development around its platforms. The DevNet Zone at Cisco Live provides an event-based meeting point for demonstrations, workshops, and developer engagement. In 2017, Cisco added DevNet Create, a conference aimed especially at application developers and DevOps audiences. Later editions continued the event, including a 2018 program featuring Guy Kawasaki and a 2019 edition planned at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The program's scope also intersected with Cisco's technology partnerships. In June 2016, Cisco and Apple announced a partnership intended to improve interoperability between Cisco equipment and Apple iOS devices. Technologies referenced in the DevNet context included Connected Mobile Experience, Cisco Spark, Tropo, and Cisco Instant Connect. Such integrations illustrated DevNet's role in exposing Cisco capabilities to developers working across vendor and platform boundaries. Certification gave DevNet a more formal role in professional development. Its curriculum is organized around network fundamentals, programming skills, DevOps tools and practices, infrastructure APIs, and application development and deployment. Learners may follow self-guided material or use structured instruction from training providers. DevNet has also received developer-portal recognition, including awards associated with overall portal quality, community outreach, and developer-experience innovation. The program remains an active Cisco ecosystem rather than a separately incorporated company, and its offerings change as Cisco introduces, retires, or reorganizes products and APIs.

1. 2019DevNet Create scheduled in Mountain View

   The 2019 edition of DevNet Create was scheduled for April 24–25 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

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2. 2018DevNet receives developer-portal awards

   DevNet was recognized in several 2018 DevPortal Awards categories relating to portal quality, community outreach, and developer experience.

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3. 2017First DevNet Create conference

   DevNet Create debuted in San Francisco as an event focused on application developers and DevOps practitioners.

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4. 2016Cisco and Apple announce interoperability partnership

   The companies announced work intended to improve cooperation between Cisco technologies and Apple iOS, creating additional integration opportunities for developers.

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5. 2014Cisco DevNet launches

   Cisco launched DevNet as a unified program covering developer APIs, learning resources, sandboxes, community activity, and multiple Cisco technology domains.

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6. 2009Cisco Developer Network era

   Cisco's developer work evolved through the Cisco Developer Community into the Cisco Developer Network, with broader APIs, documentation, forums, downloads, and early sandbox capabilities.

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7. 2000Cisco begins formal developer initiatives around AVVID

   Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Devices initiative supported developers building customizations for Cisco VoIP phone systems.

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A Cisco-backed developer ecosystem focused on network automation, infrastructure programmability, API integration, application development, and technical enablement.

• DevNet API Guides and DocumentationDeveloper documentation2014

  Product-specific guides explain how developers can work with Cisco platforms and services. Depending on the product, documentation may cover REST APIs, XML interfaces, software development tools, webhooks, or related integration methods. The material is intended to support both application construction and infrastructure automation.

• DevNet Learning LabsTechnical education2014

  Learning Labs provide self-paced tutorials, practical exercises, and structured learning tracks. Topics include software-defined networking, programming, Cisco APIs, automation, and other network- and application-development subjects. They are designed to help network professionals develop coding skills and developers understand Cisco infrastructure.

• DevNet SandboxDeveloper testing environment2014

  DevNet Sandbox gives users a place to test code and integrations against Cisco technologies without building a complete lab themselves. Sandboxes may be virtual or may provide access to physical equipment, depending on the product and environment. Availability and supported technologies can change over time.

• Code ExchangeSample code repository

  Code Exchange helps developers find, download, and contribute sample applications, automation projects, and integration code. Projects may be connected to GitHub repositories and are intended to accelerate experimentation with Cisco APIs and products.

• DevNet ExchangePartner solution directory

  DevNet Exchange presents applications, solutions, and code developed with Cisco products in mind, particularly by Cisco partners. It serves as a discovery and showcase mechanism for developers and organizations looking for existing integrations or partner-built capabilities.

• DevNet CertificationProfessional certification

  DevNet certification resources and curricula address network fundamentals, programming, DevOps tools, infrastructure APIs, and application development and deployment. Preparation can be self-guided or delivered through structured training providers. The pathway connects Cisco's developer ecosystem with formal professional skills development.

• 2018DevNet Zone at Cisco Live

  Global Cisco Live events

  DevNet used the DevNet Zone at Cisco Live to provide demonstrations, learning opportunities, and developer engagement within Cisco's principal customer and partner event.

  Outcome. The zone established a recurring physical presence for DevNet within Cisco's global event program.

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• 2017DevNet Create

  United States · Developer and DevOps community

  Cisco introduced DevNet Create in San Francisco as a conference for application developers and DevOps practitioners, complementing the online DevNet portal with in-person technical education and community engagement.

  Outcome. The event became a recurring DevNet activity, with later editions continuing the application-development and innovation focus.

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• 2016Support Cisco–Apple platform interoperabilityStrategy

  Cisco and Apple sought closer cooperation between Cisco infrastructure and Apple iOS devices and applications.

  What changed. The companies announced a partnership involving interoperability and Cisco technologies exposed to developers, including Connected Mobile Experience, Cisco Spark, Tropo, and Cisco Instant Connect.

  Aftermath. The partnership illustrated DevNet's role in supporting integrations that cross vendor and operating-system boundaries.

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• 2014Unify Cisco's developer ecosystem under DevNetStrategy

  Cisco's earlier developer efforts had expanded from voice and collaboration customizations into APIs and integrations across networking, security, cloud, data center, IoT, and open source.

  What changed. Cisco launched DevNet as a broader developer program combining documentation, APIs, learning labs, sandboxes, sample code, community resources, and events.

  Aftermath. The unified program became Cisco's principal public-facing developer ecosystem and a foundation for automation, integration, and partner enablement.

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• 2019DevNet Create returns to the Computer History Museum

  Cisco scheduled the 2019 DevNet Create event for April 24–25 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

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• 2018DevNet Create 2018 highlights innovation

  The 2018 DevNet Create program included a keynote by Guy Kawasaki focused on innovation and continued the conference's application-development orientation.

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• 2018Cisco DevNet receives recognition in the 2018 DevPortal Awards

  DevNet was associated with recognition in categories including Best Overall Developer Portal, Community Spotlight and Outreach, and Best DX Innovation.

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• 2017DevNet Create launches as an application-development and DevOps conference

  DevNet held the first DevNet Create conference in San Francisco for application developers and DevOps practitioners, extending its event program beyond documentation and online learning.

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• 2016Cisco and Apple announce developer-focused interoperability partnership

  Cisco and Apple announced a partnership intended to improve interoperability between Cisco systems and Apple iOS devices, with relevant Cisco APIs and platforms included among the technologies available to developers.

  Other
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• 2014Cisco launches DevNet as a unified developer network

  Cisco introduced DevNet as a developer program bringing together APIs, documentation, learning resources, sandbox access, and community activity across networking, collaboration, data center, IoT, open source, and related technologies.

  Product launch
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1. Cisco DevNet
2. Cisco DevNet official developer portal