Update: There is a more recent post about this here.
This is an interesting post describing the use of the HAPI library to rapidly build a FHIR server. Another option using the same library is the CLI Library which is even easier – a single file to download and run. (And can be used to populate the server with examples and standard profiles/valuesets)
I’m not sure whether these apps are suitable for production use (though the underlying libraries certainly are) – but they make it absurdly simple to get a FHIR server of your very own up and running so you can learn more about FHIR.
If you prefer .net, then the Furore API is available for you – and there are others available as well.
FHIR is becoming (has become?) the common language and API for exchanging healthcare information – a Lingua Franca if you will – and these apps and libraries are part of the reason why, by making it so simple to get started.
Oh – and don’t forget the test servers immediately available on the web…
Another part of the reason is the active community around FHIR, and it’s worth mentioning that the new chat is now running. It uses Zulip, and replaces the Skype chats which were not keeping up with the volumes. There’s also a more classic discussion group available, and the email based list server.
So no excuse not to get involved!