5 Replies Latest reply on Jan 29, 2013 9:49 AM by michael.harper

    How are people using JBPM5?

    michael.harper

      My question above is really aimed at the most useful way of using JBPM in a company environment.

       

      From the book I got a largely conceptual view of JBPM/BPMN2.0 with a range of possibilities for it's use.

      From the online documentation I get the mechanics but very little in the way of how it's used.

      From the installer I get a 'demo' which i've managed to replace databases with but there's very little in the way of 'this is how it should be installed and why'. Instead the details are masked by maven which I recognise the value of but also I would like to understand what's going on too.

       

      We are looking at implementing the UK Government auto-enrollment process for pensions which is a very complicated process (or at least providing a BPMN2.0 diagram) and while I'm sold on JBPM in theory, which I have been for a long time, but I've tended to hit a brick wall when trying to implement because everything is just a bit sketchy, or is that my thinking:-)

       

      Long story short what I'm after is some concrete pointers in terms of getting value out of using it.

       

      For example;

       

      Are people deploying it outside the demo framework, if so any pointers in how to do that.

      Are people starting jbpm from JEE applications in ears or is it best as a standalone with remote calls to start, attach to, complete .. process. If so pointers on how to do that.

       

      Thanks in advance for any help. I'm not asking for you to do the thinking/reading for me, just that if anybody has anything however brief on their experience to guide me,  I would be very grateful.

        • 1. Re: How are people using JBPM5?
          thomas.setiabudi

          Hi Michael Harper,

           

          Generally there are two ways you can use / implement JBPM:

           

          1. Embedded, Embed it in your application, so you can call all the API directly from application.

           

          2. Use it as service, Deploy it as war file in server like JBOSS AS, the War has to provice API like REST API so that all other application can interact with it.

           

          I believe each implementation has its own advantages and disadvantages.

           

          by the way, I use it as a service because it is shared by multiple application.

           


          Regards,

          Thomas Setiabudi

          1 of 1 people found this helpful
          • 2. Re: How are people using JBPM5?
            michael.harper

            Thank you Thomas

             

            I was looking at using it as a service as well. Where I was getting a little lost is because is was trying to set up a minimum configuration i.e a war the required jbpm libraries with my own database, and as you say some restful services to expose access to processes. In doing this I couldn't help thinking that I was missing a point and not using elements of the demo installer as I should be, but then if that's the case, it would be nice to see to have an outline of how all the peices fit together, jar packages, jboss-web.xml, web.xml elements so I had a better Idea of what I was doing.

             

            If what we have to do is analyse the demo and effectively create our own version for production then just being told I had to do that would settle my nerves :-)

             

            Thanks again

             

            Michael

            • 3. Re: How are people using JBPM5?
              thomas.setiabudi

              Hi Michael Harper,

               

              You are correct about the demo, the demo shows a sample on how jbpm can be implemented.  Of course if you want to use jbpm as a service then jbpm-gwt-console-server that comes with the demo is a good reference.

              You can even use it and customize just part that you need to behave differently.  Or you can even create your own jbpm-gwt-console-server like application.

               

              Regards,

              Thomas Setiabudi

              • 4. Re: How are people using JBPM5?
                svlada

                @Michael Harper

                Michael, what is your current status in evaluation of jBPM? Did you came up with any conclusions? I have similar questions as you.

                • 5. Re: How are people using JBPM5?
                  michael.harper

                  Hi Vladimir

                   

                  We have decided to diagram the process in BPMN2.0 notation but at this stage we proceed with a JBPM implementation.

                   

                  The reasons are;

                   

                  a) This is a project on behalf of clients for a government project and we feel there is an unaceptable level of risk mainly in the support and documentation areas.

                  b) We can implement the project using traditional approaches and the JEE stack, and given the risk, we would need a bigger advantage through the use of JBPM, to encourage us to go though the pain of setting it up in it's current state.

                   

                  Like I said we are documenting with a view to one day being in a position to use JBPM so I'm not knocking the project. In a less risky project we might be tempted to throw caution to the wind.