Summary
The Java Composite Application Platform Suite (Java CAPS) is a new Sun enterprise framework that eases the implementation of applications that are composed of existing services and components. A recent Sun Developer Network article illustrates how Java CAPS helps create a portlet-based workflow.
With Java CAPS, enterprises can build and deploy a service-oriented architecture... platform for integrating and reusing applications and for developing Web services. Included in Java CAPS are the Java Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) Suite and Java Business-to-Business (B2B) Suite.
The article walks through an example of a complex business process that requires both human and machine input. Each individual workflow task can be defined via interfaces, and the Java CAPS system ties the workflow together into a portal application. The tasks in this system are presented as portlets, with the result that each workflow step can have a task-specific user interface:
In Java CAPS, you can define both the business processes that might require user interactions and the user interfaces for those interactions. However, you cannot customize the UI for managing tasks... The integration process described in this article eliminates that constraint. By
creating portlets ... for submitting and retrieving tasks, also for
obtaining task status, you can ... build a UI formanaging tasks.
What do you think of Java CAPS's approach to building workflow applications? Which of the increasingly numerous Java workflow frameworks have you found the most capable?
"Which of the .... workflow frameworks...most useful"
Ones that incorporate a rules engine. Workflow begs for a rules based approach. When you work with data you typically use a database engine. Workflow is all about business rules. You need an approach that uses a rules engine. ILOG's JRules is my favorite but even JBOSS's Rules o.k.a "DROOLS" would be better than conventional coded approaches.
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