Execute business processes with Eclipse

Level: Intermediate

Tyler Anderson (tyleranderson5@yahoo.com), Freelance Writer, Backstop Media

29 Jan 2008

	Register now or sign in using your IBM ID and password.

Everyone — from consultants and analysts to architects and engineers — has ideas. But implementing a new idea can be challenging, requiring knowledge of an unfamiliar development language or hiring costly developers. What if there was a way to create an executable business process using a graphical editor that can ultimately be executed on an appropriate engine? Well, there is. Using the Eclipse STP BPMN Modeler, you can graphically create a business model represented in XML that can be converted to an executable using Eclipse ATL that will ultimately deploy on Apache ODE.

In this tutorial

This tutorial is for those that would like to learn both Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) XML formats using the Eclipse SOA Tools Platform BPMN Modeler to model a business process, convert BPMN to a BPEL-executable deployable to Apache Orchestration Director Engine (ODE). Using these processes and technologies allows you to model business processes you can quickly validate.

This tutorial shows you how to use the Eclipse SOA Tools Platform (STP) to model business processes, converting the resulting Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) file to a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) with the help of the Eclipse ATLAS Transformation Language (ATL) project, then deploying it to Apache Orchestration Director Engine (ODE).

The process modeled in this tutorial is one where an online Web surfer comes to a Web site to buy toys. The flow of the process continues with a shipping estimator, checking out with a successful order, e-mailing an invoice to the customer, and initiating the shipping process for the toy.

In this tutorial you'll learn how to do the following:

1. Install Eclipse STP, Eclipse ATL, the BABEL BPMN2BPEL tools, and Apache ODE
2. Model a business process in Eclipse STP
3. Transform the Eclipse STP's BPMN format to BABEL's BPMN format
4. Transform BABEL's BPMN format to BPEL
5. Create an Apache ODE deployment descriptor
6. Write Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) for your business process
7. Prepare the generated BPEL for deployment
8. Deploy to Apache ODE

Share this tutorial Digg this story Post to del.icio.us Slashdot it!

Prerequisites

See System requirements

System requirements

This tutorial requires several technologies that work together. For instance, Apache ODE requires a Web container like Apache Tomcat. Here's the full list:

Classic Eclipse

Eclipse is the master platform upon which the Eclipse SOA Tools Platform Project (STP) plug-in runs on. Get the latest version of Eclipse Classic: V3.3.1 was used in this tutorial.

Eclipse SOA Tools Platform (STP)

Here, you'll find all the core plug-ins you'll need to develop with the STP. This tutorial uses VI200710300730. Note there are several plug-ins and available different downloads, so be sure to select the one all-in-one package under the SOA Tools Platform All-In-One Packages heading. This package includes all the dependencies listed under the Requirements heading.

Eclipse ATLAS Transformation Language (ATL)

You'll use the Eclipse ATL project to perform a transformation, converting Eclipse STP's BPMN to BABEL BPMN. This tutorial uses the version titled ATL Bundle 2.0 Standard Version, under the heading ATL Ready-To-Use Bundles.

BABEL tools

To convert BABEL BPMN format to BPEL, these helper tools are required. You'll need to download the Java™ binaries (JAR file) under the BPMN2BPEL bullet. You may also find the downloadable examples and source code useful, as well.

Apache Orchestration Director Engine (ODE)

You'll need the Apache ODE to deploy your business process after the dust has settled in your business process development. Download the WAR distribution file. This tutorial uses V1.1.

Apache Tomcat

This tutorial uses Apache Tomcat as the servlet container for Apache ODE. However, there are other possibilities, such as Jetty. Get the core ZIP file. This tutorial uses V5.5.25.

Java technology

All the tools used in this tutorial require Java technology. Java 6 Update 3 was used in this tutorial.

Operating system

You need an operating system capable of running all of the above. We used Windows® when creating this, but you can use a modern version of Mac OS X or Linux®, as well. Adjust locations of files accordingly.

Formats

Share this.... Digg this story del.icio.us Slashdot it!

Back to top