Course Overview
This course covers JBoss Drools 5, including the various modules like Drools Expert, Guvnor, Flow or Fusion. Various rule languages that can be used to author business rules are covered: Decision Tables with a spreadsheet processor, Domain specific languages, the guided business rules editor or the technical Drools Rule Language. Background information on the theoretical background of Rule Engines is given to provide a in depth understanding on how the rule engine really works.
Audience
The JBoss BRMS Workshop training class is targeted at middleware application developers and architects, with zero to moderate experience with rules technology, who want to use rules to implement their application business logic, integrate the rules engine with their application or install the Business Rules Management System to enable the business analysts to author and manage business rules.
Further to this, application architects or advanced developers looking to improve approaches to business logic management in their applications would also find this course of value - it also serves as an introduction to rule based technologies.
Course Outline
Unit 1 - Intro to JBoss Drools:
This module covers the background and history of rule engines, and what a rule and rule engine actually is, and what they are typically used for. The importance of declarative programming will be emphasized. This module also covers some core concepts such as pattern matching and forward chaining, and provides a quick overview of JBoss Drool features.
Unit 2 - Overview of the Rules Development Process:
A process model for developing rules is presented, to which more details will be added during the course.
Unit 3 - The Drools Rule Language:
This module provides a fairly detailed introduction to the Drools Rule Language, including constraints, bindings, conditional elements, etc. This module also includes a discussion on the Drool API. A short lab is included that will provide experience in authoring and executing a rule, which will also show off the Drools IDE.
Unit 4 - The JBoss Developer Studio / Drools IDE:
The Eclipse Plugin which builds the main Drools IDE from the developer perspective is introduced.
Unit 5 - The RETE Algorithm:
This module covers core concepts of a forward chaining engine. This will include an explanation of a basic non scalable inferencing algorithm (linear), before introducing the RETE algorithm. It will discuss how and when a RETE network is built, and how facts propagate through the network resulting in rules being activated. A lab will be performed to make some of the concepts more concrete.
Unit 6 - Business Rule Manager - Administration and Guided Rule Editor:
The Business Rules Management System and the Web GUI for the Business Analyst for authoring, importing, managing, and deploying rules introduced. The BRMS will be installed and used in a lab to get in touch with all the features. All succeeding labs will build on top of each other based on a consistent business story.
Unit 7 - Decision Tables:
After this module students will be familiar with decision tables which are yet another way of capturing rules. A lab similar to the first two lab will be performed to provide familiarity with Decision Tables.
Unit 8 - Business Rule Manager - QA and Deployment:
The students will learn about defining tests for the business rules within the BRMS by using the web interface, backed by a lab. Students will learn how to build deployment snapshots in the repository and how to use these deployments in a live system.
Unit 9 - JBDS BRM Integration:
Drools Guvnor is the repository behind the BRMS and can be accessed by the Drools IDE as well. Students will learn how to connect the both worlds.
Unit 10 - Domain Specific Languages:
After this module students will be familiar with both domain specific languages which are alternative ways of capturing rules. A lab similar to the first lab will be performed to get comfortable with creating DSLs.
Unit 11 - Advanced Rule Language:
This module covers advanced features of the Drools Rule Language, including additional conditional elements (from, collect, and accumulate), the use of the MVEL dialect, etc.
Unit 12 - Execution Control:
This module discusses several strategies for control the execution of rules, including the use of salience, agenda groups, and control facts.
Unit 13 - Ruleflow:
This module discusses an important strategy for control the execution of rules, namely ruleflow. With ruleflow, the rule author can sequence the execution of groups of rules using a graphical design tool. A lab will be performed that demonstrates the use of ruleflow.
Unit 14 - Complex Event Processing:
Drools Fusion is able to support Complex Event Processing (CEP), a technology to react on patterns found in a stream of events. CEP and Drools Fusion is introduced, so that the students get a good overview about it.
Unit 15 - Performance and Conclusion:
This module reviews several "best practices" for authoring rules, particularly when performance is a concern. The process of developing rules is revised and discussed in more depth.
