Category: Architecture

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Why is Imixs Workflow distributed under GPL?

Since the early beginning of the Imixs Workflow project all results are subject to the general public license (GPL). This license grants the broadest freedoms for users. There are many software systems available with this license. The most popular is the operating system Linux or the database server MySQL. So we are all using this kind of software license. Remember, you can not go into the Internet without the help of Linux.

But when you take a closer look on the smaller parts of software systems – the frameworks – a lot of these frameworks are subject to a lesser general public license like the LGPL, the Apache or Eclipse license. The argument of the software vendors behind those software license is to encourage widespread usage and adoption. But this means also to enable adopters to restrict the usage of there software build on thus a framework. This all is common practice and I think there is no need to discuss the pros and cons. So why is Imixs Workflow distributed under GPL?

The idea behind the Imixs Workflow project is to provide organizations, companies and users with a flexible software solution, to manage their business processes. Business processes are subject to constant change. And a workflow management system must provide the opportunity to follow this change. Therefore, we think that the user of Imixs Workflow must be able to adapt their software solution to meet their own needs.
From this point of view there no reason to restrict the usage of the software in any way. And as the objective group of Imixs Workflow is the final user rather than the software developer we believe that the GPL is a better solution to achieve this goal.
We do not want to discourage ISVs to use the Imixs Workflow for there own software project. Every person including software developers are free to use the Imixs Workflow for there own project. But remember that it is your commitment to pass that freedom also to other users.

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SINGLE SIGN ON (SSO) FOR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS ON LIFERAY WITH GLASSFISH

To integrate business applications into a Liferay portal infrastructure is a major challenge. One of the most common requests is a single sign on (sso). Once a user has logged into the portal he should also access business applications which run outside the portal container.

With a new implementation of a “Imixs Login Module” it is now possible to integrate business application seamless into Liferay portal. The module makes use of the Liferay API to validate the user session and enables applications to authenticate users on any Java Enterprise application running in a Java EE 6 sever environment. The login module is implemented on the JSR-196 specification with is a standardized authentication mechanism for Java EE.

With the help of the Imixs Login Module it is not necessary to setup a complex single sign on server infrastructure. The Login module allows to use the existing user management of Liferay Portal server. We have tested the login module with GlassFish Application Server 3.1 and Liferay 6 on Windows and Linux plattform.

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NEW JAVA EE 6 WORKFLOW ENGINE

With the latest release 3.0 Imixs provides now the first full Java EE 6 compliant workflow engine. The BPM solution can be used together with any of the newest Java EE web- or application servers like Glassfish 3.1, JBoss 6 or Geronimo.

Imixs Workflow focus on human based workflow typical used in organisations and enterprises. The Imixs Workflow provides users with all necessary information during a business process, like task lists, a process documentation or messaging features. The workflow management system helps users to start a new process, finding a document and complete running jobs. Continue reading “NEW JAVA EE 6 WORKFLOW ENGINE”

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RELEASE 3.0 STARTED

We are now starting the next release of the Imixs Workflow 3.0

See: http://java.net/jira/browse/IMIXS_WORKFLOW-90

The general idea behind the new 3.0 release was to make use of the new EJB 3.1 container features. Because the current Imxis EntityServiceBean is in some methodes a little bit deprecated. One reason was the early implementation in the beginning of JEE5. The JPA methods are optimized for Toplink Driver which is no longer supported. So its time to make an Update!

General requirements for the new Workfow Engine

  • Replace the Entity Bean based on ItemCollection with a Map Interface
  • Use of EJB 3.1 features (JPA Map Feature)
  • Simplify the packaging (Light EJB API)
  • Optimize Scheduler Feature (persist settings in a entity)
  • No changes to the Workflow Service API – to make migration easy

Migration

A Migration is necessary as one of the main goals is to pesist no longer the ItemCollection Object but a simple portable Map Interface.
So we need a way to migrate application from Version 2.x to 3.0. As we learned in migrations from 1.x to 2.x this is not an easy work.
The goal of the new migration strategy must be a background migration.
So a tool should migrate workitems from a old datastorage into a new one running independed of a productive workflow app. This can be done by monitoring the $modified timestamp. As we know most of the data will not be changed during migration this can be done easily .

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IMIXS WORKFLOW – REPORT GENERATOR FOR PDF

With the latest version of Imixs Workflow now business reports can be created in a lot of different output formats like PDF, MS Excel, MS Word or any other XSL Transformation. Read more about the Imixs Workflow REST Interface and how it works.

http://www.imixs.org/xml/restservice.html

Imixs Workflow did not only empower you in building bpm solutions based on the JEE plattform. It also gives you a flexible architecture to fulfill business requirements like compliance features, creation of business reports and securing confidential business data in a fast and easy way.

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WHY ARE CHANGING THE REQUIREMENTS IN A SOFTWARE PROJECT SO OFTEN?

For several years I have developed even business applications for small, medium and large organizations. Actually, I should have learned a lot about what customers need. But like most software developers I am always surprised about endless changes during the project. You start a new software project but when you are approaching the end your customers have new ideas. Why is that? Continue reading “WHY ARE CHANGING THE REQUIREMENTS IN A SOFTWARE PROJECT SO OFTEN?”
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JPA – WORKING WITH GENERIC VALUE OBJECTS

Working with generic value objects and jpa is shown by the implementation of the ImixsEntityService EJB. This service ejb is provided by the Imixs Workflow Project. It can be used to store objects independent from a specific Entity Bean. Also queries with JPQL are possible.
See: http://www.imixs.org/jee/examples/entityservice.html
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BPM SOLUTION FOR GLASSFISH AND JBOSS

Imixs Software Solutions GmbH presents with the Open Source project “Imixs Workflow” a Business Process Management (BPM) solution for Glassfish and JBoss Application Servers. Glassfish and JBoss are open source application servers based on the Java EE specification. These server platforms are widely-used by a lot of small and medium companies. The Imixs JEE Workflow components can be seamlessly integrated into Glassfish 2.1, 3.0 and JBoss 5.0 and 6.0 infrastructure. Thus the project provides a highly scalable and robust BPM solution. The Imixs workflow project makes use from the powerful component framework provided by the Java EE specification. All Imixs Workflow Java EE components are implemented as Enterprise Session and Entity EJBs. This makes it very easy to integrate these components in a new or existing enterprise software project. Continue reading “BPM SOLUTION FOR GLASSFISH AND JBOSS”

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THE ADVANTAGE OF BPM SOLUTIONS BASED ON JAVA EE

One of the most important advantages of the Imixs Workflow Engine is the fact that Imixs Workflow is based on the Java Enterprise Plattform (Java EE). A Java EE application server can handle transactions, security, scalability, concurrency and management of the components that are deployed to it. So all the features and characteristic from the Java EE plattform are also part of Imixs Workflow. Here are some examples: Continue reading “THE ADVANTAGE OF BPM SOLUTIONS BASED ON JAVA EE”

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IMIXS WORKFLOW RUNS ON JBOSS APPLICATION SERVER

The Imixs JEE Workflow components are successfully tested on the latest release of JBoss Application Server V 5.1.0.GA (JBossAS 5). The JBoss Application Server is the one of the most widely used Java application servers on the market.

The Imixs JEE Workflow is a full featured Workflow Management System (WFMS) based on the Java EE5 specification and fulfills the requirements to a scalable, transactional, robust and simple deployable Java EE Workflow System.
JBoss 5 for the Java EE5 codebase fully complies with the Java EE5 specification. So the JBossAS 5 is an ideal platform for Workflow Management Systems based on the Imixs Open Source Workflow.
The Imixs JEE Project site provides additional Installation guides for JBoss and also informations about deployment strategies to get best results running the Imixs Worklow on JBoss Application Server.

Read more about the Imixs Java EE Workflow System.

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