Java WorkFlow Engine with Simple Visual Designer based on Eclipse

Projects > Workflow

Java Workflow: Overview

Neuro4j Workflow Overview

Neuro4j Workflow Project combines Workflow engine and Neuro4j Studio.

Neuro4j Studio is an Eclipse-based development environment which helps to design, develop and test workflows. It enables you to adapt the existing business logic to your requirements via a graphical user interface. All the components like flows, custom blocks, Java code, properties, jsp files etc. can be accessed and edited using Neuro4j Studio.
Neuro4j Studio automatically generates the corresponding Java code. Using a special wizards you can generate new flow, new custom block or web-application.

Features

Lightweight Java process engine
You need to add just one library to classpath.
Provides eclipse-based editor to support the graphical creation of your flows
Neuro4j Studio will help you to design, develop and test workflows.
Eases application integration
Does not need installing additional software and can be used with other technologies like Spring, Hibernate, JasperReport, etc.
Makes your flows visual, quickly identify bottlenecks and targets for improvement
Dividing functionality by flows and custom blocks allows re-use code and quickly identify errors.
Easy to extend functionality
Special wizards will generate new flow, new custom block or web-application.

Workflow Projects

Neuro4j Workflow Project includes following sub-projects:

Neuro4j Studio. Provides tools for developers and architects (https://github.com/neuro4j/studio).
Workflow Commons. This project provides common functionality and base custom blocks(ex. PrintSystemOut)
- jasper-report-workflow. Allows to use JasperReports library to generate reports in different formats.
- guice-workflow-adapter. Allows to use Google Guice library to initialize custom blocks.
- spring-timer-adapter. Example.
- spring-jms-adapter. Allows to send/receive messages using Spring JMS. Example.
- spring-mail-adapter. Allows to receive mails using POP3 imap IMAP protocols. Example how to read emails from Gmail.
- spring-webmvc-workflow. Integrates workflows into SpringMVC framework

Online Demo

See Neuro4j Workflow technology in action right in your browser with our collection of Web Demos.

Installing Neuro4j Studio

The latest stable release of Neuro4j Studio is 2.0.1 If you're just starting out, download this one. Neuro4jStudiox.zip

To install Studio from update site please follow instructions in Installation Guide (html | pdf)

Base concepts

Neuro4j Flows Project makes the bridge between software architects and developers. It allows you to model your business process by describing the steps that need to be executed using a flow chart.

Neuro4j Flows distinguishes four different programming layers:

- Flow Layer;
- User Blocks Layer;
- Business Object Layer;
- Presentation Layer (can be used in web-based applications);

Read More

First java application based on workflows

Following article describes how to create and run your first flow-based application.

Video Tutorial on YouTube

How to debug flow application

Neuro4j Studio provides plugin for debuging.

Following article provides overview of debug plugin. Article available in HTML or PDF formats.

To debug flow developers need:

1) Run container (ex. Tomcat) in debug mode;
2) Create debug configuration "Remote Neuro4j Flow";
3) Switch to "Neuro4j Flow Debug" perspecrtive;
4) Launch to container;
5) Add breakpoints;
6) For control use F8 key (navigate to next breakpoint) / F6 key (navigate to next Node);
7) Use view "Context View" to check object in context;

Code Samples

To include the neuro4j workflow engine in your project, add following dependency (note that you need to change the version to the latest release):

<dependency>
  <groupId>org.neuro4j</groupId>
  <artifactId>neuro4j-workflow-core</artifactId>
  <version>3.4.1</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>org.neuro4j</groupId>
  <artifactId>neuro4j-workflow-common</artifactId>
  <version>3.4.1</version>
</dependency>

Source code

Download source code from GitHub.

Related Posts

Java Workflow: Overview

First java application based on workflows

Tutorial: How to create simple java workflow

Tutorial: How to use workflow with SpringJMS

Tutorial: Using Google Guice with Neuro4j Workflow

Tutorial: How to integrate workflow with SpringMVC