A User Group for Rule Based Systems

Editor's note: This was originally scheduled for March and got cancelled due to an ice storm, then got rescheduled for April and was postponed again when Larry went out of town.  We hope to reschedule as soon as we can.

:

[this is ] a 20-30 min. introduction to Business Rules execution. Basically a visual walk through of a very simplified rule execution example by hand to illustrate the relationship of the executional components of a business rule engine. The presentation is generic to any of the rule engine products, but presents the rule definitions in Drools drl using an embedded rule engine. It would best fit after we all have a working installation of Drools, but before we begin work on any examples. It should give everyone a basic understanding of:

- what exactly is a business rule

- what are the components of a business rule engine

- what is the Agenda and Working Memory, and their relationship during rule execution

- how does the rule engine order rules for execution (James actually talked about this last time, but I would show this in the context of this example)

At the end of the presentation, I can optionally hand-out the code and rules we discuss in the example and run them, so folks could go back through the presentation material on their own and experiment. That should take no more than an additional 5-10 minutes.

 

This is something similar to I what I present on day-one in the JRules training class for folks who do not already have a firm grasp of the principles of rule engine execution, for both analysis and developers. It would be a complete waste of time for John and James, for example, but would be helpful for the novice and provide a knowledge level-set for the group as a whole. I'm unclear if this particular group needs a presentation at this basic a level, but I'd be happy to leave it up to Pete or a vote by the group. Just let me know so I can prepare.

[the following is included with his notes but will not be a part of the May 1, 2008 presentation]

 

I am also preparing a further, separate presentation showing the basic operation of the RETE network for the same example. Probably another 20-30 min presentation that would make a good follow-up for a separate tech. meeting down the road. This second presentation covers the basics of how the Rete Network supports rule engine execution, so it is probably a better fit for after the completion of the Drools-provided examples.

 

 dallasrulesgroup.org/files/PrinciplesofBusinessRules.pdf

The source is here.

dallasrulesgroup.org/files/larryTerrillsPresentationsrc.zip