Is there any project or solution for an easy integration of a WFE / WfMS into rails? I''m quite new to this topic, but I probably need a small subset of workflow patterns (or whatever the correct term is) only. Any pointers are welcome. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Martin Bernd Schmeil wrote:> Is there any project or solution for an easy integration of a WFE / WfMS > into rails? I''m quite new to this topic, but I probably need a small > subset of workflow patterns (or whatever the correct term is) only. Any > pointers are welcome. >I''ll be honest. I''ve done workflow applications in the past, and they are very limiting. I don''t know of any rails implementations, but most proper workflow management systems (as opposed to straight up custom development) integrate as a black box. They are usually C/C++ programs, in some cases Java and in one case Lotus Notes based. My personal opinion on WfMS is that they are too much solution for not enough problem. Most companies are better served by an application that ensures certain checks (i.e. all the right approvals have been done, etc.) but doesn''t impose a specific workflow. For companies that already feel like they need a WfMS it''s a hard sell. However, for custom development it is rather easy to enforce a work flow. The process is basically creating a big Finite State Machine, where the database maintains the state, and the web application maintains the logic for the state transitions. It''s just a fancy way of saying that if an invoice needs to be approved by a manager, the web app checks to see if the invoice has the "CheckedByManager" flag set. If so, it can move on to the next step.
It shouldn''t be difficult to port some of the work done here to rails http://www.tonymarston.net/php-mysql/workflow.html But I tend towards Martin Bernd Schmeil point. It just does not spell like rails. regards, Leon Leslie. On 3/3/06, Berin Loritsch <bloritsch@d-haven.org> wrote:> Martin Bernd Schmeil wrote: > > Is there any project or solution for an easy integration of a WFE / WfMS > > into rails? I''m quite new to this topic, but I probably need a small > > subset of workflow patterns (or whatever the correct term is) only. Any > > pointers are welcome. > > > I''ll be honest. I''ve done workflow applications in the past, and they > are very limiting. I don''t know of any rails implementations, but most > proper workflow management systems (as opposed to straight up custom > development) integrate as a black box. They are usually C/C++ programs, > in some cases Java and in one case Lotus Notes based. My personal > opinion on WfMS is that they are too much solution for not enough > problem. Most companies are better served by an application that > ensures certain checks (i.e. all the right approvals have been done, > etc.) but doesn''t impose a specific workflow. > > For companies that already feel like they need a WfMS it''s a hard sell. > However, for custom development it is rather easy to enforce a work > flow. The process is basically creating a big Finite State Machine, > where the database maintains the state, and the web application > maintains the logic for the state transitions. It''s just a fancy way of > saying that if an invoice needs to be approved by a manager, the web app > checks to see if the invoice has the "CheckedByManager" flag set. If > so, it can move on to the next step. > > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >-- Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic!
Berin Loritsch wrote:> My personal > opinion on WfMS is that they are too much solution for not enough > problem. Most companies are better served by an application that > ensures certain checks (i.e. all the right approvals have been done, > etc.) but doesn''t impose a specific workflow.That''s exactly what I''ve been thinking. The workflows we''ll have are relatively simple, but we might have the need to change them easily later. To me - having a WFE on top on Rails - sounds like an extra layer of uneccessary complexity. And I don''t know how this should work at all, when buisness logic and user interaction (forms) are moved to and controlled by the WFE and not Rails. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
> http://www.tonymarston.net/php-mysql/workflow.htmlThanks for the hint. -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Martin Bernd Schmeil wrote:> Berin Loritsch wrote: > > >> My personal >> opinion on WfMS is that they are too much solution for not enough >> problem. Most companies are better served by an application that >> ensures certain checks (i.e. all the right approvals have been done, >> etc.) but doesn''t impose a specific workflow. >> > > That''s exactly what I''ve been thinking. The workflows we''ll have are > relatively simple, but we might have the need to change them easily > later. To me - having a WFE on top on Rails - sounds like an extra layer > of uneccessary complexity. And I don''t know how this should work at all, > when buisness logic and user interaction (forms) are moved to and > controlled by the WFE and not Rails. >Basically you won''t be doing rails, but doing the workflow engine. Their UI''s stink. But that''s my two cents worth.
On 3/3/06, Martin Bernd Schmeil <bschmeil@autoscout24.com> wrote:> Is there any project or solution for an easy integration of a WFE / WfMS > into rails? I''m quite new to this topic, but I probably need a small > subset of workflow patterns (or whatever the correct term is) only. Any > pointers are welcome. >Check out acts_as_state_machine: http://lunchroom.lunchboxsoftware.com/articles/2006/01/21/acts-as-state-machine