This document discusses implementing a user interface for SOA applications using Oracle WebCenter 11g. It covers exposing user interface components as services using portlets or ADF task flows, which allows for decoupled and reusable UI development. WebCenter provides pre-built task flow services and a framework for consuming portlets. The document demonstrates consuming various task flows and portlets to integrate reusable user interface functionality.

1. Experiences with Oracle WebCenter 11g: Implementing SOA with a User InterfacePeter EbellLucas Jellema AMIS, The Netherlands

2. AgendaSOA - what and whyWebServices with a face – PortletsUI Services with ADF Task FlowsIntroducing WebCenterPortlet infrastructurePre-packaged task flow servicesPutting a User Interface on the SOA SuiteSummary

3. SOA = BAD

4. BusinessAgility throughDecouplingSOA =

5. SOA ConceptsServices with standardized ContractsProducers and ConsumersCross-platform/technologyIndependent development/management of ComponentsDecouplingEvents

6. Potential SOA BenefitsReduce ComplexityFlexibility – capacity to change and adaptQuickly (time to market, prototype)With lower impact and riskThrough (re-)composition and (re-)organizationBest of breed solutionsReuseIntegration (!)

7. Traditional SOA: Programmatic ServicesTypical Components:Application ( = Consumer)Webservices and WSDL ( = Service + Contract)Enterprise Service Bus ( = Service Provider)Queues (= Events and Event Listeners)

8. A2A oriented SOAApp AApp BCMSSocial APILDAPWorkflowEngineApp DApp CValidationServiceService APIService APICMSEmailIMFax8

9. SOA and UI – Different Worlds?Some services require or interact with a user interface. For instance: BPEL process containing Human Tasks.Taking it one step further: some user interfaces can be treated/offered/used like services!

10. UI Application can be a Service tooApplications can be exposed as a collection of UI services - user interface components based on data and (data)servicesFor example in the form of "portlets" that can be consumed by a Portal product in a mash upData

11. Remember the SOA Concepts?Services with standardized ContractsProducers and ConsumersCross-platform/technologyIndependent development/management of componentsDecouplingEvents

12. Applying SOA Concepts to UI:WSRP PortletsWSRP Standard: WebService for Remote PortletExposed by Portlet Container (or Provider) Portlet renders its own UI/the content (HTML)Contract includes (input) parameters (String or String[]) and events (out, simple payload)Called by Portal/Portlet consumerPortlets can deal with data manipulation, events, navigation, AJAX and partial refresh

13. Portlet and DecouplingJust like normal web servicesPortlets can be located anywhere(we only need URL for endpoint)Portlets can be implemented in any technology – as long as the standards are followedThe implementation of Portlets can changeas long as the contract (parameters/events) is safeIdeally the Portlet uses (style) classes and allows the consumer to apply the stylesheet

14. Drawing the AnalogyTraditional SOA Components:Application ( = Consumer)Webservices ( = Service + Contract)Enterprise Service Bus ( = Service Provider)Queues (= Events and Event Listeners)WSRP Portlet Components:Portal ( = Consumer)WRSP Portlets ( = Service + Contract)Portlet Providers ( = Service Provider) Produces events for Portal (= Events and Event Listeners)

15. SOA and SaaS ProvidersSaaS (Software as a Service) providers are facing a double SOA challenge:Provide a (normal SOA) Web Service interfaceallows SaaS customers to integrate their functionality in their local ESBProvide a UI Service interface that exposes pluggable application componentsallow SaaS customers to embed UI ‘services’ in their applications/portal

16. SaaS providers need to open up their application – also the UISaaS BSaaS ADeep linkInterfaceCMSDeep linkInterfaceSocial APIPortlet APIHTMLPagesPortlet APIRSSRSSinternetinternalToDoNewsWorkflowEngineApp DApp CPortlet APIPortlet APIRSSCMSEmailIMFax16

17. Demonstration of Portletsshow a web application consuming several portletscreate a new web application that consumes two portletschange one of the portlets and redeploy it; refresh the 'portals' - the consuming webapps in the browser

18. Remote.NET basedLocal (in container)Generic, resuableRun Time editingLocal and Remote Remote Service adaptation (WebClipping)Run Time editingParameter based synchronizationLocalReusableParameter based synchronizationPublishes Events

20. Consuming Portlets

21. Consuming Portlets (2)todoUpdateEvent

22. Portlet consumer interacting with Portlets and ProvidersRemote .NET based Portlet ProviderPortal-in-a-BoxWebCenterPortlet Container & ProvidertigerMedHighLowPrepackaged PortletsCustomPortlets

23. Conclusions PortletsWhat it doesInteroperability, Cross technologyContract (params & events) supports interactionIndependent development and deploymentWhere it fails/falls shortEverything stays inside portal regionNo styling/skinning adoptedNo shared transaction context Consumer depends on portlet (availability)Requires Portlet infrastructure (e.g. Portal)

24. Alternative: ADF Task FlowsWith Oracle ADF (underlying UI technology of WebCenter) comes an alternative way to develop UI Services: ADF Task Flows ADF Task flows are Portlet-like in many respects: stand alone, independently developable, reusable UI componentTask Flow = one or multistep view, internal business logic, navigation flow, beans, …

25. Task Flow ContractLike Portlets, ADF Task Flows adhere to a Contract (native ADF).Input:Parameters (initial)EventsNavigation commandsOutput(Changed) ParametersEventsNavigation events

26. ADF Task Flow CapabilitiesADF does not require Portlets in order to work with service-like reusable componentsTask Flows are published via ADF Libraries and can be consumed more natively than PortletsLess overhead (saves 300 ms per request)Consumer and Task Flow can share Objects and ADF DataBindingSupports complex parameters & ADF eventsCan be customizedNo WebCenter license required…

27. Example: Human Task UI in SOA Suite

28. Demo Task FlowsShow how a existing task flow (TODO) can be published as ADF library and incorporated in other applicationShow how far the integration can go:ParametersEvents (in and out)JavaScript sharingSkinningClient side – detach table uses full screen

29. Deploy and Reuse ADF Library

30. Add reusable task flow to page

31. Meanwhile…

33. Task Flow contract elementsparameterseventNav commandJS custom eventSave Task EventNavigationEventJS custom event

34. (server side) Event handlingTodo Task FlowTask Flow Consumer

35. Conclusions on ADF Task FlowsStand alone, reusable componentsInterface with Parameters and EventsThough not a very clear contract documentComplex parameters and event payloadFully Integrated in consuming ADF applicationSkin, Data Controls, Transactions, JavaScript scopeDeployed as part of the consuming applicationPotentially multiple copies of the task flow – for every application using it‘native/standard’ ADF mechanism

36. Comparing UI Service technologiesPortletTask FlowRemoteCross TechnologyStandards basedProcessing overheadSlower page renderingDesign Time and Run Time decouplingRemote provider has to be upNeeds portlet consumption framework, e.g. WebCenterAnd portlet publicationLocal, native, ADF onlySharedData ControlsTransaction contextSkin/StyleClient side JavaScript & UIRich ContractComplex parametersEvents out and inWith complex payloadNavigation influenceSupport for customization

37. Development with Portlets & Task FlowsThe use of Portlets and Task Flows allows for a decoupled way of developing applicationsTeams agree on a contractAnd both work their merry way based on the contract – in fairly insulated mannerReuse is possible based on that contractMaintenance of Portlet and Task Flow can be independent of consuming applicationsNote: task flow is integrated at design time

38. Real life exampleHealth Insurance companyWants to expose Web Application in its PortalFor filing expenses and checking on the progress of claim processingPortal not yet pickedWebApp Integration should be decoupledSolution: expose parts of the WebApp as Portlet that can be integrated in PortalWeb app developers are insulated from PortalContract specifies parameters and events

39. Decouple pointsPortlet Container & ProviderDatabasePortalESBDatabaseWebServiceCMS

40. Some questionsHow does one create and publish a Portlet?How does one simply consume a Portlet in her or his application?Can an application manager or content editor add/remove portlets/taskflows– at run time?Where does one get those pre-built portlets/task flows for generic functionality?

41. Introduction WebCenterWebCenter == ADF++

42. WebCenter 11gWebCenter FrameworkPublish ADF TaskFlows as PortletConsume any Portlet in ADF pages (drag & drop)Content integrationWebCenter ComposerRun time applicationeditingRun time task flow inclusionWC Spaces: pre builtapplication for E2.0

43. WebCenter Services100+ pre-packaged task flowsADF 11g task flowsBacked by database & MDSMutually integratedSupport for Content, Collaboration, CommunicationWeb 2.0 style

44. WebCenter ServicesAfter installing the WebCenter extension in JDeveloper– the catalog of services (task flows) is availableTo use a service:* drag it* drop it * set the values for the params* (optional) customize the task flow

45. DemoLeveraging WebCenter ServicesReuse RSS ViewerReuse Document LibraryBased on WebCenterContent Repository Connection

46. Create Content Repository connection – File System based

47. Consume WC Services in page

48. Consume WC Services (2)

49. RSS Feed Viewer live

50. DocumentLibrary Service Live