Business Process Execution Language for Web Services BPEL and BPEL4WS 2nd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good book for those seeking an initial view of process and BPEL. The book covers the basics of BPEL profile 1.1, and until chapter 4 is a good resource of information. I don't like books that binds the technology to an specific implementation, and that's the case of the book after chapter 4, it binds examples to Oracle BPEL process servers (which I've already used in production and find it a poor implementation) and Microsoft Biz Talk (never used it). It would be much better if more real world examples could be provided instead of specific providers mechanisms for deploying, creating etc. This should be a readers choice, and the product manuals take care of that. I'm a great fan of the author, have read many of his books, this one had everything to be on my top shell, but, if only there was no more chapters after the 4th.
Just my 2 cents.

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This book is a comprehensive and practical guide to the design, development, usage, and syntax of Business Process Execution Language (BPEL). BPEL is explained in detail, code snippets and complete examples are used to show how business processes are specified. Two major BPEL servers, the Oracle BPEL Process Manager and Microsoft BizTalk Server, are covered in detail, and an overview of other major BPEL servers is provided. This book is aimed at architects and developers in the design, implementation, and integration phases of advanced information systems and e-business solutions, developing business processes and dealing with the issues of composition, orchestration, transactions, coordination, and security. The book presumes knowledge of XML and web services, web services development (either on J2EE or .NET), and multi-tier architecture.

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Model-Driven Testing: Using the UML Testing Profile Review

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(More customer reviews)I have worked on software development for many years before working in software QA. I bought the book because of all the promises and hypes about model based testing, which is quite appealing. I used Spec# early on, but quickly turned off by the difficulty, complexity of the tool and for most part, a lack of support. NModel fixes all that (okay nearly)
The book starts with a historical review of modeling tools. If you want to get to the heart of the subject start at chapter 5 which lays out the principles of modeling software. Any software development experience will be beneficial since it assumes that you've done some software analysis and development.
The tools that the authors are offering are freely available from NModel website.
Mpv - is what you use to generate a FSM from your model, which the tool turns into a *.dot file for visualization.
Otg - off line test generator allows you to generate test cases from the model you built.
Ct - allows you to execute test cases generated by using Otg. It requires a stepper (see below)
If you have decent C# coding skill you should be able to read and follow the examples given in the book (which you can also download from NModel website). The work flow is 1) create a VS project, 2) analyze and describe your model in C# 3) compile it 4) generate test cases using Otg 5) build a stepper, and 6) execute the test cases. If a test case fails it indicates that there's a bug in the system under test or there's a bug in your model, or a requirement is ill-defined. A stepper is a test harness that bridges the model to the system under test. In practice expect to put in just as many time and effort on coding a stepper as coding your model.
In my project I successfully adapted NModel to build a model for a medical embedded device. My model described the behavior of the device. The test cases were generated on a host (pc) and a stepper executed each test case against the device. The tool captured the response from the device and compared it against the expected result generated from the model. I was able to generate hundreds of test cases easily based on the model I built, which is the real payoff. I was given enough time to work on a model and a test harness, but if your management does not understand the up-front cost of a model based testing this could be a hard sell.
This book offers a practical approach to software modeling and the tools they offer do work as advertised (please visit their homepage at codeplex for a bug list) My advice to those curious is to start with a small project, gain some experience before tackling a real project. I would recommend the book to anyone who might consider a model based testing, and I would consider using NModel tool set for my next project as well.

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Written by the original members of an industry standardization group, this book shows you how to use UML to test complex software systems. It is the definitive reference for the only UML-based test specification language, written by the creators of that language. It is supported by an Internet site that provides information on the latest tools and uses of the profile. The authors introduce UTP step-by-step, using a case study that illustrates how UTP can be used for test modeling and test specification.

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Modeling & Simulation-Based Data Engineering: Introducing Pragmatics into Ontologies for Net-Centric Information Exchange Review

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(More customer reviews)It is often the case that a new area of inquiry, comprised of elements from seemingly disparate disciplines, yields surprising insights. Zeigler's and Hammonds's effort is no exception. While linguistics has from time to time informed mathematics and computer science, to my knowledge little has been done to date towards the application of semantics and pragmatics to this type of data exchange.
The prose is concise, clear, and conversational. Given the complexity of the two topics and the more or less mutual exclusivity of their lexicons, readers whose experience has been acquired only in the one or the other of these two disciplines will nevertheless quickly become comfortable in this discussion. The authors provide many examples to illustrate their line of reasoning, all drawn from a wide variety of sources.
As an IT professional with 15 years' experience and an advanced degree in a foreign language, I found this book satisfying, illuminating, and provocative. While it is intended to address a specific engineering problem, its implications extend well beyond its stated purview. Heartily recommended for those who would like to think about the synergies of data engineering and pragmatics, and also for those who want to think about what might be beyond the horizon.

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Data Engineering has become a necessary and critical activity for business, engineering, and scientific organizations as the move to service oriented architecture and web services moves into full swing. Notably, the US Department of Defense is mandating that all of its agencies and contractors assume a defining presence on the Net-centric Global Information Grid. This book provides the first practical approach to data engineering and modeling, which supports interoperabililty with consumers of the data in a service- oriented architectures (SOAs). Although XML (eXtensible Modeling Language) is the lingua franca for such interoperability, it is not sufficient on its own. The approach in this book addresses critical objectives such as creating a single representation for multiple applications, designing models capable of supporting dynamic processes, and harmonizing legacy data models for web-based co-existence. The approach is based on the System Entity Structure (SES) which is a well-defined structure, methodology, and practical tool with all of the functionality of UML (Unified Modeling Language) and few of the drawbacks. The SES originated in the formal representation of hierarchical simulation models. So it provides an axiomatic formalism that enables automating the development of XML dtds and schemas, composition and decomposition of large data models, and analysis of commonality among structures.Zeigler and Hammond include a range of features to benefit their readers. Natural language, graphical and XML forms of SES specification are employed to allow mapping of legacy meta-data. Real world examples and case studies provide insight into data engineering and test evaluation in various application domains. Comparative information is provided on concepts of ontologies, modeling and simulation, introductory linguistic background, and support options enable programmers to work with advanced tools in the area. The website of the Arizona Center for Integrative Modeling and Simulation, co-founded by Zeigler in 2001, provides links to downloadable software to accompany the book. * The only practical guide to integrating XML and web services in data engineering* Introduces linguistic levels of interoperability for effective information exchange* Covers the interoperability standards mandated by national and international agencies * Complements Zeigler's classic THEORY OF MODELING AND SIMULATION

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SOA Modeling Patterns for Service Oriented Discovery and Analysis Review

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(More customer reviews)- Sometimes you wonder what you can get for a price that you pay for less than a full tank of gas!
- This book is a clear milestone in software modeling and architecture. I think that this is the next generation. Its value is tremendous to business and IT and especially to analysis, discovery, and modeling of software assets in the space of software development in general, SOA, and Cloud Computing.
- I think that it offers a very important direction and process to establishing services. But the services here are described as holistic software assets such as components, business processes, databases, Web services, applications, and any other software modules you may consider as executables. Interesting!
- In the analysis space, the presented concepts are innovative and can help you to establish a personal strategy as well as an organizational one.
- The patterns are not only design patterns. They are also process patterns, which are important to running projects and analysis patterns that can help you analyze a solution, a design, an architecture, a project direction, or even an enterprise strategy.
- I like the modeling section. Easy to understand and can be used by analysts, architects, managers, developers, and obviously modelers. Note this:
o Contextual analysis and modeling: Generalization, Specification, Expansion, and Contraction
o Structural analysis and modeling: Generalization, Specification, Expansion, and Contraction
- I highly recommend this book. It provides me with tools to see the big picture and helps with hands on low level implementation, such as coding, design, and more.


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Learn the essential tools for developing a sound service-oriented architecture

SOA Modeling Patterns for Service-Oriented Discovery and Analysis introduces a universal, easy-to-use, and nimble SOA modeling language to facilitate the service identification and examination life cycle stage. This business and technological vocabulary will benefit your service development endeavors and foster organizational software asset reuse and consolidation, and reduction of expenditure.
Whether you are a developer, business architect, technical architect, modeler, business analyst, team leader, or manager, this essential guide-introducing an elaborate set of more than 100 patterns and anti-patterns-will help you successfully discover and analyze services, and model a superior solution for your project,.
Explores how to discover services
Explains how to analyze services for construction and production
How to assess service feasibility for deployment
How to employ the SOA modeling language during the service identification and examination process
How to utilize the SOA modeling patterns and anti-patterns for service discovery and analysis

Focusing on the Service-Oriented Discovery and Analysis Life Cycle Stage, this book will help you acquire a broad SOA Modeling knowledge base and leverage that to increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace.

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Service-Oriented Modeling (SOA): Service Analysis, Design, and Architecture Review

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(More customer reviews)I have purchased and read many SOA books and they have all fallen into one of 2 camps. They are usually either "HOW-TO" implement a SOAP/XML/WSDL based request response guides with the standard buzzwords of SOA Governance, WS-*Everything and the Kitchen Sink*, and of course a vague description of how an Enterprise Service Bus magically does away with years a poorly implemented legacy systems. This is the first SOA book that I have read that did not waste my time with page after page trivial XML examples but actually presented an entire working formal language(extended or inspired by the UML component model I believe) to describe your existing environment("As-Is") and future-state architecture in everday terms understandable by business users and application developers. I'll admit when I read that the approach is both 'Holistic' and 'Anthropomorphic' I felt like I was being marketed some Ginko-Biloba pseudo mysticism but as I read through I understood that this is an approach to SOA, probably the first, to actually make the the underlying services and consolidation of services visible and tanglible in the way an architect builds a scale model of a proposed structure to provide an in depth understanding of the project to those who are unable to turn equations into 3D structures in there heads(which is most of us). The authors crowning achievement, in my opinon, is the realization that everything (Legacy System, Schedule Batch Job, Business Apporval Process, Business Rules, Storage) must be treated as 'Services' is a quantum leap for SOA that moves the concept of SOA from a vague buzzword to a concrete deliverable, tangible item.

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Answers to your most pressing SOA development questionsHow do we start with service modeling? How do we analyze services for better reusability? Who should be involved? How do we create the best architecture model for our organization? This must-read for all enterprise leaders gives you all the answers and tools needed to develop a sound service-oriented architecture in your organization.Praise for Service-Oriented ModelingService Analysis, Design, and Architecture"Michael Bell has done it again with a book that will be remembered as a key facilitator of the global shift to Service-Oriented Architecture. . . . With this book, Michael Bell provides that foundation and more-an essential bible for the next generation of enterprise IT."-Eric Pulier, Executive Chairman, SOA Software"Michael Bell's insightful book provides common language and techniques for business and technology organizations to take advantage of the SOA paradigm. By focusing modeling techniques on the business problem, Bell provides a way for professionals to work throughout the life cycle to create reusable and enduring services."-Mike Zbranak, CIO, Chase Card Services"This book will become an imperative business and technology service-oriented modeling recipe for any manager, architect, modeler, analyst, and developer in today's software development industry."-Jeff Schneider, CEO, MomentumSI"'Innovative' and 'groundbreaking' are words that best describe Michael Bell's Service-Oriented Modeling. It depicts a true service modeling approach that elegantly closes a clear and critical service modeling gap in the SOA industry. This holistic book ties these concepts together using real-world examples across a service life cycle that transitions services from ideas and concepts into production assets that deliver business value. A must-read for business and technical SOA practitioners."-Eric A. Marks, CEO, AgilePath Corporation"As hot as SOA is today, many business and technology professionals still find it challenging to mind the gap between their disparate methodologies and objectives. Herein Michael Bell speaks clearly to both camps in straightforward language, outlining disciplines each can use to communicate effectively and advance the realization of corporate aims. This book is a bible for all who seek to drive business/technology into the future."-Mark Edward Goodrich, Director, Investing Product Management, Reuters Media"This book takes senior IT architects and systems designers into the depths of modeling for SOA, with a fresh new perspective on tools, terminology, and how to turn the theory into practice. His full life-cycle approach balances process, control, and accountability to align all the participants in the delivery pipeline-clearing the road for successful SOA business solutions."-Phil Gilligan, Chief Technology Officer, EBS

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