Start receive task with REST API ?

[neledv]

Currently we are evaluating the activiti process engine to be used as both embedded and enterprise process engine in our company.
For some applications, we would like to create business processes with no actual logic behind; those business process instances and the different steps are just triggered by events (perferrable via web services) which can be sent from different systems (where the actual logic is executed).

I think we can achieve this by designing a business process with 'Java Receive Tasks'. But I think with the current version of the REST API we can not yet throw signals.
Is this correct ? Are there any plans to include this in one of the upcoming releases ?

[trademak]

Hi,

Okay great. You are right that the current REST API doesn't have support for this.
But it's not hard to add your own REST service to the activiti-rest web application.
In my book we have a section about how to add a new REST service.
That chapter is not yet public, but the source code is on Google code http://code.google.com/p/activitiinaction/, so let me know if you need this info and where to send it to.

Best regards,

[bfarraj]

Hi Tijs,
I am working on a research project that is being implemented using both Mule ESB and Activiti.
For some integration scenarios, Mule will create process instance(s), however, some of the processes have a Receive Task (wait) that should also receive a signal from Mule.
Do you suggest me to extend activiti REST API? or maybe you have a better solution?

Thanks, Bilal

[trademak]

Hi,

Did you also look at the Mule integration that we have in Activiti?
Because that also supports this kind of functionality.

Best regards,

[bfarraj]

Hi Tijs,
I had a look at the Mule integration in Activiti (the mule task), it is indeed a nice feature.
However, in the my scenario a "Receive Task" should be completed from Mule, thus, it need the REST API or Mule Activiti Module, but both don't support this.

As a conclusion, I should add a new REST service in activiti-rest web application to complete a receive task.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thank a lot for your help, Bilal

[trademak]

Hi,

Okay, yes if you want to signal a receive task a new method is needed in the Activiti REST API.
If you can create a patch I'll be certainly willing to help commit the code to the Activiti REST application if you would like to contribute.

Best regards,

[bfarraj]

Hi Tijs,

Of course, I and my colleague would like to contribute with the source code.

The "Signal Receive Task" REST interface has been implemented and tested for our integration scenario. The latest activiti-webapp-rest2 project checked out from the online repository "http://svn.codehaus.org/activiti/activiti/trunk/", and the new interface was built upon this project.

We could send you the maven project, or check in the project for an online repository (if possible).

Anyway, here is my email:
bfarraj [at] gmail [dot] com

Regards, Bilal Farraj