Chapter 9. Implementing a case study using patterns
In this chapter:
- Overview of the Enterprise Integration patterns
- Introduction of a pattern-based design approach
- Implementing a complex case study with Mule
- Implementing a complex case study with ServiceMix
We’ve discussed a lot of different open source ESB technologies and capabilities throughout the previous chapters, but you may wonder where this leaves you when you need to implement a full-blown integration project. If you only understand the technical functionality of an open source ESB, you aren’t ready to implement an integration project from beginning to end. You need some guidance to help you with all the phases of such a project.
In this chapter, we look the different phases of an integration project, from analysis and design to the deployment of the integration solution. The main part missing from the technical foundation we’ve discussed so far is a decent design approach. Luckily, we don’t have to invent this, because a great foundational book about design patterns is available: Enterprise Integration Patterns by Gregor Hohpe and Bobby Woolf. We give you an overview of these integration design patterns and introduce a pattern-based design approach to help you in the design phase.
We use a case study about reserving restaurant tables at a large hotel to guide you through a typical integration project. We start with designing the integration solution using some of the Enterprise Integration patterns.