Jess in Action

Description

A practical handbook for anyone interested in programming rule-based systems and written by the creator of the popular Java rule engine, Jess, this book is structured around a series of large, fully developed practical examples of rule-based programming in Java. After the topic of rule-based systems is introduced, software developers and architects are shown the Jess rule programming language in an accessible, tutorial style. Demonstrated is how to quickly progress from building freestanding interactive applications to rule-based Web and Enterprise software. Specific issues covered in this process include designing the application, embedding Jess in Java applications, and using a rule engine in the J2EE environment.

CONTENTS:

Part I: Introducing rule-based systems

1. What are rule-based systems?
2. Which problems fit, and which ones don't

Part II: Jess: A rule-based programming environment

3. Introducing Jess
4. Getting started with the Jess language
5. Scripting Java with Jess
6. Representing facts in Jess
7. Writing rules in Jess
8. Under the hood -- how Jess works

Part III: Creating your first rule-based application: the Tax Forms Advisor

9. Collecting the knowledge
10. Designing the Application
11. Writing the application

Part IV: Writing a diagnostic application: the PC Repair Assistant

12. Writing the PC Repair Assistant
13. Adding a graphical interface

Part V: Reasoning about reality: the HVAC Controller

14. The reality connection
15. Extending the Jess language
16. Writing the rules

Part VI: TekMart.com: Rule-based applications for the Web

17. Jess on the Web
18. Embedding Jess in Java applications
19. Deploying Web-based applications

Part VII: Enterprise Systems

20. Jess, XML, and the enterprise
21. Jess in the J2EE environment

Appendices

A. Jess Functions
B. Abridged Java API for Jess
C. An automated testing framework