General Information
Introduction to Business Processes
In the previous module, we looked at creating a database. But for the full operation of the application, it is not enough just to store data. It needs to be somehow processed, modified, used in calculations, transferred. The most important stage in the development of most applications is the process of creating the logic of their work.
Business Processes
On the AppMaster platform, a business process editor is designed to build the work logic. This module is dedicated to getting to know it.
Each business process (BP) is a separate part of the application logic, some specific function. At the same time, the BP itself consists of a set of blocks and links between them.
A block is usually some kind of elementary action. For example, multiplying two numbers, writing a variable to a database table, concatenating strings, or adding an element to an array. However, more complex operations can be performed in a separate block, such as searching for elements in the database, with filtering and sorting.
Moreover, any created business process can also be represented as a separate block, as part of another business process. It is reasonable to use this in situations where the BP function can be reused in other business processes, and also if the BP becomes too large and its individual parts can be represented as independent blocks.
Communication lines are created between the blocks, which determine the order of the blocks, the sequence of their execution. Often this will not be a normal linear sequence. In certain situations, branching can occur when the data obtained at one stage of the BP can influence the further choice of options for action. It is also possible to work in cycles, when the sequence of actions will be performed again and again, until the condition for terminating the cycle is met.
At the same time, there are two blocks that are mandatory for any business process. Blocks of the beginning (Start) and end (End) of the work of the BP. These blocks are created automatically and cannot be deleted. By themselves, they do not perform any operations, but are the entry and exit points of the business process. In addition, variables can be set in these blocks, which are the input and output data of the BP.