Configuration...

Drools can be configured broadly in 3 different ways

• Maven way
• Eclipse Plugin way
• Traditional way of adding jars to build path

Let me start with traditional way so that it can be done easily by all...

 Software and Knowledge requirements:

• Java SE 1.5+
• Drools version 6.2
• kie-api.jar – this provides the interfaces and factories.
• kie-internal-api.jar – this provides internal interfaces and factories.
• drools-core.jar – this is the core engine, runtime component. T
• drools-compiler.jar – this contains the compiler/builder components to take rule source, and build executable rule bases.
• drools-decisiontables.jar – this is the decision tables ‘compiler’ component, this supports both excel and CSV input formats.

+ and - of Drools

 

Advantage

• Easy to maintain the rule code
• Easy to understand
• Easy for non programmers 
• Write rules in excel sheet and run it
• Better Performance 
• No downtime required during change.

 

Disadvantage 

• Learn new way of programming 
• Troubleshooting is pretty tough
• Consumes more memory 

 

When NOT to go  for Drools

• When very less rules are used
• having stable business rules which dont change often.