Apache OFBiz

Overview

Apache OFBiz is a framework that provides a common data model and a rich set of business process. All applications are built around a common architecture using common data, logic and process components. Beyond the framework itself, Apache OFBiz offers functionality including:

Technology

All of Apache OFBiz functionality is built on a common framework. The functionality can be divided into the following distinct layers:

Presentation Layer

Apache OFBiz uses the concept of "screens" to represent the Apache OFBiz pages. Each page is, normally, represented as a screen. A page in Apache OFBiz consists of components. A component can be a header, footer, etc. When the page is rendered all the components are combined together as specified in the screen definition. Components might be Java Server Pages ([JSP]s) , FTL pages built around FreeMarker template engine, Forms and Menus Widgets. Widgets are an OFBiz specific technology.

Business Layer

The business, or application layer defines services provided to the user. The services can be of several types: Java methods, SOAP, simple services, workflow, etc. A service engine is responsible for invocation, transactions and security.

Apache OFBiz uses a set of well established, open source technologies and standards such as Java, Java EE, XML and SOAP. Although Apache OFBiz is built around the concepts used by Java EE, many of its concepts are implemented in different ways; either because Apache OFBiz was designed prior to many recent improvements in Java EE or because Apache OFBiz authors didn’t agree with those implementations.

Data Layer

The data layer is responsible for database access, storage and providing a common data interface to the Business layer. Data is accessed not in Object Oriented fashion but in a relational way. Each entity (represented as a row in the database) is provided to the business layer as a set of generic values. A generic value is not typed, so fields of an entity are accessed by the column name.