JESS: A Different Rule Programming Technique

[Rich Halsey]

Hi All,   I am looking at a new technique for rules programming where "mere mortals" can build rule-based systems. Essentially, the technique uses UML-defined base classes to define a core predicate (that can also call other methods to define conditional tests) and a core action (that can also call other methods to accomplish desired actions). This technique relies on the Rete algorithm for matching of these rule objects and user-defined "data objects" which are passed to the rule objects for inspection. If the objects pass the conditional testing by the rule object's predicate, then the RHS is invoked to call the rule object's action method.   It would seem that this technique could be used by all the OPS-like rules engines (JESS/JRules/OPSJ/JEOPS) out there and would enable ordinary Java programmers to write rules in an object-oriented manner for a Rete-enabled environment. This technique should not inhibit forward/backward chaining in any way and also allow for control flow logic to be incorporated into the system.   Anybody have any thoughts ?????         "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of those who threaten it"