Home > Articles

Adapter Development Methodology and Best Practices

This chapter is from the book
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
—Will Rogers, American humorist

Business today is heavily dependent on interactions and networking with customers, partners, suppliers, and employees. This dependency on integration of business processes and resources drives the need for integrated business applications. The days of developing standalone applications are long gone, and today none of the applications can satisfy users' requirements for information and transaction processing without interfacing with other applications. Almost all software development projects can be categorized as one of the following:

  • Developing a new business application using emerging technologies, leading edge software paradigms, new platforms, and tools.

  • Upgrading existing systems by adding new functions to exchange data and functions with other applications. New functions typically include Web enabling legacy applications and adding integration capabilities.

  • Deploying a third-party package or upgrading an existing third-party package. Typically, deploying third-party packages involves data migration issues, customization issues, and integration with existing business applications.

  • Research projects and other initiatives that experiment with new technologies such as wireless networking and wireless applications can work in an isolated environment or with limited integration with existing systems.

  • Composite applications are a new category of applications that integrate isolated applications as a coherent system capable of supporting e-Business requirements—typically, web services.

In each of these scenarios, the need to integrate business applications is driven not just by the technical requirements; it is mainly the business requirements that drive the software development projects. Application integration has become part of mainstream software development, and it is essential to include integration as a primary objective when planning and managing software projects.

Do we need a new methodology for handling the inclusion of integration requirements and adapter development? Not unless software development is managed without a methodology in the first place. This chapter is not about introducing a new methodology, but customizing existing methodologies for adapter development. Many significant differences exist between standard application development and software development involving adapters or integration. The following sections identify the most important aspects of adapter development, and present how to apply known methodologies and techniques to overcome some of the unique challenges.

Understanding Integration Project Objectives

Most adapter-related projects are initiated as part of other mainstream development projects. Sometimes, an adapter requirement is identified during system integration. In many instances, adapter requirements come from IT staff who handle data integrity issues rather than application users. The reason for this is that most end-users assume that application integration is a normal feature of software. I have seen numerous occasions when end-users were surprised when their applications were not able to share data with other applications without major modifications. In these situations, IT staff are usually commissioned to come up with a short-term solution in the form of shell scripts and other manual processes. The problem is that over time there are too many short-term solutions. Although sometimes time constraints demand patchy solutions and manual application integration procedures, the long-term solution is a proper EAI platform and adapters. This chapter should be useful for project managers who have identified a need for adapters or who are undertaking software development projects.

As an example project, let's consider the Web enabling of a customer service application. The application is currently used by internal customer service staff. These users are trained in-house to handle specific customer situations and exceptions, and to customize business processes to meet the customer needs. However, with the customer interacting directly with the application, most of the work done by the customer service staff will now be the responsibility of the customer. Some of the major differences of Internet-based applications supporting E-Business initiatives and the legacy applications are the end-users and their roles. Web-enabling external business services and internal business processes require the end-users to take more responsibilities than before.

Business processes that were handled manually by the customer service staff now need to be automated by the application and its infrastructure. It is not surprising to see Web enabling of one application requiring significant modifications to other business applications. The need to understand the end-to-end business processes and their impact on all the applications participating in those business processes is fundamental to any E-Business project. As a result, every E-Business project becomes an integration project with varying degrees of complexities.

For many legacy systems developed to work in isolation, integration is a new phenomenon. Adding integration capabilities to existing applications requires careful planning and sustained development. A good design principle is to isolate and localize the integration capabilities of each business application in a separate component that is directly associated with the application. These components are known by different terms: adapters, connectors, components, and so on. The separation of core application functionality and integration logic enables software developers to evolve the business application and the adapter with minimum dependency. Figure 7.1 shows an integration-ready application. The architecture includes an additional integration tier; this tier supports the different types of integration components.

Figure 7.1 Integration-ready applications.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020