PRODUCT NEWS

ILOG Unifies Rule Products
For C++ users, the envy is over

ILOG rule editor Click to enlarge (opens a new window).

In April 2000, ILOG placed Java rule development in the hands of company decision-makers when it introduced ILOG JRules 3.0 and its unique, customizable language, which brought business rule creation to business people for the first time.

Well, get ready to release the balloons again, as ILOG unveils the new ILOG Business Rule Components suite, extending the extremely successful development environment of ILOG JRules to the widely used C++ ILOG Rules.

By unifying its business rule product line, ILOG is able to bring rule developers the best of both worlds: the high performance of C++ and the high productivity of Java. The new suite gives customers access to the same advanced functionality regardless of whether rule deployment is in C++ or Java. ILOG business rule engines are ideal for applications whose logic needs to be changed often and managed independently of application code. They rapidly process rules with algorithms optimized for the job, specifically in object-oriented environments.

Now shared by ILOG Rules and ILOG JRules is a robust set of development tools, called the ILOG RuleKit, which includes:

• Rule Builder: a fully integrated graphical environment for developing and debugging ILOG business rule engines
• Business Rule Languages: a predefined set of business rule languages that can be used "out of the box" or customized to help the end user access business rules
• Business Rule Editors: intuitive, user-friendly editors that enable non-technical users to create business rules using a point-and-click interface with cut-and-paste pop-up windows and drop-down menus

Need for flexibility
Today’s business applications need to be highly flexible, adapting readily to changes in customer demand, competition and regulation. The new ILOG Business Rule Components ensure this flexibility with the most versatile business rule engines available.

The components greatly improve the maintainability and performance of the most dynamic aspect of any business application: business logic. They enable business logic to be changed without altering the main application code, and with the ILOG RuleKit, business rules are easy to create and maintain, cutting costs and extending the life of applications.

ILOG business rules can be seamlessly integrated into C++ or Java applications, and common distributed computing architectures. They can be deployed in Web-based or back-office applications, enabling the consistent use of business policies across an enterprise through shared business rules.

All this is backed by high performance. In mission-critical applications such as event management and online customer support, instant response is essential. ILOG business rule engines are among the fastest on the market, clocking benchmark speeds as high as 18,000 rules per second.