Apache OFBiz is a framework that provides a common data model and a set of business processes. All applications are built around a common architecture using common data, logic and process components. Beyond the framework itself, Apache OFBiz offers functionality including:
All 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 can be Java Server Pages, FTL pages built around FreeMarkertemplate engine, forms or 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 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 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.
History
The OFBiz project was created by David E. Jones and Andrew Zeneski on April 13, 2001. The project was initially hosted as The ApacheOpen For Business Project on SourceForge and Open For Business Project at Open HUB. Between September 2003 and May 2006, it was hosted as a java.net project, but the project has been removed from there. it has begun to be widely used around 2003. After incubating since January 31, 2006, it became a Top Level Apache project on December 20, 2006: Apache OFBiz Incubation Status.
