Python Rules Engine (ZEN Engine)

ZEN Engine is a cross-platform, Open-Source Business Rules Engine (BRE). It is written in Rust and provides native bindings for NodeJS and Python. ZEN Engine allows to load and execute JSON Decision Model (JDM) from JSON files.

An open-source React editor is available on our JDM Editor repo.

Usage

ZEN Engine is built as embeddable BRE for your Rust, NodeJS or Python applications. It parses JDM from JSON content. It is up to you to obtain the JSON content, e.g. from file system, database or service call.

If you are looking for a complete BRMS, take a look at self-hosted GoRules BRMS or GoRules Cloud.

Installation

pip install zen-engine

Usage

To execute a simple decision you can use the code below.

import zen

# Example filesystem content, it is up to you how you obtain content
with open("./jdm_graph.json", "r") as f:
  content = f.read()

engine = zen.ZenEngine()

decision = engine.create_decision(content)
result = decision.evaluate({"input": 15})

Loaders

For more advanced use cases where you want to load multiple decisions and utilise graphs you can build loaders.

import zen

def loader(key):
    with open("./jdm_directory/" + key, "r") as f:
        return f.read()

engine = zen.ZenEngine({"loader": loader})
result = engine.evaluate("jdm_graph1.json", {"input": 5})

When engine.evaluate is invoked it will call loader and pass a key expecting a content of the JDM decision graph. In the case above we will assume file jdm_directory/jdm_graph1.json exists.

Similar to this example you can also utilise loader to load from different places, for example from REST API, from S3, Database, etc.

JSON Decision Model (JDM)

GoRules JDM (JSON Decision Model) is a modeling framework designed to streamline the representation and implementation of decision models.

Understanding GoRules JDM

At its core, GoRules JDM revolves around the concept of decision models as interconnected graphs stored in JSON format. These graphs capture the intricate relationships between various decision points, conditions, and outcomes in a GoRules Zen-Engine.

Graphs are made by linking nodes with edges, which act like pathways for moving information from one node to another, usually from the left to the right.

The Input node serves as an entry for all data relevant to the context, while the Output nodes produce the result of decision-making process. The progression of data follows a path from the Input Node to the Output Node, traversing all interconnected nodes in between. As the data flows through this network, it undergoes evaluation at each node, and connections determine where the data is passed along the graph.

To see JDM Graph in action you can use Free Online Editor with built in Simulator.

There are 5 main node types in addition to a graph Input Node (Request) and Output Node (Response):

• Decision Table Node
• Switch Node
• Function Node
• Expression Node
• Decision Node

Decision Table Node

Overview

Tables provide a structured representation of decision-making processes, allowing developers and business users to express complex rules in a clear and concise manner.

Structure

At the core of the Decision Table is its schema, defining the structure with inputs and outputs. Inputs encompass business-friendly expressions using the ZEN Expression Language, accommodating a range of conditions such as equality, numeric comparisons, boolean values, date time functions, array functions and more. The schema's outputs dictate the form of results generated by the Decision Table. Inputs and outputs are expressed through a user-friendly interface, often resembling a spreadsheet. This facilitates easy modification and addition of rules, enabling business users to contribute to decision logic without delving into intricate code.

Evaluation Process

Decision Tables are evaluated row by row, from top to bottom, adhering to a specified hit policy. Single row is evaluated via Inputs columns, from left to right. Each input column represents AND operator. If cell is empty that column is evaluated truthfully, independently of the value.

If a single cell within a row fails (due to error, or otherwise), the row is skipped.

HitPolicy

The hit policy determines the outcome calculation based on matching rules.

The result of the evaluation is:

• an object if the hit policy of the decision table is first and a rule matched. The structure is defined by the output fields. Qualified field names with a dot (.) inside lead to nested objects.
• null/undefined if no rule matched in first hit policy
• an array of objects if the hit policy of the decision table is collect (one array item for each matching rule) or empty array if no rules match

Inputs

In the assessment of rules or rows, input columns embody the AND operator. The values typically consist of (qualified) names, such as customer.country or customer.age.

There are two types of evaluation of inputs, Unary and Expression.

Unary Evaluation

Unary evaluation is usually used when we would like to compare single fields from incoming context separately, for example customer.country and cart.total . It is activated when a column has field defined in its schema.

Example

For the input:

{
  "customer": {
    "country": "US"
  },
  "cart": {
    "total": 1500
  }
}

This evaluation translates to

IF customer.country == 'US' AND cart.total > 1000 THEN {"fees": {"percent": 2}}
ELSE IF customer.country == 'US' THEN {"fees": {"flat": 30}}
ELSE IF customer.country == 'CA' OR customer.country == 'MX' THEN {"fees": {"flat": 50}}
ELSE {"fees": {"flat": 150}}

List shows basic example of the unary tests in the Input Fields:

Note: For the full list please visit ZEN Expression Language.

Expression Evaluation

Expression evaluation is used when we would like to create more complex evaluation logic inside single cell. It allows us to compare multiple fields from the incoming context inside same cell.

It can be used by providing an empty Selector (field) inside column configuration.

Example

For the input:

{
  "transaction": {
    "country": "US",
    "createdAt": "2023-11-20T19:00:25Z",
    "amount": 10000
  }
}

IF time(transaction.createdAt) > time("17:00:00") AND transaction.amount > 1000 THEN {"status": "reject"}
ELSE {"status": "approve"}

Note: For the full list please visit ZEN Expression Language.

Outputs

Output columns serve as the blueprint for the data that the decision table will generate when the conditions are met during evaluation.

When a row in the decision table satisfies its specified conditions, the output columns determine the nature and structure of the information that will be returned. Each output column represents a distinct field, and the collective set of these fields forms the output or result associated with the validated row. This mechanism allows decision tables to precisely define and control the data output.

Example

And the result would be:

{
  "flatProperty": "A",
  "output": {
    "nested": {
      "property": "B"
    },
    "property": 36
  }
}

Switch Node (NEW)

The Switch node in GoRules JDM introduces a dynamic branching mechanism to decision models, enabling the graph to diverge based on conditions.

Conditions are written in a Zen Expression Language.

By incorporating the Switch node, decision models become more flexible and context-aware. This capability is particularly valuable in scenarios where diverse decision logic is required based on varying inputs. The Switch node efficiently manages branching within the graph, enhancing the overall complexity and realism of decision models in GoRules JDM, making it a pivotal component for crafting intelligent and adaptive systems.

The Switch node preserves the incoming data without modification; it forwards the entire context to the output branch(es).

HitPolicy

There are two HitPolicy options for the switch node, first and collect.

In the context of a first hit policy, the graph branches to the initial matching condition, analogous to the behavior observed in a table. Conversely, under a collect hit policy, the graph extends to all branches where conditions hold true, allowing branching to multiple paths.

Note: If there are multiple edges from the same condition, there is no guaranteed order of execution.

Available from:

• Python 0.16.0
• NodeJS 0.13.0
• Rust 0.16.0

Functions Node

Function nodes are JavaScript snippets that allow for quick and easy parsing, re-mapping or otherwise modifying the data using JavaScript. Inputs of the node are provided as function's arguments. Functions are executed on top of QuickJS Engine that is bundled into the ZEN Engine.

Function timeout is set to a 50ms.

const handler = (input, {dayjs, Big}) => {
    return {
        ...input,
        someField: 'hello'
    };
};

There are two built in libraries:

• dayjs - for Date Manipulation
• big.js - for arbitrary-precision decimal arithmetic.

Expression Node

The Expression node serves as a tool for transforming input objects into alternative objects using the Zen Expression Language. When specifying the output properties, each property requires a separate row. These rows are defined by two fields:

• Key - qualified name of the output property
• Value - value expressed through the Zen Expression Language

Note: Any errors within the Expression node will bring the graph to a halt.

Decision Node

The "Decision" node is designed to extend the capabilities of decision models. Its function is to invoke and reuse other decision models during execution.

By incorporating the "Decision" node, developers can modularize decision logic, promoting reusability and maintainability in complex systems.

Support matrix

We do not support linux-musl for now.