Chapter 1. KIE Server REST API for KIE containers and business assets

Red Hat Process Automation Manager provides a KIE Server REST API that you can use to interact with your KIE containers and business assets (such as business rules, processes, and solvers) in Red Hat Process Automation Manager without using the Business Central user interface. This API support enables you to maintain your Red Hat Process Automation Manager resources more efficiently and optimize your integration and development with Red Hat Process Automation Manager.

With the KIE Server REST API, you can perform the following actions:

  • Deploy or dispose KIE containers
  • Retrieve and update KIE container information
  • Return KIE Server status and basic information
  • Retrieve and update business asset information
  • Execute business assets (such as rules and processes)

KIE Server REST API requests require the following components:

Authentication

The KIE Server REST API requires HTTP Basic authentication or token-based authentication for the user role kie-server. To view configured user roles for your Red Hat Process Automation Manager distribution, navigate to ~/$SERVER_HOME/standalone/configuration/application-roles.properties and ~/application-users.properties.

To add a user with the kie-server role, navigate to ~/$SERVER_HOME/bin and run the following command: 

$ ./add-user.sh -a --user <USERNAME> --password <PASSWORD> --role kie-server

For more information about user roles and Red Hat Process Automation Manager installation options, see Planning a Red Hat Process Automation Manager installation.

HTTP headers

The KIE Server REST API requires the following HTTP headers for API requests:

  • Accept: Data format accepted by your requesting client:

    • application/json (JSON)
    • application/xml (XML, for JAXB or XSTREAM)

  • Content-Type: Data format of your POST or PUT API request data:

    • application/json (JSON)
    • application/xml (XML, for JAXB or XSTREAM)

  • X-KIE-ContentType: Required header for application/xml XSTREAM API requests and responses:

    • XSTREAM
HTTP methods

The KIE Server REST API supports the following HTTP methods for API requests:

  • GET: Retrieves specified information from a specified resource endpoint
  • POST: Updates a resource or resource instance
  • PUT: Updates or creates a resource or resource instance
  • DELETE: Deletes a resource or resource instance
Base URL
The base URL for KIE Server REST API requests is http://SERVER:PORT/kie-server/services/rest/, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/.
Endpoints

KIE Server REST API endpoints, such as /server/containers/{containerId} for a specified KIE container, are the URIs that you append to the KIE Server REST API base URL to access the corresponding resource or type of resource in Red Hat Process Automation Manager.

Example request URL for /server/containers/{containerId} endpoint

http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer

Request parameters and request data

Many KIE Server REST API requests require specific parameters in the request URL path to identify or filter specific resources and to perform specific actions. You can append URL parameters to the endpoint in the format ?<PARAM>=<VALUE>&<PARAM>=<VALUE>.

Example GET request URL with parameters

http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers?groupId=com.redhat&artifactId=Project1&version=1.0&status=STARTED

HTTP POST and PUT requests may additionally require a request body or file with data to accompany the request.

Example POST request URL and JSON request body data

http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer/release-id 

{
  "release-id": {
    "artifact-id": "Project1",
    "group-id": "com.redhat",
    "version": "1.1"
  }
}

1.1. Sending requests with the KIE Server REST API using a REST client or curl utility

The KIE Server REST API enables you to interact with your KIE containers and business assets (such as business rules, processes, and solvers) in Red Hat Process Automation Manager without using the Business Central user interface. You can send KIE Server REST API requests using any REST client or curl utility.

Prerequisites

  • KIE Server is installed and running.
  • You have kie-server user role access to KIE Server.

Procedure

  1. Identify the relevant API endpoint to which you want to send a request, such as [GET] /server/containers to retrieve KIE containers from KIE Server.

  2. In a REST client or curl utility, enter the following components for a GET request to /server/containers. Adjust any request details according to your use case.

    For REST client:

    • Authentication: Enter the user name and password of the KIE Server user with the kie-server role.

    • HTTP Headers: Set the following header:

      • Accept: application/json
    • HTTP method: Set to GET.
    • URL: Enter the KIE Server REST API base URL and endpoint, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers.

    For curl utility:

    • -u: Enter the user name and password of the KIE Server user with the kie-server role.

    • -H: Set the following header:

      • Accept: application/json
    • -X: Set to GET.
    • URL: Enter the KIE Server REST API base URL and endpoint, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers. 
    curl -u 'baAdmin:password@1' -H "Accept: application/json" -X GET "http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers"

  3. Execute the request and review the KIE Server response.

    Example server response (JSON): 

    {
  "type": "SUCCESS",
  "msg": "List of created containers",
  "result": {
    "kie-containers": {
      "kie-container": [
        {
          "container-id": "itorders_1.0.0-SNAPSHOT",
          "release-id": {
            "group-id": "itorders",
            "artifact-id": "itorders",
            "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
          },
          "resolved-release-id": {
            "group-id": "itorders",
            "artifact-id": "itorders",
            "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
          },
          "status": "STARTED",
          "scanner": {
            "status": "DISPOSED",
            "poll-interval": null
          },
          "config-items": [],
          "container-alias": "itorders"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
  4. For this example, copy or note the project group-id, artifact-id, and version (GAV) data from one of the deployed KIE containers returned in the response.

  5. In your REST client or curl utility, send another API request with the following components for a PUT request to /server/containers/{containerId} to deploy a new KIE container with the copied project GAV data. Adjust any request details according to your use case.

    For REST client:

    • Authentication: Enter the user name and password of the KIE Server user with the kie-server role.

    • HTTP Headers: Set the following headers:

      • Accept: application/json

      • Content-Type: application/json

        Note

        When you add fields=not_null to Content-Type, the null fields are excluded from the REST API response.

    • HTTP method: Set to PUT.
    • URL: Enter the KIE Server REST API base URL and endpoint, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer.
    • Request body: Add a JSON request body with the configuration items for the new KIE container: 
    {
  "config-items": [
    {
      "itemName": "RuntimeStrategy",
      "itemValue": "SINGLETON",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "MergeMode",
      "itemValue": "MERGE_COLLECTIONS",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "KBase",
      "itemValue": "",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "KSession",
      "itemValue": "",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    }
  ],
  "release-id": {
    "group-id": "itorders",
    "artifact-id": "itorders",
    "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
  },
  "scanner": {
    "poll-interval": "5000",
    "status": "STARTED"
  }
}

    For curl utility:

    • -u: Enter the user name and password of the KIE Server user with the kie-server role.

    • -H: Set the following headers:

      • Accept: application/json

      • Content-Type: application/json

        Note

        When you add fields=not_null to Content-Type, the null fields are excluded from the REST API response.

    • -X: Set to PUT.
    • URL: Enter the KIE Server REST API base URL and endpoint, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer.
    • -d: Add a JSON request body or file (@file.json) with the configuration items for the new KIE container: 
    curl -u 'baAdmin:password@1' -H "Accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X PUT "http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer" -d "{ \"config-items\": [ { \"itemName\": \"RuntimeStrategy\", \"itemValue\": \"SINGLETON\", \"itemType\": \"java.lang.String\" }, { \"itemName\": \"MergeMode\", \"itemValue\": \"MERGE_COLLECTIONS\", \"itemType\": \"java.lang.String\" }, { \"itemName\": \"KBase\", \"itemValue\": \"\", \"itemType\": \"java.lang.String\" }, { \"itemName\": \"KSession\", \"itemValue\": \"\", \"itemType\": \"java.lang.String\" } ], \"release-id\": { \"group-id\": \"itorders\", \"artifact-id\": \"itorders\", \"version\": \"1.0.0-SNAPSHOT\" }, \"scanner\": { \"poll-interval\": \"5000\", \"status\": \"STARTED\" }}"
    curl -u 'baAdmin:password@1' -H "Accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X PUT "http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/containers/MyContainer" -d @my-container-configs.json

  6. Execute the request and review the KIE Server response.

    Example server response (JSON): 

    {
  "type": "SUCCESS",
  "msg": "Container MyContainer successfully deployed with module itorders:itorders:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT.",
  "result": {
    "kie-container": {
      "container-id": "MyContainer",
      "release-id": {
        "group-id": "itorders",
        "artifact-id": "itorders",
        "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
      },
      "resolved-release-id": {
        "group-id": "itorders",
        "artifact-id": "itorders",
        "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
      },
      "status": "STARTED",
      "scanner": {
        "status": "STARTED",
        "poll-interval": 5000
      },
      "config-items": [],
      "messages": [
        {
          "severity": "INFO",
          "timestamp": {
            "java.util.Date": 1540584717937
          },
          "content": [
            "Container MyContainer successfully created with module itorders:itorders:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT."
          ]
        }
      ],
      "container-alias": null
    }
  }
}

    If you encounter request errors, review the returned error code messages and adjust your request accordingly.

    REST API requests for process instances

    For REST API requests that send complex data objects to the process instance endpoint /server/containers/{containerId}/processes/{processId}/instances, ensure that you include either the fully qualified class name (such as com.myspace.Person) or the simple class name (such as Person) in the request body. The class name is required for the request body to be mapped to the correct business object in Red Hat Process Automation Manager. If you exclude the class name from the request, KIE Server does not unmarshall the object to the expected type.

    Correct request body for process instance

    {
  "id": 4,
  "lease": {
    "com.myspace.restcall.LeaseModel": {
      "annualRent": 109608,
      "isAutoApproved": false
    }
  }
}

    Incorrect request body for process instance

    {
  "id": 4,
  "lease": {
    "annualRent": 109608,
    "isAutoApproved": false
  }
}

1.2. Sending requests with the KIE Server REST API using the Swagger interface

The KIE Server REST API supports a Swagger web interface that you can use instead of a standalone REST client or curl utility to interact with your KIE containers and business assets (such as business rules, processes, and solvers) in Red Hat Process Automation Manager without using the Business Central user interface.

Note

By default, the Swagger web interface for KIE Server is enabled by the org.kie.swagger.server.ext.disabled=false system property. To disable the Swagger web interface in KIE Server, set this system property to true.

Prerequisites

  • KIE Server is installed and running.
  • You have kie-server user role access to KIE Server.

Procedure

  1. In a web browser, navigate to http://SERVER:PORT/kie-server/docs, such as http://localhost:8080/kie-server/docs, and log in with the user name and password of the KIE Server user with the kie-server role.
  2. In the Swagger page, select the relevant API endpoint to which you want to send a request, such as KIE Server and KIE containers → [GET] /server/containers to retrieve KIE containers from KIE Server.
  3. Click Try it out and provide any optional parameters by which you want to filter results, if needed.
  4. In the Response content type drop-down menu, select the desired format of the server response, such as application/json for JSON format.

  5. Click Execute and review the KIE Server response.

    Example server response (JSON): 

    {
  "type": "SUCCESS",
  "msg": "List of created containers",
  "result": {
    "kie-containers": {
      "kie-container": [
        {
          "container-id": "itorders_1.0.0-SNAPSHOT",
          "release-id": {
            "group-id": "itorders",
            "artifact-id": "itorders",
            "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
          },
          "resolved-release-id": {
            "group-id": "itorders",
            "artifact-id": "itorders",
            "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
          },
          "status": "STARTED",
          "scanner": {
            "status": "DISPOSED",
            "poll-interval": null
          },
          "config-items": [],
          "container-alias": "itorders"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
  6. For this example, copy or note the project group-id, artifact-id, and version (GAV) data from one of the deployed KIE containers returned in the response.
  7. In the Swagger page, navigate to the KIE Server and KIE containers → [PUT] /server/containers/{containerId} endpoint to send another request to deploy a new KIE container with the copied project GAV data. Adjust any request details according to your use case.

  8. Click Try it out and enter the following components for the request:

    • containerId: Enter the ID of the new KIE container, such as MyContainer.
    • body: Set the Parameter content type to the desired request body format, such as application/json for JSON format, and add a request body with the configuration items for the new KIE container: 
    {
  "config-items": [
    {
      "itemName": "RuntimeStrategy",
      "itemValue": "SINGLETON",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "MergeMode",
      "itemValue": "MERGE_COLLECTIONS",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "KBase",
      "itemValue": "",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    },
    {
      "itemName": "KSession",
      "itemValue": "",
      "itemType": "java.lang.String"
    }
  ],
  "release-id": {
    "group-id": "itorders",
    "artifact-id": "itorders",
    "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
  },
  "scanner": {
    "poll-interval": "5000",
    "status": "STARTED"
  }
}
  9. In the Response content type drop-down menu, select the desired format of the server response, such as application/json for JSON format.

  10. Click Execute and review the KIE Server response.

    Example server response (JSON): 

    {
  "type": "SUCCESS",
  "msg": "Container MyContainer successfully deployed with module itorders:itorders:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT.",
  "result": {
    "kie-container": {
      "container-id": "MyContainer",
      "release-id": {
        "group-id": "itorders",
        "artifact-id": "itorders",
        "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
      },
      "resolved-release-id": {
        "group-id": "itorders",
        "artifact-id": "itorders",
        "version": "1.0.0-SNAPSHOT"
      },
      "status": "STARTED",
      "scanner": {
        "status": "STARTED",
        "poll-interval": 5000
      },
      "config-items": [],
      "messages": [
        {
          "severity": "INFO",
          "timestamp": {
            "java.util.Date": 1540584717937
          },
          "content": [
            "Container MyContainer successfully created with module itorders:itorders:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT."
          ]
        }
      ],
      "container-alias": null
    }
  }
}

    If you encounter request errors, review the returned error code messages and adjust your request accordingly.

    REST API requests for process instances

    For REST API requests that send complex data objects to the process instance endpoint /server/containers/{containerId}/processes/{processId}/instances, ensure that you include either the fully qualified class name (such as com.myspace.Person) or the simple class name (such as Person) in the request body. The class name is required for the request body to be mapped to the correct business object in Red Hat Process Automation Manager. If you exclude the class name from the request, KIE Server does not unmarshall the object to the expected type.

    Correct request body for process instance

    {
  "id": 4,
  "lease": {
    "com.myspace.restcall.LeaseModel": {
      "annualRent": 109608,
      "isAutoApproved": false
    }
  }
}

    Incorrect request body for process instance

    {
  "id": 4,
  "lease": {
    "annualRent": 109608,
    "isAutoApproved": false
  }
}

1.3. Supported KIE Server REST API endpoints

The KIE Server REST API provides endpoints for the following types of resources in Red Hat Process Automation Manager:

  • KIE Server and KIE containers
  • KIE session assets (for runtime commands)
  • DMN assets
  • Planning solvers
  • Processes
  • Process images
  • Process and task forms
  • Tasks
  • Cases
  • Documents
  • Jobs
  • Queries for processes, tasks, and cases
  • Custom queries

The KIE Server REST API base URL is http://SERVER:PORT/kie-server/services/rest/. All requests require HTTP Basic authentication or token-based authentication for the kie-server user role.

For the full list of KIE Server REST API endpoints and descriptions, use one of the following resources:

  • Execution Server REST API on the jBPM Documentation page (static)

  • Swagger UI for the KIE Server REST API at http://SERVER:PORT/kie-server/docs (dynamic, requires running KIE Server)

    Note

    By default, the Swagger web interface for KIE Server is enabled by the org.kie.swagger.server.ext.disabled=false system property. To disable the Swagger web interface in KIE Server, set this system property to true.

Endpoint requirements

Note the following requirements for some of the KIE Server REST API endpoints:

  • Process images: For API access to process images, the system property <storesvgonsave enabled="true"/> must be configured for your Red Hat Process Automation Manager project in $SERVER_HOME/standalone/deployments/business-central.war/org.kie.workbench.KIEWebapp/profiles/jbpm.xml. This property is set to true by default. If the API is not working with process images, set it to true in the file, restart your KIE Server, modify the relevant process and save it, and then build and deploy your project. This property enables SVG images to be stored so that they can be retrieved by the KIE Server REST API.

  • Custom queries: Some custom query requests with the KIE Server REST API require a query mapper definition to map the query results to concrete objects. You can implement your own query result mappers or use the mappers provided with Red Hat Process Automation Manager. The query mappers in Red Hat Process Automation Manager are similar to other object-relational mapping (ORM) providers, such as Hibernate, which maps tables to entities. For example, you can use the org.jbpm.kie.services.impl.query.mapper.ProcessInstanceQueryMapper, also registered as ProcessInstances, in custom query endpoints for returning process instance data.

    Example POST endpoint with ProcessInstances mapper parameter: 

    http://localhost:8080/kie-server/services/rest/server/queries/definitions/jbpmProcessInstances?mapper=ProcessInstances

    For a list of available query mappers in Red Hat Process Automation Manager, download and extract the Red Hat Process Automation Manager 7.8 Source Distribution from the Red Hat Customer Portal and navigate to ~/jbpm-$VERSION/jbpm-services/jbpm-kie-services/src/main/java/org/jbpm/kie/services/impl/query/mapper.