Web Services Navigator: Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Visualizing the Execution of Web

ServicesServicesGerett Commeford & Dariusz GrabkaGerett Commeford & Dariusz Grabka

M.Sc. Candidates, University of GuelphM.Sc. Candidates, University of Guelph

Tuesday March 6Tuesday March 6thth, 2007, 2007

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OutlineOutline

• Part 1: PresentationPart 1: Presentation– PurposePurpose– What is Web Service Navigator?What is Web Service Navigator?

• Data CollectorData Collector• Main ComponentsMain Components• ArchitectureArchitecture

– The Interactive ViewersThe Interactive Viewers– Practical Implications of the TechnologyPractical Implications of the Technology– ConclusionsConclusions

• Part 2: DiscussionPart 2: Discussion

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PurposePurpose

• To allow developers and managers to To allow developers and managers to understand, debug, and optimize web understand, debug, and optimize web servicesservices

• Componentized vs. Service-BasedComponentized vs. Service-Based– Vertical vs. HorizontalVertical vs. Horizontal

• How can we deal with this horizontal How can we deal with this horizontal complexity?complexity?

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Web Services NavigatorWeb Services Navigator

• Relies on Data Collector for IBM Web Services to capture events– Correlates events– Models transactions – Extracts patterns

• Produces visual abstractions– More meaningful to humans

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Data CollectorData Collector

• The heart of Web Services Navigator The heart of Web Services Navigator – Logs the content and context of SOAP Logs the content and context of SOAP

messages sent and received by applicationsmessages sent and received by applications– All logs can then be imported into Web All logs can then be imported into Web

Services NavigatorServices Navigator

• Web services transaction flows are Web services transaction flows are reconstructedreconstructed– Recurring patterns are identifiedRecurring patterns are identified– Explored using 5 interactive viewsExplored using 5 interactive views

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Web Services NavigatorWeb Services Navigator

• Three main componentsThree main components– The log parserThe log parser– The event analyzerThe event analyzer– The interactive viewersThe interactive viewers

• Service topology viewService topology view• Transaction flows viewTransaction flows view• Flow patterns viewFlow patterns view• Statistics table view Statistics table view • Message content viewMessage content view

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ArchitectureArchitecture

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Service Topology ViewService Topology View

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Transaction Flows ViewTransaction Flows View

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Flow Patterns ViewFlow Patterns View

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Statistics Table ViewStatistics Table View

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Message Content ViewMessage Content View

Source: De Pauw et al. Web Services Navigator: Visualizing the Execution of Web Services

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Practical ImplicationsPractical Implications

• Visualizing problems in business logicVisualizing problems in business logic– Verifying workflow choreographyVerifying workflow choreography– Detecting incorrect implementation of Detecting incorrect implementation of

business rulesbusiness rules– Detecting excessively chatty Detecting excessively chatty

communicationscommunications– Verifying application cost structureVerifying application cost structure

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Practical ImplicationsPractical Implications

• Visualizing problems in IT layersVisualizing problems in IT layers– Semantic errorsSemantic errors– Transaction bottlenecksTransaction bottlenecks– Unavailable resourcesUnavailable resources– Syntax errorsSyntax errors

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ConclusionsConclusions

• Bridge conceptual gaps between Bridge conceptual gaps between business and IT specialistsbusiness and IT specialists

• Five linked views cut through horizontal Five linked views cut through horizontal complexitycomplexity

• Visualizing without modifyingVisualizing without modifying• Improved communication between user Improved communication between user

groupsgroups

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Part 2: DiscussionPart 2: Discussion

• The PaperThe Paper• The ApplicationThe Application• Visualization TechniquesVisualization Techniques• Statistical InformationStatistical Information• Product TestingProduct Testing

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Discussion: The PaperDiscussion: The Paper

• Exploratory research based on single Exploratory research based on single tooltool– Loose focus of many elements of workLoose focus of many elements of work– Development, rather than researchDevelopment, rather than research

• Structure of paperStructure of paper– No clearly defined hypothesisNo clearly defined hypothesis– Background information too late in paperBackground information too late in paper

• More information on competing productsMore information on competing products• Too light identifying flawsToo light identifying flaws

– Diagrams do not focus on a single exampleDiagrams do not focus on a single example

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Discussion: The ApplicationDiscussion: The Application

• The application itselfThe application itself– Plug-in for EclipsePlug-in for Eclipse

• A tool for developers A tool for developers

– Run time integration not detailedRun time integration not detailed– Support for other development platforms?Support for other development platforms?– Clock skew methods are well-worked Clock skew methods are well-worked – Light on the pattern extraction detailsLight on the pattern extraction details

• Assumptions about execution patterns of WSAssumptions about execution patterns of WS

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Discussion: VisualizationsDiscussion: Visualizations

• Visualization techniquesVisualization techniques– Five views seem very complete Five views seem very complete – Transaction Flows view impracticalTransaction Flows view impractical

• Further development requiredFurther development required

• Isolating “exceptions” to patternsIsolating “exceptions” to patterns

• Execution view that visualizes time Execution view that visualizes time informationinformation– Time key to identifying performance issuesTime key to identifying performance issues

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Discussion: Information Discussion: Information

• Statistical informationStatistical information– Visualizing other information: averages, Visualizing other information: averages,

standard deviations, etc.standard deviations, etc.– Function usage, parameter usageFunction usage, parameter usage

• Filtering transactions out of viewsFiltering transactions out of views

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Discussion: TestingDiscussion: Testing

• Testing techniquesTesting techniques– Usability analysis?Usability analysis?– Expert vs. Non-expert UsageExpert vs. Non-expert Usage– Usability of edge-based viewUsability of edge-based view

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ReferencesReferences

De Pauw, W., Lei, M., Pring, E., Villard, L., Arnold, M., and Morar, J. De Pauw, W., Lei, M., Pring, E., Villard, L., Arnold, M., and Morar, J. F. 2005. Web services navigator: visualizing the execution of F. 2005. Web services navigator: visualizing the execution of web services. IBM Syst. J. 44, 4 (Oct. 2005), 821-845.web services. IBM Syst. J. 44, 4 (Oct. 2005), 821-845.

De Pauw, W., Krasikov, S., and Morar, J. F. 2006. Execution De Pauw, W., Krasikov, S., and Morar, J. F. 2006. Execution patterns for visualizing web services. In Proceedings of the 2006 patterns for visualizing web services. In Proceedings of the 2006 ACM Symposium on Software Visualization (Brighton, United ACM Symposium on Software Visualization (Brighton, United Kingdom, September 04 - 05, 2006). SoftVis '06. ACM Press, Kingdom, September 04 - 05, 2006). SoftVis '06. ACM Press, New York, NY, 37-45. DOI= New York, NY, 37-45. DOI= http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1148493.1148499http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1148493.1148499