Apache ServiceMix and Iona FUSE

ServiceMix, the underpinnings of Iona’s FUSE ESB/SOA offering, has been promoted to a top-level Apache project.

Iona FUSE, the software suite that was part of the LogicBlaze acquisition Iona made this year, is a complete open-source messaging and service-oriented stack of software with the backing of a commercial corporation behind it. The suite is based on multiple Apache projects:

• Apache ActiveMQ: an open-source Java Message Systems (JMS) provider
• Apache ServiceMix: an open-source enterprise service bus (ESB)
• Apache Camel: a rule-based routing and mediation engine
• Apache CXS: a services framework to build standard-based (XML/HTTP, SOAP, JAX-WS, REST, CORBA) services.

The updates to FUSE announced on September 25th include enhancements across the entire suite, including FUSE ESB, FUSE Message Broker, FUSE Services Framework and FUSE Mediation Router. The releases include significant performance and feature improvements and tighter integration between the FUSE ESB and all components of the product family.

Processes implemented on FUSE ESB can now also be managed by lightweight POJOs integrated with FUSE Mediation Router. Configuration is handled with standard developer tools based on familiar Enterprise Integration Patterns. FUSE Message Broker now includes a new model for message persistence, a new message store, and new features to optimize performance in mission critical deployments.

The model that Iona has chosen is similar to those used by other successful open-source software vendors: provide the software in open-source form free to the community, and provide support, services, and training to corporations who choose to build solutions on them. This is similar to how Interface21 works with Spring, MySQL works with its community and commercial databases, and how Sun is working to move its entire software base to the open-source world. There are slight differences in their approach, but in general this strategy seems to work well for all parties involved.

What’s your opinion on the commercial packaging and backing of open-source software?

Happy coding,
EJB

Posted by Eric Bruno at 10:03 AM  Permalink