Understanding VSEF Architecture: Core Structure, Evolution, and Component Selection

This article introduces the VSEF (Simple Architecture) framework, explaining its basic composition – an entry layer, a kernel layer, and dependencies – and how different evolutionary themes can lead to distinct system styles.

The basic structure is broken down into:

Entry : includes services (RPC), messages (meta/notify), and schedulers. It provides a clear entry point for understanding provided services, received messages, and tasks.

Kernel : consists of simple logic (business scripts + ability execution) and complex processes (orchestration, node linking, ability execution). Simple logic = business script + capability; complex process = workflow + node + ability.

Dependencies are categorized as repository (storage), middleware (caches, messaging, config), gateway (external system calls), and extension (business‑specific plugins). The article discusses when to abstract these dependencies versus direct usage based on stability.

Evolutionary discussion emphasizes that system structure should adapt to business needs. It covers component selection, avoiding “component bloat,” and highlights design patterns such as Template Method, Strategy, Chain of Responsibility, Observer, and Mediator that guide extensibility.

Modeling considerations include logical vs physical models, shared kernel, customer/supplier relationships, conformist, anti‑corruption layer, and separate bounded contexts. Strategies for handling external objects (follow, copy, abstract) are also presented.

Component selection is divided into market components (e.g., protocol components like Ultronage, workflow components like Tbbpm, extension components like Lattice, configuration components like Newton) and self‑built VSEF components (metadata, logging, preheat, adapter, extension). The article provides examples and diagrams for each.

In conclusion, VSEF offers a flexible, evolvable architecture that balances core stability with extensibility, allowing teams to tailor system structures to their specific business domains.