Runtime versus Compiled Business Services

Business services may be defined in Siebel Tools and compiled with the .srf file, or created as runtime business services in the client user interface. The decision on whether to make a business service compiled or runtime has no hard and fast rules. It ultimately depends on what you intend the service to do and how frequently you expect the code in the business service to change.

Runtime business services are not compiled into the .srf file. The database stores them as records and you can change them at any time. The next time a runtime service executes, it uses the changes to the definition. This makes them useful for logic that changes frequently and logic that you need to change without deploying a new .srf file. The drawback to a runtime business service is that anyone with access to the view can see the code. This can pose a security problem.

Runtime business services can be useful in a development environment to test frequent changes to scripts by using the business service simulator. Since no compiling is required, code development may be faster in the runtime environment. Once the code is complete and tested through the simulator, the developer can choose whether the business service should remain as a runtime service or if it should be migrated to Siebel Tools.

Compiled business services are defined in Siebel Tools and represent a functionality that needs more security and is not likely to change. You must compile and implement a new .srf file to implement any changes. Because these business services are compiled, they provide more security than runtime services and they are faster to load.

Note: If you define a business service calledMyService as a runtime business serviceand as a compiled business service, the compiled version executes and the runtime version is ignored. For clarity, if you migrate a business service from a runtime version to a compiled version, you should inactivate or delete the runtime version so that it is clear to all developers that the runtime

version is no longer being used.