In the BDI framework, events must be efficiently and securely distributed to the relevant parties. This distribution process involves using middleware that supports a publish/subscribe model, which is commonly used within corporate IT environments. However, the challenge lies in creating a lightweight, open solution suitable for exchanging notifications across different entities. Events need to be distributed to parties that need to receive them.

Existing middleware

The considerations for integrating existing middleware into the BDI framework include:

• Suitability: The middleware must seamlessly integrate with the authentication and authorization components of the BDI framework to ensure secure data exchanges.
• Cross-Firewall Operation: It must operate effectively across corporate firewalls without requiring new ports to be opened, as this is often a significant barrier to adoption. The middleware should function through existing standard ports and behave predictably within these constraints.

The report (link) of a test shows that:

• Suitability for BDI: Apache Pulsar was found to be a viable solution for setting up publish/subscribe event distribution within the BDI framework. It integrates well with the necessary authentication and authorization components.
• Firewall Compatibility: The middleware successfully operated through standard open ports in corporate firewalls, significantly reducing deployment barriers.
• WebSocket Extension: During testing, the Apache Pulsar WebSocket extension was found to be insufficiently developed to handle tokens securely. This issue led to a change request, resulting in an improvement where WebSocket connections are now closed when a token expires. This modification has been integrated into the official Apache Pulsar project.
• Archiving Capabilities: Apache Pulsar also includes a component for archiving “pulses”—triggers containing event metadata—which is valuable for maintaining traceability and conducting audits.

Further development

While the initial tests with Apache Pulsar show that it is a strong candidate for the BDI framework, further development is required. Specifically, enhancements are needed to fully integrate this middleware, particularly in areas such as security and scalability, to ensure it meets the rigorous demands of global event-driven communication.