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Version: 1.1

Basic Nodes

Nodes work with a data stream. They can produce, fetch, send, collect data or organize data flow. Each node has at least two parameters: Name and Description. Name has to be unique in a scenario. Description is a narrative of your choice.

Most of the nodes, with source and sink nodes being notable exceptions, have input and at least one output flow.

Sinks and filters can be disabled by selecting Disable checkbox.

Variable component​

A Variable component is used to declare a new variable; in the simplest form a variable declaration looks like in the example below. As the event was read from the Kafka topic, the #input variable stores its content and its value is assigned to a newly declared myFirstVariable variable.

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As you can see in the variable configuration form below, Nussknacker inferred the data type of the #input variable from the information already available to Nussknacker.

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In the next example #input variable is used to create an expression returning a boolean value. If the input Kafka topic contains json objects and they contain operation field, the value of this field can be obtained in the following way:

#input.operation

Note that internally Nussknacker converts JSON’s object into SpEL’s map.

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mapVariable​

The specialized mapVariable component can be used to declare a map variable (object in JSON)

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The same can be achieved using a plain Variable component, just make sure to write a valid SpEL expression.

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Filter​

Filter passes records which satisfies filtering condition. It can have one or two outputs. filter graph

Records from the source which meet filter's condition go to the true sink, and others go to the false sink.

filter graph single

Records from the source which meets condition go to the blue sink, and others are filtered out.

filter window The Expression field should contain the SpEL expression for the filtering conditiona and should produce a boolean value

Split​

Split node logically splits processing into two or more parallel branches. Each branch receives all records and processes them independently.

split graph

Every record from the source gos to sink 1 and sink 2. Split node doesn't have additional parameters.

Switch​

Switch distributes incoming records among output branches in accordance with the filtering criteria configured in those branches.

switch graph

Each record form the source is tested against condition defined on the edge. If #color is blue record goes to the blue sink. If #color is green record goes to the green sink. For every other value record goes to the sink for others.

switch window

The Switch node takes two parameters: Expression and exprVal. Expression contains expression which is evaluated for each record; result is assigned to the variable configured in exprVal entry field - #color in the example above.

switch_edge_condition

Eeach edge outgoing from Switch node has a boolean expression attached to it; if the expression evaluates to true the record is allowed to pass through this edge. Record go to the first output with matching condition. Order of matching outgoing edges is not guaranteed.

switch_edge_default

There can be at most one edge of type Default, and it gets all records that don't match any Condition edge.

Union​

union_window

Union merges multiple branches into one stream. For each incoming branch two parameters are configured:

  • key - it's value should be of type String, definex how elements from branches will be matched together
  • value - this is the output value which will be put the field with name the same as branch id

Union node defines new stream which is union of all branches. In this new stream there is only one variable; it's name is defined by 'Output' parameter; it's value is: 

{
  "key": `value of key expression for given event`,
  "branch1": `value expression when event comes from branch1, otherwise null`,
  "branch2": `value expression when event comes from branch2, otherwise null`,
  ...
}

Currently branches are identified by id of last node in this branch before union.

UnionMemo​

Works exactly like Union, but also memoize values for each branches. Memoized state will be cleared when there was no subsequent events from any branch during stateTimeout. Produced object has values from all branches.

PreviousValue​

previous_value_window

previousValue stores arbitrary value for the given key. This element has two parameters:

  • groupBy - expression defining key for which we compute aggregate, e.g. #input.userId
  • value - stored value

For example, given stream of events which contain users with their current location, when we set

  • groupBy is #input.userId
  • value is #input.location

then the value of output variable is the previous location for current user. If this is the first appearance of this user, current location will be returned.

Delay​

Holds event in the node until event time + delay >= max (event time ever seen by the delay node).

The key parameter will be removed in the future release of Nussknacker, for the time being configure it to #inputMeta.key.