Running Asynchronous Tasks can be useful in the right situations, and sometimes the environment you’re working in requires it. Understanding how Processes and Timers are used in OutSystems can be extremely useful, particularly for long-running tasks. Come and get a first-hand look at creating and running Asynchronous Tasks and they could improve your apps’ performance.

1. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Using Processes and
Timers for Long Running
Asynchronous Tasks

2. | Becoming a Forge Component Author| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Craig
St. Jean
Engagement Manager | Netlink
@
in
cstjean@netlink.com
/craig-st-jean

3. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Problem Description

4. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Patterns

5. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Many Smaller
Transactions
Case:
Merging records in Salesforce
while updating many
individual child records

6. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Options:
● Staging Tables
● Live Queries

7. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Staging Tables
Prior to running your
timer, query for all
transactions that need to
be processed and store ids
in a staging table

8. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Live Queries
Each run of your timer, query for a
new set of transactions that need
to be processed

9. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
One Long
Asynchronous
Transaction
Case:
Placing an order to an external
system that does not accept
the order until a person
verifies stock

10. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Options:
● Status Polling
● Callbacks

11. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Status Polling
Every now and then, ask the
backend if the transaction has
completed

12. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Callbacks
If your asynchronous service
supports callbacks, expose a REST
or SOAP endpoint for it to hit
when the work is complete

13. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
One Long
Synchronous
Transaction
Case:
An automated phone system
that calls the user and
requests inputs

14. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Options:
● Adjusting Timeout Values
● Wrap the Call in a Separate
Asynchronous Service
● Don’t

15. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Adjusting Timeout Values
Every timer has a “Timeout in
Minutes” property

16. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Wrap the Call in a Separate
Asynchronous Service
Expose a service in
a service worker
built for batch
processes.
Add the ability to
check when the
service has
completed its work.

17. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Updating User Status

18. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Why is it important?
Options:
● Polling
● Notification Entity
● E-mail

19. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Polling
Occasionally query the
Process_System table for your
process’s Status_Id

20. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Notification Entity
At the end of the process, write a
record to a Notification entity and
give the user a way to read them

21. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
E-mail
Send at the end of your
process

22. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Demo

23. | Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks| Using Processes and Timers for Long Running Asynchronous Tasks
Questions?

24. | Becoming a Forge Component Author
Thank You!
@ incstjean@netlink.com /craig-st-jean