Automating User Actions on Tomcat/Java Applications in Azure: The Ultimate Solution

Discover how to automate user actions in your Tomcat/Java application hosted on Azure PaaS using a strategic approach with Spring Boot and Quartz.
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Automating User Actions on Tomcat/Java Applications in Azure

In today's fast-paced software environment, the ability to automate processes is paramount for optimizing efficiency. A common issue developers face is how to automate user-driven actions in applications without burdening the frontend or utilizing cumbersome methodologies. This post addresses the question: How to automate user actions on a Tomcat/Java application from the backend, on Azure?

The Challenge: Report Generation Automation

You have a robust application running on Azure PaaS with key technologies including:

Tomcat

Java

JSP

Azure SQL Database

In your application, users log in through a web browser to generate reports that involve:

Extracting data from a database.

Processing that data.

Creating an Excel file using Apache POI.

You want to schedule this process to run automatically on a daily basis from the backend. Several potential solutions were explored, each with their own drawbacks.

Potential Solutions Explored

Azure Logic Apps: While a powerful integration tool, it restricts access to your Java code necessary for report generation.

Azure Functions: Copying report-generating code into an Azure Function might seem effective, but it leads to messy code duplication.

Automated Testing Tools (e.g., Selenium): Although these may perform the task, they are unreliable and require an additional machine, which is not ideal.

Creating a Servlet: This method involves crafting a dedicated servlet to execute reports without user login, securing it from public access - a feasible solution, yet still suboptimal.

The Optimal Solution: Use Spring Boot & Quartz

Instead of the options mentioned, a more elegant solution entails utilizing Spring Boot in conjunction with the Quartz scheduling library. This modern approach not only simplifies the automation process but integrates seamlessly into your existing backend structure.

Advantages of Spring Boot

Ease of Use: Spring Boot allows for streamlined setup and development, making it easier to implement complex functionalities.

Integration with Quartz: Quartz scheduler can be easily integrated to handle the scheduling of tasks.

Implementing Automation with Quartz

Here’s a breakdown of how you can implement this solution:

Setup Spring Boot:

Create a Spring Boot application that contains your report generation logic.

Include dependencies for Quartz in your pom.xml file.

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Create Scheduled Tasks:

Define a method in your service class that handles report generation tasks.

Use Quartz to schedule this method to run at specified intervals (e.g., daily at 8 AM).

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Task Execution:

This scheduled task can execute all necessary actions to extract data, process it, and store the generated Excel file.

You can further enhance this by adding FTP or email functionalities to distribute the reports automatically.

Final Thoughts

Avoid using Selenium or similar tools for this backend automation as they are not suited for the requirements described. Instead, leveraging Spring Boot with Quartz provides a clean, efficient approach to automating user actions in your Tomcat/Java application on Azure. Simplifying the backend process not only saves time but reduces redundancy and potential errors.

Embrace this powerful duo (Spring Boot and Quartz) to take your application’s functionality to the next level while ensuring that your users can still enjoy a seamless experience.

Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, or further questions in the comments below!

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