%0 Journal Article
%J Journal of Visual Languages and Computing (JVLC)
%D 2005
%T The JOpera Visual Composition Language
%A Pautasso, Cesare
%A Alonso, Gustavo
%N 1-2
%P 119-152
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvlc.2004.08.004
%V 16
%X Composing Web services into a coherent application can be a tedious and error prone task when using traditional textual scripting languages or emerging XML-based approaches. As an alternative, complex interactions patterns and data exchanges between different Web services can be effectively modeled using a visual language. In this paper we discuss the requirements of such an application scenario and we fully describe the JOpera Visual Composition Language. An extensive set of visual editing tools, a compiler and a debugger for the language have been implemented as part of the JOpera system with the goal of providing a true visual environment for Web service composition with usability features emphasizing rapid development and visual scalability.