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JDM (JSON Decision Model) is the file format used by GoRules to represent decision graphs. It’s a human-readable JSON structure that captures nodes, edges, and configuration in a portable format.

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Why JDM?

BenefitDescription
PortableWorks across all GoRules SDKs and tools
Version controllableStore in Git alongside your code
Human readableReview and diff changes easily
ExtensibleAdd custom metadata without breaking compatibility

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File structure

A JDM file contains three main sections: 
{
  "nodes": [...],
  "edges": [...],
  "metadata": {...}
}

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Nodes

Each node represents a processing step in the decision: 
{
  "id": "node-1",
  "type": "decisionTableNode",
  "name": "Customer Discount",
  "position": { "x": 200, "y": 100 },
  "content": {
    // Node-specific configuration
  }
}

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Edges

Edges define connections between nodes: 
{
  "id": "edge-1",
  "sourceId": "input-node",
  "targetId": "decision-table-node",
  "sourceHandle": "output",
  "targetHandle": "input"
}

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Metadata

Optional metadata about the decision: 
{
  "metadata": {
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "author": "[email protected]",
    "description": "Customer discount calculation",
    "tags": ["pricing", "discounts"]
  }
}

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Loading JDM files

Load and evaluate JDM files using any GoRules SDK:

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Validating structure

The @gorules/jdm-editor package exports a Zod schema for validating JDM files: 
import { decisionModelSchema } from '@gorules/jdm-editor/dist/schema';

const content = JSON.parse(await file.text());
const result = decisionModelSchema.safeParse(content);

if (!result.success) {
  console.error('Invalid JDM:', result.error.issues);
}

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Version control best practices

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File organization

rules
pricing
customer-discount.json
volume-discount.json
eligibility
loan-qualification.json
README.md

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Meaningful commits

git commit -m "Add enterprise tier discount (20% for orders > $10k)"

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Review diffs

JDM’s JSON format makes diffs readable: 
  "rules": [
    {
      "inputEntries": [{ "value": "\"gold\"" }],
-     "outputEntries": [{ "value": "0.15" }]
+     "outputEntries": [{ "value": "0.20" }]
    }
  ]

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Exporting from BRMS

The GoRules BRMS exports decisions in JDM format:
  1. Open the decision in BRMS
  2. Click Export in the toolbar
  3. Choose JSON Decision Model (.json)
  4. Save to your repository

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Schema reference

The complete JSON Schema for JDM files is available in the zen repository.