This section describes the format of the block definition file (.bdf). This is a readable XML text document. Block definition files are generated automatically by Apama Studio. When these files are generated, Apama Studio creates all the XML code for specifying the block’s metadata and defining its interface. The task of the developer is to add the code that implements the block’s behavior.

Beginning with Apama 4.0 all editing of .bdf files should be done in the Apama Studio block editor.