When integrating with an external system, what pattern promotes system independence and extensibility?

Using an Integration Service to abstract the external system is a best practice for promoting system independence and extensibility. This approach allows for a layer of abstraction between the OutSystems application and the external system, facilitating smoother communication and interaction. By using an Integration Service, any changes made to the external system—whether it's changes in APIs, data structures, or business logic—can often be managed within this service without necessitating changes in the OutSystems application itself.

This pattern enhances system independence because it minimizes dependencies on the specific details or configurations of the external system. If the external system changes, only the Integration Service needs to be updated rather than the entire application. Furthermore, this extensibility allows for the incorporation of new external systems or services in the future with minimal disruption to the existing application architecture. This is particularly important in dynamic environments where technologies and systems evolve.

In contrast, direct integration without abstraction ties the application closely to the external system, which can lead to issues if the external system changes. Creating a single integration point for all external systems can lead to complexity and a potential bottleneck, while directly accessing the external database poses significant risks to system integrity and security. Thus, using an Integration Service is the most effective way to maintain independence and extensibility in system