Methods and apparatus for customization of rule-based applications

An improved method for customization of rule-based applications, such as business process rules and policy. A template keyword modifier is used in the source language and an object-oriented framework is used for managing the creation and maintenance of rulesets and individual rules generated through customization of templates. A method provides generation of rulesets and rules and constrained editing of rule logic through use of template variables, template rules and template rulesets. Embodiments allow separation of complex business logic from less complex domain knowledge that can be maintained by a non-programmer domain expert, such as a business manager.