Flowable is an open-source workflow engine written in Java that can execute business processes described in BPMN 2.0.[4] It is an actively maintained fork of Activiti (software).[5]

Flowable
Developer(s)Community
Stable release
7.1.0,[1] 6.8.1,[2] 5.23.0[3] / 7 October 2024
Repositorygithub.com/flowable/flowable-engine
Written inJava, JavaScript
Operating systemLinux, Windows
TypeBusiness process management, Workflow
LicenceApache License 2.0
Websitewww.flowable.org

History

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In October 2016, the lead developers of Activiti (software) left Alfresco (software) and started the Flowable Open Source project based on a fork of Activiti code.[6][7]

The first version of Flowable was 5.22, based on a fork of Activiti 5.21, but added Transient Variables.[8] The first release of Flowable version 6.0[9] was based on a fork of Activiti version 6 beta 4. Version 6 of the Flowable engine includes a rewrite of the core process virtual machine.

Components

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The project comprises a set of modules that can operate together:

Differences between Version 5 and Version 6

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The key changes in Flowable 6 are:[12][13]

  • Abstract persistence layer, enabling use of relational or non-relational data sources[14][15]
  • 1-to-1 mapping of BPMN model to executable instruction set
  • Simplified execution tree, enabling easier analysis and manipulation of in-flight processes
  • Single agenda for process execution plans
  • Queue-based job execution[16]
  • Ad hoc Sub Processes[17]
  • Dynamic process execution[18]

References

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  1. ^ Flowable 7.1.0 downloads
  2. ^ Flowable 6.8.1 downloads
  3. ^ Flowable 5 downloads
  4. ^ Joram Barrez (2016-10-17). "Announcing Flowable". Small steps with big feet. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  5. ^ Jeff Potts (2016-10-15). "Activiti founders fork the project to create Flowable, an open source BPM engine". Enterprise Architect. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  6. ^ Sandy Kemsley (2016-10-20). "Another rift in the open source BPM market: @FlowableBPM forks from @Alfresco Activiti". Enterprise Irregulars. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  7. ^ Flowable Team (2016-10-12). "Flowable and Activiti: What the Fork?!". Flowable. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  8. ^ Joram Barrez (2016-09-01). "How to use transient variables". Small steps with big feet. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  9. ^ Flowable Team (2017-02-15). "Flowable 6.0.0 release". Flowable Project. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  10. ^ Tijs Rademakers (2023-04-13). "New Flowable Modeling tool". Flowable Forum. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  11. ^ Valentin Zickner (2023-06-20). "Unveiling the new Flowable Design: A closer Look". Flowable Blog. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  12. ^ Tijs Rademakers (2016-08-31). "Activiti 6.0.0.Beta3 released". BPMN 2.0 / Flowable. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  13. ^ Joram Barrez (2015-09-08). "An Evolution of the Core Engine". Small steps with big feet. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  14. ^ Joram Barrez (2016-11-02). "Running Flowable on CockroachDB". Small steps with big feet. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  15. ^ Joram Barrez (2018-08-13). "Running Flowable on MongoDB". Flowable Blog. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  16. ^ Joram Barrez (2016-07-20). "Benchmarking the message queue based Activiti Async Executor". Small steps with big feet. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  17. ^ Tijs Rademakers (2016-02-10). "Activiti 6 adds ad-hoc sub process support". BPMN 2.0 / Flowable. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  18. ^ Paul Holmes-Higgin (2017-04-20). "BPMNext 2017: Making Business Processes Dance". BPMNext. Retrieved 2017-05-09.