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
7.0.0,[1] 6.8.1,[2] 5.23.0[3] / 21 September 2023
Repositorygithub.com/flowable/flowable-engine
Written inJava, JavaScript
Operating systemLinux, Windows
TypeBusiness process management, Workflow
LicenceApache License 2.0
Websitewww.flowable.org

History edit

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 edit

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

Differences between Version 5 and Version 6 edit

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 edit

  1. ^ Flowable 7.0.0 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.