Basic BPMN Nodes in Aletyx Enterprise Build of Kogito and Drools 10.0.0¶
BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is a standard for modeling business processes as defined by the Object Management Group (OMG) in the BPMN 2.0 specification. It provides a graphical notation that represents process flows visually, allowing business analysts and technical users to collaborate on process design. BPMN uses graphical elements—nodes and connectors—to depict how tasks, events, and decision points are orchestrated.
However, it's important to note that BPMN is mostly a visual specification that defines expected behavior; it does not define runtime execution semantics. This means that each BPMN engine may interpret and execute BPMN diagrams differently, requiring vendor-specific extensions to fully support execution. Because of this, workflow engines such as jBPM from Apache KIE extend the BPMN model to enable real-time execution of workflows, bridging the gap between design and execution.
BPMN Basics for jBPM¶
When working with BPMN in jBPM, there are two key concepts to understand.
Flow Objects: The fundamental building blocks of a process, including:
- Events: Represent occurrences that trigger or impact the process (e.g., start, intermediate, and end events).
- Activities: Define tasks or subprocesses that need to be performed.
- Gateways: Control the decision logic and flow branching.
Sequence Flow: The arrows that define the order of execution between flow objects.
Understanding these elements allows users to design processes that can be interpreted by BPMN-compatible engines like jBPM, while also recognizing that vendor-specific behaviors and extensions are required to achieve full execution support.
