An open and contemporary BPMN engine designed for automating enterprise processes
Modern organizations require tools that allow efficient modeling, automation, and monitoring of business processes—whether operating in local or cloud environments. To meet these needs, Operaton was created: a lightweight, transparent, and modern BPMN engine derived from the Camunda 7 (and Activiti) codebase, designed as a free, improved, and fully open alternative to traditional BPM platforms.
What is Operaton?
Operaton is a BPMN engine for automating business processes, designed with a strong focus on transparency, security, and performance. The project regularly updates its dependencies, removes outdated components, simplifies the architecture, and provides fast web interfaces for viewing and managing processes. It is available as an open-source solution.
The engine is designed to remain compatible with Camunda 7, enabling easy migration of existing projects without modifying process logic or API. Operaton runs both locally and in the cloud, supporting modern environments built on Docker, containers, and microservices.
Operaton is built on the following technologies:
- BPMN 2.0 – modeling and executing business processes
- REST API – integration with applications and microservices
- Task and event engine – handling user tasks, timers, gateways, and subprocesses
- Modern UI – updated, simplified tools for monitoring and administration
Key Features
- BPMN 2.0 modeling and execution
Operaton allows the creation and execution of processes using the full range of BPMN 2.0 elements—sequences, gateways, events, user tasks, integrations, and subprocesses.
- Compatibility with Camunda 7
The engine supports easy migration of existing processes, maintaining the same API and process model structure, enabling a seamless transition to an open-source solution without licensing costs.
- Modern web interfaces
The project delivers refreshed, user-friendly UIs for managing process instances, reviewing execution history, and monitoring runtime activity.
- Security and up-to-date architecture
Operaton removes outdated libraries, introduces updated dependencies, and ensures overall system stability and security.
- Cloud- and container-ready architecture
The engine can run in Kubernetes, Docker, and cloud environments, providing high deployment flexibility.
- Integration via REST API
The system integrates easily with other services using REST, events, queues, and external systems, enabling the creation of complex end-to-end workflows.
Benefits of Using Operaton
- Fully open-source – no fees, no vendor lock-in, complete transparency of the codebase.
- Lightweight and modern – outdated components removed, improved architecture.
- Camunda 7 compatibility – fast migration of existing processes without redesign.
- Easy deployment – works locally, in containers, and in cloud environments.
- New administrative interfaces – clear analysis and monitoring of processes.
- Performance and stability – optimized engine suited to modern infrastructures.
- Flexible integrations – REST, microservices, events, external systems.
- Developer-friendly – simple architecture, clean documentation, actively developed project.