JBPM - Workflow

jBPM is a flexible Business Process Management (BPM) Suite. It makes the bridge between business analysts and developers. Traditional BPM engines have a focus that is limited to non-technical people only. jBPM has a dual focus: it offers process management features in a way that both business users and developers like it.

What does jBPM do?

jBPM takes process descriptions as input. A process is composed of activities that are connected with transitions. Processes represent an execution flow. The graphical diagram of a process is used as the basis for the communication between non-technical users and developers.
Each execution of a process definition is called a process instance.  jBPM manages the process instances. Some activities, like sending an email or executing a script, are automatic. Other activities involve waiting for an external ocurrence, such as a person completing a task or an application calling back with the results of a request. jBPM keeps track of the state of the process executions during those wait periods.