Version 4.0.0 anounced!

The next major release of Imixs-Workflow 4.0.0 is already under development and will be released soon. The new version represents a significant improvement in performance and stability. One of the major improvements is the new database schema as well as the integration of the Lucene Search Technology. At the same time, we will also re-factor the service layer which will simplify the usage of Imixs-Workflow for most projects.

For software companies and larger projects, Imixs-Workflow can be a huge improvement in changeability and cost reduction for the development of enterprise business applications. The BPMN 2.0 standard and the Imixs-BPMN modeler allows to change business logic during runtime and simplifies the way to maintain complex business applications.

The new release which is now in a test stage will be released in September 2016. You can join the project on GitHub.

Does the GPL of Imixs-Workflow Affect my own Application?

Once again I was asked if the GPL of Imixs-Workflow does affect the development of a proprietary application which is distributed under a non-gpl licence? The answer splits into two different aspects:

Running a Separate Process

Since the Imixs-Workflow engine runs as a separate process which is called from a closed-source program, the FSF presents the legal opinion that the proprietary application would probably be a separate work. And this is the typical usage of the Imixs-Workflow engine. This is also valid if you develop a library or a plugin linking to the Imixs-Workflow engine used from a non-free program. The copyleft of the GPL library causes your plugin or library to be covered by the GPL, but not the main application, which is probably a separate work. As long as the workflow engine runs as a separate process there is no violation of the GPL in your main application.

Distributing Software

The second part of the answer is about the question of distributing software. In these days we all mostly develop software running on servers in the internet or the ‘cloud’. In this case it does not matter if your server uses a GPL library or software like MySQL or Imixs-Workflow. As long as you did not distribute the source code of your software you are not affected by the GPL or violating it. You are totally free to use GPL software.

Conclusion

Does the GPL of Imixs-Workflow affect your application development? The answer is “no” for the cases discussed above. Feel free to use free software, but avoid to prevent others from using free software.