Create a Process

An Easy BPM process is created visually in the Modeler and deployed as BPMN 2.0 XML. For automation or CI/CD, you can also send BPMN XML directly to POST /processes.

Basic process shape

Every process definition needs:

Field	Description
BPMN process id	Stable identifier used to start the latest version.
BPMN process name	Display name shown to users and operators.
Executable flow nodes	Start events, tasks, gateways, message events, timers, and end events.
Sequence flows	Connections between nodes.

Minimal approval process

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL">
  <bpmn:process id="expense-approval" name="Expense Approval" isExecutable="true">
    <bpmn:startEvent id="start" />
    <bpmn:userTask id="manager-review" name="Manager Review" />
    <bpmn:endEvent id="end" />
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="flow_start_review" sourceRef="start" targetRef="manager-review" />
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="flow_review_end" sourceRef="manager-review" targetRef="end" />
  </bpmn:process>
</bpmn:definitions>

Deploy and start

curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/processes \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/xml" \
  --data-binary @expense-approval.bpmn

Start the latest deployed version by process key:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/processes/expense-approval/start \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"

Supported node types

Type	Use for
StartEvent	Entry point for a process.
EndEvent	Completion point.
HumanTask	User work shown in the Task Portal.
APITask	HTTP/API work published to the async worker.
ServiceTask	Service work.
ScriptTask	Inline script-style variable work.
CodeTask	JVM method execution from an uploaded JAR.
AiTask	AI provider execution using stored credentials or environment references.
ExclusiveGateway	Choose one path based on conditions.
ParallelGateway	Fork or synchronize parallel paths.
TimerEvent	Wait for a configured duration.
MessageEvent	Message start or message-style wait using properties.
MessageIntermediateCatchEvent	Wait for an external message correlation.
MessageIntermediateThrowEvent	Publish or emit a message payload.
ErrorBoundaryEvent	Catch failures from an attached task or call activity.
CallActivity	Start another deployed process as a subprocess.

Best practices

Use stable IDs such as manager-review, not generated labels, because IDs are referenced by flows, admin token movement, audits, and integrations.

Keep process variables small and business-oriented. Store files through document endpoints and keep only document IDs or metadata in variables.

Use the Modeler for day-to-day process creation. Use direct BPMN XML deployment for CI/CD, generated process definitions, or controlled migration workflows.