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The demand for transparent, secure and flexible BPMN engines is constantly growing, especially where sensitive processes and high regulatory requirements come together. Two modern open source solutions that stand out in this environment are Operaton and CIBseven. Both rely on community-driven development and complete independence from proprietary license models. But how do the two platforms differ in detail?
1. fundamentals and origin
Operaton was created as a fork of Camunda 7 and pursues the goal of establishing a completely independent, community-driven and permanently free BPMN engine under Apache 2.0. The establishment of its own foundation is underway. The project attaches great importance to transparency, open governance and the involvement of as many external contributors as possible. Development is decentralized and key architectural decisions are discussed publicly.
CIBseven was also developed from Camunda 7 and is largely supported by a dedicated team of developers at CIB solutions (over 20 employees, as at 2025). Here too, the focus is on open source, but with a strong focus on stability and production-ready features. Companies have the option of obtaining commercial support and service level agreements directly from CIB solutions. The community is very active, particularly in German-speaking countries, and regularly provides feedback and contributions.
2. comparison of technical features
| Criterion | Operaton | CIBseven |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Apache 2.0, 100% open source, no open core models | Apache 2.0, 100% Open Source |
| Governance | Community-driven, foundation (e.V.) under construction | Community-driven, with CIB as initiator and dedicated development team |
| Technology base | Java 17, removes legacy (Spring 5, JavaEE, Wildfly) | Java 17, high compatibility with Camunda 7 |
| Web apps | New, accessible web apps (Beta 2025) https://github.com/operaton/web-apps | Proven classic Camunda 7 web apps, own interfaces if required |
| Migration | Semi-automatic migration from Camunda 7, OpenRewrite | Migration possible, tools and instructions available |
| Distribution | No managed service / SaaS, in-house operation in the cloud possible | Docker, cloud-capable, classic distribution |
| Transparency | Full disclosure of all developments | Community- and company-maintained, transparent |
3. community, transparency and further development
Operaton stands out in particular due to its clear community focus:
- All decisions are discussed openly in the forum and chat.
- The future foundation will ensure that no company can take control.
- The aim is to be able to provide all builds and distributions without hidden dependencies.
CIBseven scores with an active German-speaking community, long-term product maintenance by an experienced team and close integration with DMS and documentation solutions (e.g. CIB Flow), which is interesting for companies with a document focus.
4. cloud capability and operating models
Both platforms can basically be operated as containers (e.g. Docker) and can be used both on-premises and in the cloud. However, the differences can be seen in the details:
- Operaton is cloud-compatible in the sense that it can be operated in your own cloud environments (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, OpenShift) without any problems. However, the platform must be installed, maintained and operated entirely in-house. There are currently no dedicated managed or SaaS offerings (“Operaton Cloud”) and no specific integrations for public cloud services (such as monitoring, storage, identity). Generic integrations are possible, but are not available as turnkey adapters.
- CIBseven is already Docker- and cloud-capable and is being actively developed for corresponding environments. Particularly relevant for companies: A SaaS or managed service solution has been announced for the near future. This will significantly reduce the operating costs for users, and support and scaling can be handled professionally.
Conclusion Cloud capability:
Both platforms can technically run in cloud environments. However, CIBseven goes one step further in the direction of turnkey, managed solutions. Operaton currently relies entirely on in-house operation and full user control.
5. security, integration and sustainability
Both engines offer:
- BPMN 2.0-compliant workflow management
- Flexible integration into existing infrastructures (e.g. authentication via SAML, OAuth2, OpenID Connect, LDAP)
- Full control over deployment and security (self-hosting)
Operaton is particularly attractive for teams that value a modern technology stack and high innovation speed. The removal of legacy issues and the community-first approach create a high level of future-proofing and flexibility.
CIBseven stands for stability and proven integration, with a special focus on document-centered applications and support from an established team.
6. migration, innovation and production maturity
Migration:
Operaton offers semi-automated migration tools and OpenRewrite scripts for migrating from Camunda 7, but at the same time attaches great importance to removing legacy issues (e.g. no more dependencies on JavaEE, Wildfly, old Spring versions). This increases the speed of innovation, but also means that far-reaching changes to the project may be necessary.
CIBseven takes a more conservative approach: the platform remains as compatible as possible with existing Camunda 7 projects and extends them in a targeted manner. As a result, migrations usually run smoothly and can be implemented with the support of the vendor team.
Innovation strategy:
Operaton wants to consciously move away from the old Camunda stack, is an early adopter of new technologies and attaches great importance to accessibility (new web apps, modern APIs, continuous technical modernization).
CIBseven focuses on stability, functionality (“Camunda 7 Plus”) and close integration into existing company processes, for example through additional features or integration into document management solutions.
Ready for production:
Both systems are open source and can be used in production environments. Those who value guaranteed stability, fast bugfix support and an established developer organization are currently better off with CIBseven. Operaton is particularly interesting for teams that prefer to operate their own systems, would like to help shape the technology stack and actively participate in the community.
7 Advantages and disadvantages from a practical perspective
| Advantage Operaton | Disadvantage Operaton |
|---|---|
| Independent community foundation under development | No commercial support |
| Modern, decoupled technology stack | No managed service/SaaS, in-house operation required |
| Focus on innovation and accessibility | Lower stability guarantee than CIBseven |
| Semi-automated migration tools | Community still under construction |
| Advantage CIBseven | Disadvantage CIBseven |
|---|---|
| Large development team and commercial support | More focused on the old Camunda stack |
| Proven, production-ready processes | Less radical innovation in the stack |
| Cloud and Docker-capable, SaaS in preparation | Community governance less independent |
| Additional features for companies | Migration to future forks may be more complex |
6 Our assessment & recommendation
Operaton is a highly interesting platform for teams looking for innovation speed, independence and personal responsibility that focuses on future viability and technological modernization. The focus is on active participation in open source development.
CIBseven is currently the more attractive choice for organizations that require maximum production maturity, stability, cloud options and professional support. The dedicated development team, product maturity and planned managed/SaaS options ensure planning security.
Both platforms enrich the open source BPMN landscape and offer sensible alternatives to proprietary solutions. The decision depends heavily on the desired operating model, innovation requirements and support needs. We recommend evaluating the respective strengths in your own context and planning a proof of concept with us.
We look forward to the exchange and feedback from the community!
If you have further questions about technical details or migration scenarios, we recommend contacting us.
