We are excited to announce the release of Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.2.0, marking another significant milestone in the project's evolution under the Apache Software Foundation. This release represents a major step forward in modernization and Apache compliance, with substantial improvements to tooling and platform dependencies.

A Major Leap in Modernization​

The 10.2.0 release focuses on critical infrastructure improvements and a transformative update to our editing capabilities. This release removes legacy dependencies and introduces modern tooling that aligns with Apache guidelines and contemporary development practices.

Important Tooling Changes​

New BPMN Editor​

The most significant change in this release is the introduction of the new BPMN Editor. This modern editor replaces the legacy GWT-based tooling and represents a fundamental shift in our approach to process modeling.

Key benefits of the new BPMN Editor:

• Modern, responsive user interface
• Improved performance and user experience
• Better integration with contemporary web technologies
• Enhanced maintainability and extensibility

Removal of Classic Editors​

As part of our commitment to modernization and Apache compliance, we have removed the classic BPMN and DMN editors. These GWT-based editors have been deprecated in previous releases, and their removal in 10.2.0 brings us one step closer to graduating.

Platform Upgrades​

• Quarkus upgraded to version 3.27.2 (from 3.15.3.1)
• Spring Boot upgraded to version 3.5.10 (from 3.4.3)
• Java 21 support

These updates ensure KIE technologies remain current with the latest Java ecosystem advancements, providing improved performance, security, and feature sets.

Drools​

Rule Engine Enhancements​

• Fixed critical issues with activation groups and agenda groups
• Improved executable model generation with deterministic argument ordering
• Enhanced memory management to prevent leaks in dormant matches
• Better handling of custom operators in executable model
• Resolved issues with rule firing after session restoration

Build and Tooling​

• Improved Maven and Gradle build discovery
• Enhanced kJar code generation with better error reporting
• Support for Java versions 19+ in DRL compilation

DMN 1.6 Support​

Both the editor and engine now support the latest DMN 1.6 specification.

jBPM and Kogito​

• Test Scenario engine modernized to use JUnit 5
• Gradle 9.2 support for Kogito projects
• Process Instance Migration (PIM) externalized to independent addon with improved functionality
• User Tasks major performance improvements with reduced database queries, new indexes, and WS-Human Task Lifecycle support
• Data Index new Spring Boot persistence addons (JPA and common), improved GraphQL queries, and custom UI support
• Job Service enhanced reliability with better error handling, configurable retry scheduling, and custom collocated service support
• Security improvements including OAuth2 token exchange, JWT token parsing, and secured task management API
• OpenTelemetry support for process instance aware logging and distributed tracing
• Cloud Events improved event handling with proper headers propagation and Knative eventing support
• Spring Boot enhanced compatibility with new addons and improved transaction handling

SonataFlow Operator Enhancements​

• Incorporates native Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) support for SonataFlow workflows and Data Index service deployments
• Incorporates native Pod Disruption Budget (PDB) support for SonataFlow workflows and Data Index service deployments
• Incorporates the ability to configure leader lease parameters for improved operator reliability
• Enhanced database configuration options for Data Index and Job Service PostgreSQL deployments
• Improved catalog image management and platform configuration for air-gapped installations
• Support for configurable Quarkus registry and offline dependency caching

Tooling Updates​

• PatternFly v5 major UI framework upgrade across all editors and consoles
• KIE Sandbox GitLab support, improved authentication, and enhanced DMN Runner with lenient/strict mode selection
• Management Console read-only mode support, improved OpenTelemetry integration, and enhanced user experience
• Build Tools Gradle plugin improvements, enhanced Maven plugin, and better build discovery
• Various bug fixes and UX improvements across all tooling components

OptaPlanner​

• Removed experimental optaplanner-operator to streamline the codebase
• Documentation migrated to unified kie-docs repository

Acknowledgments​

We would like to extend a special thank you to Alex Procelli for his exceptional work in helping to deliver this release. His dedication and effort were instrumental in bringing 10.2.0 to completion in an accelerated timeframe.

We also want to recognize Tiago Bento for his contribution of the new and improved BPMN Editor. This work represents a major advancement in our tooling capabilities and will benefit the entire Apache KIE community for years to come.

Join the Conversation​

Have questions or want to connect with the community? We encourage all users to join the official user mailing list:

users@kie.apache.org
This is the best place to ask for help, share feedback, or discuss how you are using Apache KIE in your projects.

Download​

Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.2.0 is available now. Visit the official download page for the artifacts and to explore what's new.

We welcome your feedback and contributions. Thank you for being part of this growing community and supporting our journey toward a more modern, Apache-compliant future.

We are pleased to announce the release of Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.1.0, the first follow-up milestone since the project's rebirth under the Apache Software Foundation. This release reflects the project's continued momentum and commitment to modernization, usability, and stability across the KIE components: Drools, jBPM, OptaPlanner, Kogito, SonataFlow and Tools.

Laying Groundwork for the Future​

Following the foundational work in 10.0.0, this release introduces key upgrades and deprecations, improves compatibility, and continues efforts to simplify the developer and authoring experience. While not as sweeping as the prior release, 10.1.0 brings meaningful enhancements across the stack.

Platform Upgrades​

• Quarkus upgraded to version 3.15.3.1 (from 3.8.4)
• Spring Boot upgraded to version 3.4.3 (from 3.2.6)

These updates align with our goal of keeping KIE technologies up-to-date with modern Java ecosystems.

Drools​

Advancing Rule Units​

Rule Units remain targeted at greenfield projects and continue to evolve. These projects are better positioned to work around current limitations.

While RuleUnits provide a strong foundation, there are critical gaps that must be addressed before they can be considered a complete replacement for classic DRL. Examples include ambiguity in OOPath syntax, limited support for Decision Tables, and a lack of comprehensive test coverage.

Improvements are being investigated to simplify the use of OOPath in combination with accumulate and to improve the overall authoring experience.

Rule Orchestration / startProcess​

The startProcess() API has been deprecated since version 8.x and should not be called from client code, as doing so will result in a RuntimeException. Although the method still exists due to internal dependencies and because it is part of a shared interface with jBPM, it is no longer functional and is expected to be removed in a future version. The recommended approach is to use the new code-generation-based process.

DMN 1.5 Support​

Both the editor and engine now support the latest DMN 1.5 specification.

jBPM and Kogito​

• Introduction of a new user task subsystem
• Support for transactions in compact architecture
• Infinispan usage is now deprecated and will be removed in the next version

SonataFlow Operator Enhancements​

• Incorporates the ability to configure the SonataFlow workflows and supporting services databases using the SonataFlowPlatform.
• Incorporates the ability to initialize the supporting services databases using a dedicated Job, via configuration in the SonataFlowPlatForm.
• Incorporates the ability to produce all the events communications using the Knative Eventing System, via configuration in the SonataFlowPlatform.

Tooling Updates​

• A new Test Scenario Editor with full DMN 1.5 support is now available
• Classic DMN Editor and native binaries for Extended Services are both deprecated and will be removed in the next release

Known Limitations​

• JIT runners are not working on Windows and macOS

Join the Conversation​

Have questions or want to connect with the community? We encourage all users to join the official user mailing list:

users@kie.apache.org
This is the best place to ask for help, share feedback, or discuss how you are using Apache KIE in your projects.

Download​

Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.1.0 is available now. Visit the official download page for the artifacts and to explore what's new.

We welcome your feedback and contributions. Thank you for being part of this growing community.

We are thrilled to announce the release of Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.0.0, the first major release of the KIE project under the Apache Software Foundation. This marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of KIE technologies—Drools, jBPM, OptaPlanner, and Kogito—following 15 months of intensive work since the last release on September 5, 2023.

A "Journey of Transformation"​

Transitioning to the Apache Foundation was a monumental step for the KIE community, and the path to this release has been transformative. While the prolonged gap between releases posed challenges, it allowed us to focus on critical adjustments and improvements, paving the way for a stronger foundation. Here's an overview of the significant efforts that made this release possible:

• Comprehensive CI system overhaul to align with Apache standards.
• Code adjustments for Apache policy compliance, including license reviews.
• Fully reproducible builds for all .jar artifacts.
• Remove cyclical dependencies and other technical debt.
• Automate critical release processes to streamline future releases.
• Java 17, Jakarta 10, Quarkus, and SpringBoot upgrades
• And many more...

A Leap Forward​

Despite the frustrations of a longer-than-usual release cycle, the challenges have ultimately strengthened the project. Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.0.0 is not just a new version; it represents a rebirth under the Apache umbrella, with improvements that will serve our community for years to come. The lessons learned and the investments made in this release cycle position Apache KIE (Incubating) to achieve greater velocity and innovation in the future.

Looking Ahead​

With this release, we hope to return to a predictable release cadence. Our focus is now on leveraging the enhanced foundation to deliver new features, performance improvements, and continued community-driven innovation. The journey to Apache KIE 10.0.0 has been a labor of love, and we are grateful for the support and patience of our contributors and users.

Download​

Apache KIE (Incubating) 10.0.0 is available now. Visit the official download page for the artifacts and to explore what's new.

We welcome your feedback and contributions as we continue to build the future of Apache KIE (Incubating) together. Thank you for being part of this journey!