bpmn

name: bpmn description: Create business process diagrams using PlantUML syntax with BPMN, EIP, and Lean Mapping stencil icons. Best for workflow automation, approval chains, message-based integration patterns, and value stream mapping. metadata: author: BPMN diagrams are powered by Markdown Viewer — the best multi-platform Markdown extension (Chrome/Edge/Firefox/VS Code) with diagrams, formulas, and one-click Word export. Learn more at https://docu.md

Business Process & Integration Diagram Generator

Quick Start: Choose diagram type → Declare stencil icons for events/gateways/tasks → Group into pools/lanes → Connect with arrow syntax → Wrap in ```plantuml fence.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always use ```plantuml or ```puml code fence. NEVER use ```text — it will NOT render as a diagram.

Critical Rules

Every diagram starts with @startuml and ends with @enduml
Use left to right direction for process flows (start→end reads left-to-right)
Use mxgraph.bpmn.* for BPMN events, gateways, and task markers
Use mxgraph.eip.* for Enterprise Integration Pattern icons
Use mxgraph.lean_mapping.* for Value Stream Mapping symbols
Default colors are applied automatically — you do NOT need to specify fillColor or strokeColor
Use rectangle "Pool" { ... } for BPMN pools and lanes
Sequence flows use -->, message flows use ..> (dashed)

Full stencil reference: See stencils/README.md for 9500+ available icons.

Mxgraph Stencil Syntax

mxgraph.<library>.<icon> "Label" as <alias>

BPMN Stencil Family (`mxgraph.bpmn.*`)

Events — Circle shapes for process triggers and outcomes:

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.start`	Start Event
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.end`	End Event
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.terminateEnd`	Terminate End
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.timerStart`	Timer Start
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.timerCatching`	Timer Intermediate
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.messageStart`	Message Start
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.messageCatching`	Message Catching
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.messageEnd`	Message End
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.errorEnd`	Error End
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.errorBound`	Error Boundary
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.signalStart`	Signal Start
`mxgraph.bpmn.event.signalEnd`	Signal End

Gateways — Diamond shapes for branching/merging:

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.exclusive`	Exclusive Gateway (XOR)
`mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.parallel`	Parallel Gateway (AND)
`mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.inclusive`	Inclusive Gateway (OR)
`mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.complex`	Complex Gateway

Tasks — Use rectangle for tasks, stencil markers for typed tasks:

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.bpmn.user_task`	User Task
`mxgraph.bpmn.service_task`	Service Task
`mxgraph.bpmn.script_task`	Script Task
`mxgraph.bpmn.manual_task`	Manual Task
`mxgraph.bpmn.business_rule_task`	Business Rule Task

Data — Document-like shapes:

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.bpmn.data2.dataObject`	Data Object
`mxgraph.bpmn.data2.dataInput`	Data Input
`mxgraph.bpmn.data2.dataOutput`	Data Output

EIP Stencil Family (`mxgraph.eip.*`)

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.eip.messageChannel`	Message Channel
`mxgraph.eip.deadLetterChannel`	Dead Letter Channel
`mxgraph.eip.content_based_router`	Content-Based Router
`mxgraph.eip.message_filter`	Message Filter
`mxgraph.eip.splitter`	Splitter
`mxgraph.eip.aggregator`	Aggregator
`mxgraph.eip.message_translator`	Message Translator
`mxgraph.eip.content_enricher`	Content Enricher
`mxgraph.eip.messaging_gateway`	Messaging Gateway
`mxgraph.eip.channel_adapter`	Channel Adapter
`mxgraph.eip.messaging_bridge`	Messaging Bridge
`mxgraph.eip.recipient_list`	Recipient List
`mxgraph.eip.wire_tap`	Wire Tap
`mxgraph.eip.event_driven_consumer`	Event-Driven Consumer
`mxgraph.eip.competing_consumers`	Competing Consumers
`mxgraph.eip.process_manager`	Process Manager

Lean Mapping Stencil Family (`mxgraph.lean_mapping.*`)

Icon	Meaning
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.outside_sources`	Supplier / Customer
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.manufacturing_process`	Process Step
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.supermarket`	Supermarket (Inventory Buffer)
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.fifo_lane`	FIFO Lane
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.production_kanban`	Production Kanban
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.withdrawal_kanban`	Withdrawal Kanban
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.signal_kanban`	Signal Kanban
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.truck_shipment`	Truck Shipment
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.operator`	Operator
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.inventory_box`	Inventory
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.kaizen_lightening_burst`	Kaizen Burst
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.mrp_erp`	MRP / ERP System
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.warehouse`	Warehouse
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.push_arrow`	Push Arrow
`mxgraph.lean_mapping.timeline2`	Timeline

Connection Types

Syntax	Meaning	Use Case
`A --> B`	Solid arrow	Sequence flow (task→task)
`A ..> B`	Dashed arrow	Message flow (cross-pool) / async trigger
`A --> B : "label"`	Labeled solid	Conditional flow (gateway branch)
`A ..> B : "label"`	Labeled dashed	Named message / signal

Quick Example

@startuml
left to right direction

mxgraph.bpmn.event.start "Start" as start
rectangle "Review\nRequest" as review
mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.exclusive "Approved?" as gw
rectangle "Process\nOrder" as process
rectangle "Notify\nRejection" as reject
mxgraph.bpmn.event.end "End" as end_ok
mxgraph.bpmn.event.end "End" as end_fail

start --> review
review --> gw
gw --> process : "Yes"
gw --> reject : "No"
process --> end_ok
reject --> end_fail
@enduml

Diagram Types

Type	Purpose	Key Stencils	Example
Order Processing	E-commerce / fulfillment	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.`	order-processing.md
Approval Workflow	Multi-level approval	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.`	approval-workflow.md
EIP Messaging	Message routing & transformation	`mxgraph.eip.*`	eip-messaging.md
ETL Pipeline	Data extraction & loading	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.eip.`	etl-pipeline.md
Value Stream	Lean manufacturing flow	`mxgraph.lean_mapping.*`	value-stream.md
Microservice Orchestration	Service choreography	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.eip.`	microservice-orchestration.md
Event-Driven Architecture	Pub/Sub event flows	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.eip.`	event-driven.md
Customer Service	Support ticket lifecycle	`mxgraph.bpmn.event.`, `mxgraph.bpmn.gateway2.`	customer-service.md