What is a Token & Why Do I Need a Token Simulator in Camunda Modeler?

What is a Token & Why Do I Need a Token Simulator?

Question: What is a token in BPMN?

Answer: A token in BPMN is a theoretical concept used to visualize the behavior of a process being performed. It represents the current point of execution within a process instance. Think of a token as a virtual marker that moves from one activity to another, indicating which tasks or activities have been completed and which are yet to be executed. A business process can have multiple tokens, indicating that the process is running in multiple paths. Tokens are typically generated by start events and consumed by end events, and their paths can be traced through the sequence flows, gateways, and activities within a process.

Question: What are the benefits of having a token simulator in my BPMN modeling tool?

Answer: The token simulator plugin for Camunda Modeler is beneficial for several reasons:

Visualize process execution: The token simulator allows you to see how the process will behave when it is executed, providing a visual representation of the process flow and helping to identify potential issues.
Debug and validate process models: By simulating the movement of tokens through the process, you can identify deadlocks, detect paths where a token will never be consumed, and ensure that the process behaves as expected.
Improve understanding of BPMN concepts: The token simulator can help less experienced BPMN practitioners and professionals to better understand the behavior of processes and the role of tokens in process execution.
Facilitate collaboration: The token simulator can be used as a tool for discussing and sharing BPMN diagrams with your team, allowing everyone to understand the process flow and identify potential improvements.