Estimated time: 10 min.

In this tutorial you will learn the basics about these topics:

PIPEFORCE is the first workflow automation and integration platform that runs entirely cloud-native (= 100% inside Kubernetes using microservices and messaging) and is nearly unlimited extensible by microservices. It helps companies to achieve automation superpowers by easily enabling non-deep-tech employees and partners to create, deploy and operate digital services, workflow apps and data mappings across the entire journey from planning to implementation on a single platform using low-code.

Below you can find a short description of the most important topics of PIPEFORCE just to give you a fast overlook. We will discuss all of these concepts in detail in different getting started guides and in the documentation.

1 - The Platform

The PIPEFORCE platform is built with Kubernetes as its base framework. On this platform different digital services are available out-of-the-box, so you can start developing your solutions right from the start. There is no need for Kubernetes or Microservices know-how. You can create your first business applications with low-code. The built-in services are:

• User and Identity Management

• LDAP / AD Service

• Reporting Service

• Sync & Share Service

• Archiving Service

• Forms and List Builder

• BPMN Workflow engine

• RPA

• Integration Pipelines

• And more…

With these built-in services you can start very quickly to build your own business or data pipeline apps. It is also possible to add additional services via (Docker) containers if required.

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2 - The Self Service Portal

The portal is the single point of access for employees and customers. Whenever you have created and published a new business app, it becomes visible on the portal. Employees, customers and partners will get a list of their available apps after login and can execute them.

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3 - The App

An app in PIPEFORCE is typically the smallest unit to build a business workflow application. It can consist of many different elements like forms, lists, workflows or integration pipelines to just name a few of them.

Once the app has been published, it can be used by customers, employees or partners.

4 - The Pipeline

A pipeline in PIPEFORCE is the “glue” between all elements of an business application typically written in an easy YAML DSL. It connects data from forms and APIs with data from other systems and interfaces, it can calculate, normalize, map or convert data and it can execute business logic if required. All of this using low-code. So there is no need for deep development.

On the other hand for more advanced users, there is always the option top “open-up” and create more complex solutions in case the low-code approach isn’t enough. So unlimited possibilities always related to the available skills of the user and the requirements of the solution.

You can learn more about pipelines here: Pipelines & Commands

5 - The Command

Every pipeline consists of one or more commands. A command is a single function as a service which can be called to do a simple operation like returning the current date up to more complex executions like scanning documents for keywords or starting an RPA bot to automate something.

Commands can start a microservice in PIPEFORCE or trigger an external cloud service.

You can learn more about commands here: Pipelines & Commands

6 - The Workflow

More complex and stateful human interactions are defined in so called BPMN 2.0 workflows in PIPEFORCE. This is an official ISO standard to define business processes on a standardized and graphical way. Once you have created a BPMN 2.0 workflow you can “feed” it into PIPEFORCE and bring it to live by connecting the BPMN tasks with pipelines.

You can learn more about workflows here: Workflows

7 - The Low Code Workbench

The workbench is an online section where you can create forms, lists, data mappings, workflows and many more. Everything without deep development, just low code or no code.

You can learn more about the low code workbench here: Low-Code Workspace (local)

8 - The Command Line Interface (CLI)

The command line interface is a little command line tool which can be used to automate tasks from your local command line and to manage a workspace. This is recommended only for advanced users. If you’re new to PIPEFORCE, consider to start with the online workbench first.

You can learn more about the CLI here: Command Line Interface (CLI)

9 - The Property Store

This is a key-value, distributed database which stores all resources related to a business process app. Whenever you submit form data, store configurations for apps, want to temporarily cache data or need just a persistent storage, the property store is ready for you.

You can learn more about the property store here: Property Store

10 - The Pipeline Engineer / The Low Coder

And last but not least the most important part: It’s you, the pipeline engineer (or: “Low Coder”). Every user who develops business applications based on PIPEFORCE we call a pipeline engineer. A pipeline engineer mainly uses low-code and the low-code workbench for most rapid implementation cycles. In some rarely cases he can also program additional features.

Now lets start and execute the steps of the tutorial.

First tutorial: Tutorial: Create a new app