title: Use cases of the Workflow Engine
body: <p>I'd like to know about specific problems you - the SO reader - have solved using Workflow Engines and what libraries/frameworks you used if you didn't roll your own.  I'd also like to know when a Workflow Engine wasn't the best choice and if/how you chose something simpler, like a TaskList/WorkList/Task-Management type application using state machines.</p>
  
  <p>Questions:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>What problems have you used workflow engines to solve?</li>
  <li>What libraries/frameworks did you use?</li>
  <li>When did a simpler State Machine/Task Management like system suffice?</li>
  <li>Bonus: How did/do you make the distinction between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_management" rel="noreferrer">Task Management</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workflow_engine" rel="noreferrer">Workflow Engine</a>?</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I'm looking for first-hand experiences.</p>
  
  <p>Some of the resources I've checked out:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://github.com/jmettraux/ruote" rel="noreferrer">Ruote</a> and <a href="http://jmettraux.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/state-machine-workflow-engine/" rel="noreferrer">State Machine != Workflow Engine</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://github.com/bokmann/stonepath" rel="noreferrer">StonePath</a> and <a href="http://www.pragprog.com/magazines/download/4.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Docs</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E14981-01/wli/docs1031/worklist/create.html" rel="noreferrer">Creating and Managing Worklist Task Plans with Oracle</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://sebastian-bergmann.de/publications/bergmann-WorkflowEngine-DiplomaThesis.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Design and Implementation of a Workflow Engine - Thesis</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/pandrew/archive/2007/02/01/what-to-use-windows-workflow-foundation-for.aspx" rel="noreferrer">What to use Windows Workflow Foundation For</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://docs.jboss.com/jbpm/v3/userguide/" rel="noreferrer">JBoss jBPM Docs</a></li>
  </ul>