Zar Labs
Building a workflow engine — architecture
Last reviewed: 2026-09-28
Executive summary
Build a custom engine only when platforms cannot fit. Core pieces: durable state, workers, scheduling, idempotency, and operator tooling.
Components
- State store
- Worker pool
- Scheduler / timers
- API + operator UI
- Metrics and replay
Pros & cons
Pros
- Full control
- Product IP possible
Cons / watch-outs
- You become the platform team
Comparison
| Choice | When |
|---|---|
| Buy Temporal/Camunda | Standard needs |
| Build | Hard constraints / IP |
Frequently asked questions
Should most companies build?
No. Prefer platforms. See /services/workflow-engine-development for when custom is justified.
Ready to scope your build?
Share goals, stack constraints, and timeline. We’ll respond with a discovery path and phased estimate.