What is Buniflow?​

Buniflow is a visual workflow automation platform that empowers teams to build, manage, and deploy powerful automations — without writing complex code. From data processing pipelines to multi-step business workflows, Buniflow Studio gives you the tools to turn ideas into running automations faster than ever before.

What to Expect from This Blog​

We will be sharing:

• Release announcements — Be the first to know when a new version of the Buniflow Compiler Engine (BCE) drops, what's changed, and how to upgrade.
• Feature highlights — Deep dives into new tools, capabilities, and improvements landing in Buniflow Studio.
• Workflow tips and tutorials — Practical guides to help you get the most out of Buniflow, from beginner fundamentals to advanced automation patterns.
• Community spotlights — Stories from teams and builders using Buniflow to solve real-world problems.
• Roadmap previews — Early looks at what we are building next.

Where We Are Today​

Buniflow has come a long way since its first internal release in December 2021. From the foundational Butterfly BCE to the performance-focused Swara BCE released in 2024 — and with the AI-powered Nyati BCE on the horizon — we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what workflow automation can do.

Here is a quick look at the Buniflow Compiler Engine journey so far:

Join the Community​

Whether you are just getting started with Buniflow or you are a seasoned builder, we would love to have you in our community:

• 💬 Join our Discord — get help, share workflows, and connect with other Buniflow users
• 🎥 Watch tutorials on YouTube — step-by-step guides for every skill level
• 📧 Contact us — reach the team directly

Thanks for being here. The best is yet to come. 🚀

We are excited to announce the upcoming release of Nyati BCE, the twelfth generation of the Buniflow Compiler Engine. Nyati represents a major leap forward — bringing AI-powered automation, advanced journey management, and native form support directly into your workflows.

What is the Buniflow Compiler Engine?​

The Buniflow Compiler Engine (BCE) is the core runtime that powers every workflow you build in Buniflow Studio. Each named version of the BCE introduces new capabilities, performance improvements, and expanded tooling — enabling you to build more powerful automations with less effort.

Nyati is the next chapter in that evolution.

What's Coming in Nyati BCE​

AI-Powered Workflow Automation​

Nyati BCE will introduce advanced AI capabilities built directly into the workflow runtime. Rather than requiring external integrations, AI-powered automation will be a first-class feature — helping you streamline repetitive processes, surface insights from your data, and make your workflows smarter by default.

Comprehensive Journey Management​

One of the headline features of Nyati is a fully redesigned journey management system. You will be able to design and manage complex, multi-step workflows with:

• Triggers — Define what starts a journey, from user actions to scheduled events to external signals.
• Actions — Configure what happens at each step of the journey.
• Events — React to real-time signals and branch your workflow based on what occurs.

This makes it possible to model sophisticated business processes — from onboarding sequences to transaction pipelines — all within a single, visual workflow canvas.

Native Form Support​

Nyati BCE will include built-in form capabilities, enabling efficient data entry directly within your workflows. Forms will be designed for:

• Accurate and organised information collection
• Seamless integration with downstream workflow nodes
• Support for validation, required fields, and structured schemas

No more relying on external form tools — data collection becomes a native part of your automation pipeline.

Availability​

Nyati BCE is currently coming soon. Stay tuned to the Buniflow blog and our community channels for the official release date and migration guides.

BCE Version History​

Stay Updated​

• Join our Discord
• Watch our tutorials on YouTube
• Contact us

We are proud to announce the public release of Swara BCE, the eleventh generation of the Buniflow Compiler Engine. Swara is a significant evolution — not just in features, but in philosophy. After listening to feedback from teams building on Space BCE, we made the deliberate decision to refocus, streamline, and rebuild where it mattered most: stability, speed, and reusability.

What is the Buniflow Compiler Engine?​

The Buniflow Compiler Engine (BCE) is the core runtime that powers every workflow you build in Buniflow Studio. Each named version of the BCE introduces new capabilities, performance improvements, and expanded tooling — enabling you to build more powerful automations with less effort.

Swara is available publicly today.

What Changed from Space BCE​

A More Focused Product​

Space BCE launched with two products — Buniflow Studio and Buniflow Designer. In Swara BCE, we made a strategic decision to roll back Buniflow Designer and focus entirely on Buniflow Studio. This was not a step backward — it was a deliberate choice to do one thing exceptionally well rather than two things partially.

The result is a Studio that is more stable, more capable, and more production-ready than anything we shipped before. Every resource and engineering effort that previously went into maintaining two products was channelled into making Studio the best workflow automation tool we could build.

What's New in Swara BCE​

Rebuilt Architecture for 10× Speed​

The most immediate upgrade you will notice in Swara BCE is speed. We rebuilt the core architecture of the runtime from the ground up, delivering performance that is ten times faster and more efficient than Space BCE (v10). This was not a patch or an optimisation pass — it was a full architectural rethink.

Whether you are processing large datasets, running complex multi-step workflows, or orchestrating real-time operations, Swara handles it with substantially less latency and far greater reliability under load.

Rock-Solid Stability​

Stability was the other pillar of the Swara rebuild. Space BCE, while groundbreaking, surfaced edge cases and reliability issues as teams pushed it into production with real-world software. Swara BCE addresses these directly — with a more predictable execution model, better error handling, and a runtime that behaves consistently whether a workflow runs once or a thousand times a day.

Macro Tool — Reusable Nested Workflows​

One of the headline features of Swara BCE is the introduction of the Macro Tool. A Macro allows you to encapsulate an entire workflow and call it from within another workflow — essentially nesting workflows inside workflows.

This unlocks a new level of reusability across your automation projects:

• Build once, use everywhere — define a common process (such as sending a payment notification or validating a record) as a Macro and call it from any workflow in your project
• Cleaner canvases — complex workflows become easier to read and manage when repeated logic is abstracted into Macros
• Consistent behaviour — updates to a Macro automatically propagate to every workflow that uses it, eliminating the need to make the same change in multiple places
• Modular design — compose sophisticated workflows from smaller, well-tested building blocks

Macros fundamentally change how you think about workflow architecture in Buniflow — from single-purpose pipelines to composable, reusable automation components.

Expanded Third-Party Integrations​

Swara BCE significantly expands on the single integration support introduced in Space BCE. You can now connect your workflows to multiple third-party applications simultaneously — opening up richer, more connected automation scenarios across your business systems.

Enhanced Cloud-Managed Data Store​

Swara BCE ships with an upgraded cloud-managed data store, rebuilt for greater reliability and scalability. Your workflow data is now stored and retrieved more efficiently — even as your projects grow in size and complexity. The enhanced data store scales alongside your usage without requiring manual configuration or infrastructure management.

Robust NoSQL Database with Multi-Project Support​

Swara introduces a new NoSQL database layer that supports multiple projects simultaneously. Teams can now share data across workflows and projects more effectively, with a flexible, document-oriented structure that adapts to varied data shapes without the rigidity of traditional relational schemas.

Key benefits include:

• Multi-project data sharing — access and reference data across different Buniflow projects
• Efficient collaboration — teams working on separate workflows can read from shared data sources
• Flexible schema — store structured, semi-structured, or nested data without predefined table schemas

Comprehensive API-Level Support​

Swara BCE introduces full API-level support, enabling developers and technical teams to interact with Buniflow workflows programmatically. This unlocks new possibilities for:

• Triggering workflows via external API calls
• Reading and writing data to Buniflow from custom applications
• Building deeper integrations with your existing systems and infrastructure

Built with Swara BCE​

Swara BCE has already been used to build and ship production software across a range of industries, proving its readiness for real-world complexity:

• Printing Job Management System — End-to-end management of print jobs, from order creation through production tracking to delivery confirmation
• Expatriate Payroll System — A specialised payroll solution handling multi-currency salary processing, compliance, and disbursement for expatriate employees
• Bulk Payment System with Job Approval Workflow — A financial disbursement platform where payment jobs are created, routed through an approval chain, and executed on approval — ensuring accountability at every step
• And more production deployments across logistics, finance, and operations

These real-world applications demonstrate that Swara BCE is not just faster and more stable in benchmarks — it is proven in production.

Upgrading to Swara BCE​

Swara BCE is publicly available now. To upgrade your existing projects, visit Settings → Environment in Buniflow Studio and select version xi (11.3.9) from the compiler engine dropdown.

BCE Version History​

Need Help?​

We are thrilled to announce the public release of Space BCE, the tenth generation of the Buniflow Compiler Engine — and the first version of Buniflow available to the world. Space is more than a runtime upgrade; it marks the launch of two flagship products that redefine how businesses automate tasks and build user interfaces: Buniflow Studio and Buniflow Designer.

What is the Buniflow Compiler Engine?​

The Buniflow Compiler Engine (BCE) is the core runtime that powers every workflow and application you build on the Buniflow platform. Each named version of the BCE introduces new capabilities, performance improvements, and expanded tooling — enabling you to build more powerful automations with less effort.

Space BCE is the foundation everything else is built on.

Introducing Buniflow Studio​

Buniflow Studio is an advanced workflow automation tool that streamlines task automation and data management. It allows users to design logical workflows for completing tasks and facilitates full CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations with databases — all through a visual, no-code interface.

User Interface Tools​

Studio ships with UI components that make it easy to collect and interact with data directly within your workflows:

• Form Tool — Collect structured user input within a running workflow

Input / Output Utilities​

A comprehensive set of tools for bringing data in and sending it out:

• Manual Table — Define and enter data manually as a table
• Variables — Store and reference values across your workflow
• Dataset — Retrieve records from your connected database tables
• Peek — Inspect data at any point in your workflow for debugging
• Web Request — Make HTTP calls to external APIs
• File Reader — Read data from uploaded files
• Extract Data from URL — Pull structured data directly from a URL

Data Processing Tools​

Studio includes an extensive library of data processing tools for transforming and shaping your data:

• Unique — Remove duplicate records
• Pivot Data — Reshape data from rows to columns
• Select — Choose specific columns to carry forward
• Select Records — Filter records by row index or range
• Functions — Apply custom expressions and calculations
• Cleanup — Standardise and sanitise data values
• Transpose Data — Flip rows and columns
• Melt Data — Unpivot wide data into a long format
• Filter — Apply conditional logic to filter records
• Text to Columns — Split delimited text into separate columns
• Date Util — Parse, format, and manipulate date values
• Sort Records — Order records by one or more columns
• Find and Replace — Search and substitute values across your data
• Flatten JSON — Convert nested JSON structures into flat tables

Data Grouping Tools​

Tools for combining and aggregating data from multiple sources:

• Join — Merge two datasets on a shared key
• Group — Aggregate records by a column with summary functions
• Union — Stack two datasets vertically into one

Microservices​

Studio comes with a suite of built-in microservices for common business operations:

• SMS — Send SMS messages from within your workflow
• Excel / PDF File Generator — Generate Excel or PDF files from your data
• Mpesa Query Balance — Check M-Pesa account balances
• Get Jobs Status / Get Jobs / Get B2C Jobs — Monitor and retrieve background job information
• Email — Send emails directly from your workflow
• Validate Bulk Mpesa Payment — Validate bulk M-Pesa payment lists
• Send Bulk Mpesa Payment — Initiate bulk M-Pesa disbursements
• Mpesa — General M-Pesa transaction support

Access Management​

Control who can do what within your applications:

• Manage Session — Handle user session lifecycle
• Sign User — Authenticate and sign in users programmatically
• Get App Roles — Retrieve the roles defined for your application

Custom Connectors​

Connect to your application's user layer directly from within workflows:

• Get Session — Retrieve the current session data
• Get App Users — Fetch a list of users in your application
• Get Current User — Access the currently authenticated user's details

Introducing Buniflow Designer​

Buniflow Designer empowers users to build beautiful, intuitive user interfaces for their applications — without writing frontend code. Acting as a versatile visual page builder, Designer lets you select a layout for each page (called module layouts) and then populate it with controls and collections of controls called widgets.

Available Controls​

Designer ships with a rich set of UI controls:

• Title — Display headings and section labels
• Link — Add navigational or external links
• Textfield — Single or multi-line text input
• File Upload — Allow users to upload files
• Radio — Single-choice selection
• Checkbox — Multi-choice selection
• Switch — Boolean toggle control
• Button — Trigger actions and workflow events
• Dropdown — Single-select from a list of options
• Image — Display images within your interface
• Multiple Select — Multi-choice dropdown selection
• Select — Standard single-select dropdown
• Summary Card — Display key metrics and summaries
• Advanced Table — Feature-rich data table with sorting and filtering
• Data Table — Standard data display table
• Calendar — Date and event display control
• Cart Component — Shopping cart UI for commerce applications

Controls that require data — such as tables and dropdowns — connect seamlessly to Buniflow Studio workflows for data fetching, ensuring a cohesive and dynamic interface development experience.

Built with Space BCE​

Since its launch, Space BCE has powered the development of several real-world products across multiple industries:

• Payroll System — Simplifies salary management and payroll processing
• Floor Plan System — Enables efficient space planning and layout management
• Bulk Payments System — Streamlines financial disbursements at scale
• Real Estate System — Enhances property listing and management workflows

These applications highlight the versatility and reach of the Buniflow platform in solving real business problems across finance, real estate, HR, and operations.

What Else Ships with Space BCE​

Beyond Studio and Designer, Space BCE introduces:

• Formal app release system — Version and publish your workflow-powered applications in a structured lifecycle from development to production
• SQL-based data store management — Query and manage your data layer using familiar SQL syntax
• Single integration support — Connect your workflows to external third-party applications
• User management — Define roles, permissions, and access control across your projects

Get Started with Space BCE​

Space BCE is publicly available. To use it in your projects, visit Settings → Environment in Buniflow Studio and select version x (10.4.7) from the compiler engine dropdown.

BCE Version History​

Get in Touch​

• Join our Discord
• Watch our tutorials on YouTube
• Contact us

Before Buniflow Studio was available to the public, the Buniflow Compiler Engine went through two internal generations under the Butterfly name. These releases were foundational — establishing the core architecture, runtime patterns, and internal tooling that all subsequent public versions have been built upon.

What is the Buniflow Compiler Engine?​

The Buniflow Compiler Engine (BCE) is the core runtime that powers every workflow you build in Buniflow Studio. Each named version of the BCE introduces new capabilities, performance improvements, and expanded tooling — enabling you to build more powerful automations with less effort.

The Butterfly generation was where it all began.

Butterfly BCE viii — Version viii (8.4.1)​

Released: 20 December 2021 · Internal

Version viii (8.4.1) was the first internal release of the Buniflow Compiler Engine. Built and tested entirely within the Buniflow engineering team, this version established the foundational runtime architecture that would underpin all future BCE generations.

As an internal release, Butterfly viii was used to validate core workflow execution concepts, test the compiler pipeline, and lay the groundwork for the feature-rich versions that followed.

Butterfly BCE ix — Version ix (9.2.1)​

Released: 20 April 2022 · Internal

Version ix (9.2.1) built directly on the foundation of Butterfly viii, introducing internal refinements and expanding the capabilities of the BCE runtime. Like its predecessor, this version remained an internal release — used by the Buniflow team to iterate rapidly before opening the platform to external users.

Butterfly ix was the last internal-only generation of the BCE. The lessons learned across both Butterfly versions directly informed the design decisions behind Space BCE (v10), the first publicly available Buniflow Compiler Engine.

From Butterfly to Today​

The Butterfly releases represent the origins of Buniflow's compiler technology. Each subsequent generation — Space, Swara, and the upcoming Nyati — has built on the foundations established here, growing in performance, capability, and scale with every release.

BCE Version History​

Get Started​

• Join our Discord
• Watch our tutorials on YouTube
• Contact us