Execution和ProcessInstance的分别

在Activiti中Execution和ProcessInstance都用于获取当前流程实例的相关信息。

当流程中没有分支时，Execution等同于ProcessInstance，甚至连ID也相同；
当流程中存在分支(fork, parallel gateway)，则在分支口会形成子Execution，在下一个gateway才会合并(joined)

原文出自：http://forums.activiti.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1979

A processinstance is what is logically executed. The execution what is actually executed. An execution without a parent is a root execution and 'equal' to the processinstance (even in id). Each time e.g. A parallel gateway (fork) is encountered, an execution gets child executions which are e.g. 'joined' again at a next gateway.