Skipper: Building Airbnb’s embedded workflow engine

313 · Airbnb · April 28, 2026, 5:32 p.m.
Summary
This blog post discusses the development of Skipper, Airbnb's embedded workflow engine designed to solve the durable execution problem in multi-step processes like insurance claims. It details how Skipper was built to streamline development, avoid external dependencies, and integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, promoting simplicity and efficiency while running complex workflows. The article outlines challenges with existing workflow solutions and explains Skipper's advantages, including easy integration and a straightforward programming model that keeps domain logic cohesive.