Comparison
JustScale vs Temporal
Durable execution as a framework feature vs a dedicated platform.
JustScale and Temporal both make long-running workflows survive crashes and restarts, but they package durability very differently. Temporal is a dedicated durable-execution platform: a separate server cluster plus worker processes, with polyglot SDKs, mature versioning, retries, and a powerful observability UI. JustScale runs durable processes in-process inside your application, persisting state to a database you already run (such as PostgreSQL), with no separate cluster to operate.
Choose Temporal when you need battle-tested durability at very large scale, advanced workflow versioning, and dedicated operational tooling, or when you work across multiple languages. Choose JustScale when you want durable workflows without standing up and operating a separate system, written as plain async code in the same runtime and type system as the rest of your app.
JustScale vs Temporal at a glance
| Aspect | JustScale | Temporal |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | In-process; durable state persisted to your database (e.g. Postgres) | Separate Temporal server/cluster + worker fleet |
| Authoring | Plain async code compiled into a durable state machine | Workflow + activity functions using the SDK programming model |
| Infrastructure to operate | None beyond the database you already run | A Temporal cluster (self-hosted) or Temporal Cloud |
| Signals / events | Path-based, typed signals integrated with the domain | Signals and queries via the SDK |
| Versioning & migration | Younger; evolving story | Mature workflow versioning and patching |
| Observability | Via your app + OpenTelemetry | Dedicated Web UI for workflow history and replay |
| Languages | TypeScript | Go, Java, TypeScript, Python, .NET, PHP |
| Scale & track record | Young | Proven at very large scale |
Choose JustScale when
- You want durable workflows without operating a separate server and worker fleet.
- You want durability inside a full backend framework — controllers, domain layer, auth, OpenAPI, and testing — not a standalone execution engine.
- Your workflows live alongside your domain and should share its types, DI, and database.
- A single TypeScript runtime and "no extra infrastructure" matter more than a dedicated UI.
Choose Temporal when
- You need proven durability at very large scale with mature versioning and replay tooling.
- You operate across multiple languages and want one durable-execution backbone.
- A dedicated workflow observability UI is a hard requirement.
Switching from Temporal
- A Temporal workflow becomes a JustScale process: the handler is plain async code instead of the SDK workflow API.
- Activities (side-effecting steps) become ordinary service calls inside the process.
- Temporal signals map to JustScale path-based signals; timers map to delay.
- Instead of deploying workers against a Temporal cluster, you run your app; durable state lives in your database.
Frequently asked questions
Does JustScale need a separate server like Temporal?
No. Durable processes run inside your application and persist state to a database you already operate, so there is no separate cluster or worker fleet.
Is JustScale as battle-tested as Temporal for durability?
No. Temporal is proven at very large scale with mature versioning and replay tooling. JustScale trades some of that maturity for simpler operations and tighter integration with your domain and types.
How are workflows written in JustScale vs Temporal?
In JustScale a workflow is plain async code that the compiler transforms into a durable state machine. In Temporal you write workflow and activity functions against the SDK programming model.