8.9 release notes

docs/reference/announcements-release-notes/890/890-release-notes.md

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ These release notes identify the main new features included in the 8.9 minor rel
 :::info 8.9 resources
 
 - See [release announcements](/reference/announcements-release-notes/890/890-announcements.md) to learn more about supported environment changes and breaking changes or deprecations.
+- See [What's new in Camunda 8.9](/reference/announcements-release-notes/890/whats-new-in-89.md) for important changes to consider when planning your upgrade from Camunda 8.8.
 - Refer to the [quality board](https://github.com/orgs/camunda/projects/187/views/21) for an overview of known bugs by component and severity.
 
 :::
@@ -27,10 +28,185 @@ These release notes identify the main new features included in the 8.9 minor rel
 
 <!-- RELEASE_LINKS_PLACEHOLDER -->
 
-<!-- RELEASE_LINKS_PLACEHOLDER -->
-
 </details>
 
+## APIs and tools
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects SaaS">SaaS</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Orchestration Cluster API">Orchestration Cluster API</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Agentic orchestration">Agentic orchestration</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects AI agents">AI agents</span></div>
+
+### Camunda CLI
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/2638 -->
+
+We're announcing a new command-line interface for interacting with the Orchestration Cluster REST API directly from the terminal.
+
+Camunda CLI is the successor to zbctl, providing a unified way to authenticate, manage processes, and query cluster resources for development, testing, and automation workflows.
+
+- Authenticate and connect to clusters, then run common actions directly from your terminal.
+- Supports core process management and query endpoints, including process instances, user tasks, and workers.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[Camunda CLI getting started](/apis-tools/c8ctl/getting-started.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Camunda CLI development workflows](/apis-tools/c8ctl/development-workflows.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Camunda CLI cluster inspection](/apis-tools/c8ctl/cluster-inspection.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Camunda CLI plugins](/apis-tools/c8ctl/plugins.md)</p>
+
+### Camunda Process Test
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3195 -->
+
+You can now write and run JSON test cases with Camunda Process Test.
+
+- Define process tests in JSON instead of implementing test logic in Java.
+- Execute JSON test cases as part of standard JUnit 5 runs in local and CI/CD environments.
+
+Camunda Process Test also introduces a shared runtime mode as an alternative to managed runtime. Shared runtime uses one runtime across multiple test classes, which can significantly reduce overall test execution time. We recommend enabling it in the configuration.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[JSON test cases](/apis-tools/testing/json-test-cases.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Shared runtime configuration](/apis-tools/testing/configuration.md#shared-runtime)</p>
+
+#### AI agent testing
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3315 -->
+
+Camunda Process Test now adds dedicated support for AI agent testing, making it easier to test processes where agents choose different actions at runtime and produce non-deterministic output.
+
+- Judge assertions use a configured LLM to assess whether AI-generated output satisfies a natural-language expectation, so you can verify response quality and intent.
+- Conditional behavior helps you model reactive test behavior for agent-driven flows by watching process state changes and completing tasks as they appear, without blocking the test on a predefined path.
+
+<!-- <p class="link-arrow">[Testing agentic processes](/apis-tools/testing/testing-agentic-processes.md)</p> -->
+
+## Camunda 8 Run
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Camunda 8 Run">Camunda 8 Run</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Agentic orchestration">Agentic orchestration</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects AI agents">AI agents</span></div>
+
+### Agentic orchestration onboarding in c8run
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3330 -->
+
+Camunda 8 Run now includes an "I don't have credentials" path so you can deploy and run agents without first configuring external LLM provider credentials.
+
+It also adds a local LLM quick start, helping self-managed and enterprise-constrained teams try agentic orchestration without external provider setup.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[MCP docs](/reference/mcp-docs/mcp-docs.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Get started with agentic orchestration](/guides/getting-started-agentic-orchestration.md)</p>
+
+## Connectivity
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects SaaS">SaaS</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects networking">Networking</span></div>
+
+### Secure connectivity with AWS inbound PrivateLink
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/2601 -->
+
+You can now connect to Camunda SaaS Orchestration clusters from AWS VPCs using AWS PrivateLink.
+
+Inbound traffic stays on private AWS networking instead of traversing the public internet, so job workers and inbound connectors can run inside customer VPCs with stronger network isolation and compliance alignment.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[Secure connectivity overview](/components/saas/secure-connectivity/index.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Set up secure connectivity in Console](/components/saas/secure-connectivity/console-setup.md)</p>
+
+## Helm chart deployment
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Helm charts">Helm charts</span><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span></div>
+
+### Alternative infrastructure services for Self-Managed
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3098 -->
+
+Camunda 8.9 continues the shift away from bundled Bitnami infrastructure in Self-Managed Helm deployments.
+
+- In 8.9, PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch, and Keycloak sub-charts are disabled by default.
+- Reference architectures now use external managed services or vendor-supported operators.
+
+This update describes infrastructure deployment patterns in reference architectures, not customer data migration.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[EKS dual-region reference architecture](/self-managed/deployment/helm/cloud-providers/amazon/amazon-eks/dual-region.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[OpenShift dual-region reference architecture](/self-managed/deployment/helm/cloud-providers/openshift/dual-region.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Dual-region operational tasks](/self-managed/deployment/helm/operational-tasks/dual-region-ops.md)</p>
+
+### Migration from Bitnami subcharts
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3221 -->
+
+Camunda 8.9 adds migration guidance for customers moving Self-Managed Helm deployments away from deprecated Bitnami subcharts.
+
+- Use the migration guides to move PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch, and Keycloak from Bitnami subcharts to independent infrastructure services.
+- Follow the documented migration phases to plan backup, cutover, validation, and cleanup with minimal disruption.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[Migrate from Bitnami subcharts](/self-managed/deployment/helm/operational-tasks/migration-from-bitnami/index.md)</p>
+
+## Migration from Camunda 7 to Camunda 8
+
+### Conditional events support in Migration Analyzer and Diagram Converter
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3262 -->
+
+Migration Analyzer and Diagram Converter now detect and convert Camunda 7 conditional events (start, intermediate catch, and boundary events) into Camunda 8-compatible BPMN.
+
+The migration report also flags conditional-event follow-up tasks so teams can plan manual review where needed.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[Diagram Converter](/guides/migrating-from-camunda-7/migration-tooling/diagram-converter.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Convert expressions](/guides/migrating-from-camunda-7/migration-tooling/diagram-converter.md#convert-expressions)</p>
+
+### History Data Migrator
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3083 -->
+
+Data Migrator now supports migrating historic audit data from Camunda 7 to Camunda 8.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[History Data Migrator](/guides/migrating-from-camunda-7/migration-tooling/data-migrator/history.md)</p>
+
+## Modeler
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects SaaS">SaaS</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Web Modeler">Web Modeler</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects RPA">RPA</span></div>
+
+### RPA support in Web Modeler
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/2703 -->
+
+Web Modeler now supports RPA scripts as a first-class file type, including visibility, project management, and deployment workflows without relying on Desktop Modeler.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[RPA getting started](/components/rpa/getting-started.md)</p>
+
+### Unified deployment experience across file types in Web Modeler
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3252 -->
+
+Web Modeler now offers a unified deployment experience across BPMN, DMN, forms, and RPA scripts.
+
+- Deploy artifacts from their details view using a consistent interaction pattern across file types.
+- See more clearly which linked files are included when deploying within a process application.
+- Choose whether to deploy the current file or the applicable process application bundle, depending on context.
+
+This update reduces hidden deployment behavior, lowers cognitive load, and makes deployment workflows more predictable and extensible for future asset types.
+
+<p class="link-arrow">[Process applications in Web Modeler](/components/modeler/web-modeler/process-applications/process-applications.md)</p>
+<p class="link-arrow">[Validate and deploy your process application](/components/modeler/web-modeler/process-applications/deploy-process-application.md)</p>
+
+## Operate
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects SaaS">SaaS</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects Operate">Operate</span></div>
+
+### Unified, context-aware process instance view
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/3255 -->
+
+Operate now unifies process instance information into a single, context-aware view.
+
+Instead of switching between diagram, instance history, popovers, and bottom panels, you can inspect incidents, variables, executions, and modeling properties in one overview-to-detail flow.
+
+## Orchestration Cluster
+
+<div class="release"><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects Self-Managed">Self-Managed</span><span class="badge badge--long" title="This feature affects SaaS">SaaS</span><span class="badge badge--medium" title="This feature affects jobs">Jobs</span></div>
+
+### Job Dashboard
+
+<!-- https://github.com/camunda/product-hub/issues/2787 -->
+
+The Job Dashboard provides a unified view of jobs and associated workers across the cluster, including Connectors and RPA.
+
+Use it to monitor job creation, completion trends, failures, and worker activity for faster troubleshooting without custom-built monitoring dashboards.
+
 ## 8.9.0-alpha5
 
 | Release date  | Changelog(s)                                                                                                                                                                               |