1. A method, comprising: receiving, from a client associated with a user, a patch to a workflow template associated with a workflow; determining a mode associated with a workflow management system, the mode being a developer-ON mode, when the workflow is developed, or a developer-OFF mode; and updating the workflow template using the patch, including using mode-dependent actions based on the determined mode, including: blocking execution of new workflow instances of the workflow; allowing for the deployment of the updated workflow template; allowing starting of new workflow instances during the deployment; when the determined mode is the developer-ON mode: blocking execution of new workflow instances of the workflow using database-level locks; unblocking the execution of new workflow instances; and continuing the execution of existing workflow instances with the newest workflow template patch version no matter on which patch version the workflow instances originally have been started; and when the determined mode is a developer-OFF mode: blocking execution of new workflow instances of the workflow using double handshake method; permitting the continued execution of existing workflow instances associated with the latest patch version of that workflow template; and forbidding the continued execution of existing workflow instances associated with an older patch version of the workflow template.