diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 8d6586c4..55caa521 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -798,13 +798,6 @@ version = "2.5.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "77f3309417938f28bf8228fcff79a4a37103981e3e186d2ccd19c74b38f4eb71"
 
-[[package]]
-name = "example-operator"
-version = "0.1.0"
-dependencies = [
- "dora-operator-api",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "eyre"
 version = "0.6.8"
@@ -2279,6 +2272,34 @@ dependencies = [
  "zeroize",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-node"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "dora-node-api",
+ "eyre",
+ "futures",
+ "rand",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-operator"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "dora-operator-api",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-sink"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "dora-node-api",
+ "eyre",
+ "futures",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rustc_version"
 version = "0.4.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index a11b9489..2a656c60 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ members = [
   "apis/rust/*",
   "apis/rust/operator/macros",
   "binaries/*",
-  "examples/example-operator",
+  "examples/rust-dataflow/operator",
+  "examples/rust-dataflow/node",
+  "examples/rust-dataflow/sink",
   "libraries/core",
   "libraries/extensions/message",
   "libraries/extensions/telemetry/*",
@@ -27,3 +29,7 @@ dora-coordinator = { path = "binaries/coordinator" }
 [[example]]
 name = "c-dataflow"
 path = "examples/c-dataflow/run.rs"
+
+[[example]]
+name = "rust-dataflow"
+path = "examples/rust-dataflow/run.rs"
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs b/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
index efcf6ac4..0284f9ea 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ pub struct DoraOutputSender {
 
 impl DoraOutputSender {
     pub fn send(&mut self, id: &str, data: &[u8]) -> Result<(), isize> {
-        println!("operator sending output..");
         let result = unsafe {
             (self.output_fn_raw)(
                 id.as_ptr(),
diff --git a/binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/sink_logger.rs b/binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/sink_logger.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index cb499ba1..00000000
--- a/binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/sink_logger.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
-use dora_node_api::{self, DoraNode};
-use eyre::bail;
-use futures::StreamExt;
-use std::time::Duration;
-
-#[tokio::main]
-async fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
-    let operator = DoraNode::init_from_env().await?;
-
-    let mut inputs = operator.inputs().await?;
-
-    let mut last_timestamp = None;
-
-    loop {
-        let timeout = Duration::from_secs(5);
-        let input = match tokio::time::timeout(timeout, inputs.next()).await {
-            Ok(Some(input)) => input,
-            Ok(None) => break,
-            Err(_) => bail!("timeout while waiting for input"),
-        };
-
-        match input.id.as_str() {
-            "time" => {
-                // only record it, but don't print anything
-                last_timestamp = Some(String::from_utf8_lossy(&input.data).into_owned());
-            }
-            "random" => {
-                let number = match input.data.try_into() {
-                    Ok(bytes) => u64::from_le_bytes(bytes),
-                    Err(_) => {
-                        eprintln!("Malformed `random` message");
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                };
-                if let Some(timestamp) = &last_timestamp {
-                    println!("random at {}: {}", timestamp, number);
-                }
-            }
-            "timestamped-random" => {
-                let data = String::from_utf8(input.data)?;
-                println!("received timestamped random value: {data}");
-            }
-            "c-counter" => {
-                println!("received C counter value: {:?}", input.data);
-            }
-            "python-counter" => {
-                println!("received PYTHON counter value: {:?}", input.data);
-            }
-
-            other => eprintln!("Ignoring unexpected input `{other}`"),
-        }
-    }
-
-    Ok(())
-}
diff --git a/examples/example-operator/src/lib.rs b/examples/example-operator/src/lib.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index e0b1a4ba..00000000
--- a/examples/example-operator/src/lib.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-#![warn(unsafe_op_in_unsafe_fn)]
-
-use dora_operator_api::{register_operator, DoraOperator, DoraOutputSender, DoraStatus};
-
-register_operator!(ExampleOperator);
-
-#[derive(Debug, Default)]
-struct ExampleOperator {
-    time: Option<String>,
-}
-
-impl DoraOperator for ExampleOperator {
-    fn on_input(
-        &mut self,
-        id: &str,
-        data: &[u8],
-        output_sender: &mut DoraOutputSender,
-    ) -> Result<DoraStatus, ()> {
-        match id {
-            "time" => {
-                let parsed = std::str::from_utf8(data).map_err(|_| ())?;
-                self.time = Some(parsed.to_owned());
-            }
-            "random" => {
-                let parsed = {
-                    let data: [u8; 8] = data.try_into().map_err(|_| ())?;
-                    u64::from_le_bytes(data)
-                };
-                if let Some(time) = &self.time {
-                    let output = format!("state operator random value {parsed} at {time}");
-                    output_sender
-                        .send("timestamped-random", output.as_bytes())
-                        .map_err(|_| ())?;
-                }
-            }
-            other => eprintln!("ignoring unexpected input {other}"),
-        }
-        Ok(DoraStatus::Continue)
-    }
-}
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/dataflow.yml b/examples/rust-dataflow/dataflow.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f53131fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/dataflow.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+communication:
+  zenoh:
+    prefix: /example-rust-dataflow
+
+nodes:
+  - id: rust-node
+    custom:
+      run: ../../target/release/rust-dataflow-example-node
+      inputs:
+        tick: dora/timer/millis/300
+      outputs:
+        - random
+  - id: runtime-node
+    operators:
+      - id: rust-operator
+        shared-library: ../../target/release/librust_dataflow_example_operator.so
+        inputs:
+          tick: dora/timer/millis/100
+          random: rust-node/random
+        outputs:
+          - status
+  - id: rust-sink
+    custom:
+      run: ../../target/release/rust-dataflow-example-sink
+      inputs:
+        message: runtime-node/rust-operator/status
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/node/Cargo.toml b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7bcd656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[package]
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-node"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2021"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
+dora-node-api = { version = "0.1.0", path = "../../../apis/rust/node" }
+eyre = "0.6.8"
+futures = "0.3.21"
+rand = "0.8.5"
+tokio = { version = "1.20.1", features = ["rt", "macros"] }
diff --git a/binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/random_number.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
similarity index 89%
rename from binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/random_number.rs
rename to examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
index 5d0f97a1..edb349f7 100644
--- a/binaries/coordinator/examples/nodes/rust/random_number.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
-    let output = DataId::from("number".to_owned());
+    let output = DataId::from("random".to_owned());
 
     let operator = DoraNode::init_from_env().await?;
 
     let mut inputs = operator.inputs().await?;
 
-    loop {
+    for _ in 0..20 {
         let timeout = Duration::from_secs(3);
         let input = match tokio::time::timeout(timeout, inputs.next()).await {
             Ok(Some(input)) => input,
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ async fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
         };
 
         match input.id.as_str() {
-            "timestamp" => {
+            "tick" => {
                 let random: u64 = rand::random();
                 operator.send_output(&output, &random.to_le_bytes()).await?;
             }
diff --git a/examples/example-operator/Cargo.toml b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/Cargo.toml
similarity index 67%
rename from examples/example-operator/Cargo.toml
rename to examples/rust-dataflow/operator/Cargo.toml
index 3c6d872a..edcac2b8 100644
--- a/examples/example-operator/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [package]
-name = "example-operator"
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-operator"
 version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2021"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ license = "Apache-2.0"
 crate-type = ["cdylib"]
 
 [dependencies]
-dora-operator-api = { path = "../../apis/rust/operator" }
+dora-operator-api = { path = "../../../apis/rust/operator" }
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..211b2cc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#![warn(unsafe_op_in_unsafe_fn)]
+
+use dora_operator_api::{register_operator, DoraOperator, DoraOutputSender, DoraStatus};
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+register_operator!(ExampleOperator);
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+struct ExampleOperator {
+    ticks: usize,
+    last_random_at: Option<Instant>,
+}
+
+impl DoraOperator for ExampleOperator {
+    fn on_input(
+        &mut self,
+        id: &str,
+        data: &[u8],
+        output_sender: &mut DoraOutputSender,
+    ) -> Result<DoraStatus, ()> {
+        match id {
+            "tick" => {
+                self.ticks += 1;
+            }
+            "random" => {
+                let parsed = {
+                    let data: [u8; 8] = data.try_into().map_err(|_| ())?;
+                    u64::from_le_bytes(data)
+                };
+                let output = format!(
+                    "operator received random value {parsed} after {} ticks",
+                    self.ticks
+                );
+                output_sender
+                    .send("status", output.as_bytes())
+                    .map_err(|_| ())?;
+                self.last_random_at = Some(Instant::now());
+            }
+            other => eprintln!("ignoring unexpected input {other}"),
+        }
+        if let Some(last_random_at) = self.last_random_at {
+            if last_random_at.elapsed() > Duration::from_secs(1) {
+                // looks like the node sending the random values finished -> exit too
+                return Ok(DoraStatus::Stop);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(DoraStatus::Continue)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/run.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/run.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f24373e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/run.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+use eyre::{bail, Context};
+use std::path::Path;
+
+#[tokio::main]
+async fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
+    let root = Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"));
+    std::env::set_current_dir(root.join(file!()).parent().unwrap())
+        .wrap_err("failed to set working dir")?;
+
+    build_package("rust-dataflow-example-node").await?;
+    build_package("rust-dataflow-example-operator").await?;
+    build_package("rust-dataflow-example-sink").await?;
+    build_package("dora-runtime").await?;
+
+    dora_coordinator::run(dora_coordinator::Command::Run {
+        dataflow: Path::new("dataflow.yml").to_owned(),
+        runtime: Some(root.join("target").join("release").join("dora-runtime")),
+    })
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+async fn build_package(package: &str) -> eyre::Result<()> {
+    let cargo = std::env::var("CARGO").unwrap();
+    let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new(&cargo);
+    cmd.arg("build").arg("--release");
+    cmd.arg("--package").arg(package);
+    if !cmd.status().await?.success() {
+        bail!("failed to build {package}");
+    };
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/Cargo.toml b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..284ed20a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[package]
+name = "rust-dataflow-example-sink"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2021"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+[dependencies]
+dora-node-api = { version = "0.1.0", path = "../../../apis/rust/node" }
+eyre = "0.6.8"
+futures = "0.3.21"
+tokio = { version = "1.20.1", features = ["macros"] }
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c827a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+use dora_node_api::{self, DoraNode};
+use eyre::bail;
+use futures::StreamExt;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+#[tokio::main]
+async fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
+    let operator = DoraNode::init_from_env().await?;
+
+    let mut inputs = operator.inputs().await?;
+
+    loop {
+        let timeout = Duration::from_secs(5);
+        let input = match tokio::time::timeout(timeout, inputs.next()).await {
+            Ok(Some(input)) => input,
+            Ok(None) => break,
+            Err(_) => bail!("timeout while waiting for input"),
+        };
+
+        match input.id.as_str() {
+            "message" => {
+                println!("received message: {}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&input.data));
+            }
+            other => eprintln!("Ignoring unexpected input `{other}`"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}