Defining Workflows

Workflows are structured representations of business processes that can be captured and expressed in various ways, such as pen and paper or software components. They provide two core capabilities: defining workflows and executing them. Workflow technologies integrate with different frameworks, offer testing and debugging capabilities, and feature visibility and observability features. Workflows are essential for organizing tasks and achieving goals in a structured manner. Defining workflows involves iterative improvements based on domain-specific terminology, dealing with known and unknown failures, recovering from failure, and adapting to changes. Workflows can be defined using domain-specific languages (DSLs) or general-purpose programming languages. DSLs provide a higher level of abstraction for specific technology domains but may struggle with complex workflow definitions. They are typically exposed in three ways: flowcharts, forms, and markup. General-purpose programming language workflow models target technical users and can be leveraged to define workflows across various technology domains. Workflow technologies offer numerous benefits, such as domain specialization, visualization, integration with existing frameworks, and large ecosystem support. However, they may also have drawbacks, including the need for custom tooling and difficulty in understanding complex workflow definitions.