Workflows

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Overview

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Core Concepts

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File-First Architecture

• Portable: Workflows can be version controlled, shared, and backed up
• Inspectable: Direct file access for debugging and understanding
• Durable: Workflows persist independently of the UI
• Collaborative: Team members can edit workflows through git

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Visual Editor

• Drag-and-Drop Design: Build workflows without writing JSON
• Node Palette: Pre-built components for common workflow tasks
• Real-Time Validation: Immediate feedback on workflow configuration
• Template System: Start with proven workflow patterns

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Execution Engine

• Distributed: Nodes can run on different agents
• Resilient: Automatic retry and error handling
• Observable: Complete audit trails and debugging information
• Scalable: Handle complex multi-step automations

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Workflow Components

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Node Types

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Control Nodes

• Start: Entry point for workflow execution
• End: Explicit workflow completion point

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Logic Nodes

• LLM: AI-powered content generation and decision making
• Human Approval: Manual review and approval steps

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Action Nodes

• Tool: Execute commands, send messages, manipulate files
• Writeback: Record workflow results in team files

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Media Nodes

• Media-Image: Generate images from text prompts
• Media-Video: Create video content automatically
• Media-Audio: Generate audio and voiceover content

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Edge Types

• Success: Execute when previous node succeeds
• Error: Handle failure cases and errors
• Always: Execute regardless of previous node outcome

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Advanced Features

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Template Variables

• Run Context: {{run.id}}, {{workflow.id}}, {{date}}
• Node Outputs: {{previous_node.result}}, {{draft_content.title}}
• Team Data: {{team.name}}, {{agent.role}}

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Memory Integration

• Context Awareness: Workflows understand team knowledge and procedures
• Consistent Outputs: AI responses align with team standards and decisions
• Learning: Workflows improve based on accumulated team experience

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Approval Workflows

• Configurable Bindings: Connect to Slack, Discord, email, or custom channels
• Rich Context: Approvers see full workflow context and generated content
• Revision Cycles: Support for feedback and iteration

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Getting Started

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Creating Your First Workflow

1. Navigate to Workflows
   • Open your team workspace
   • Click the “Workflows” tab
   • View existing workflows or create new ones
2. Choose Creation Method
   • From Template: Start with proven patterns (recommended)
   • From Scratch: Build completely custom workflows
   • Import: Load workflows from files or other teams
3. Use the Visual Editor
   • Drag nodes from the palette onto the canvas
   • Connect nodes to define execution flow
   • Configure each node’s properties and settings
   • Test with “Run Now” functionality

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Recommended Workflow Templates

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Marketing Content Pipeline

Draft Content → Generate Visuals → Human Review → Publish to Platforms

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Documentation Maintenance

Detect Changes → Draft Updates → Review → Update Files → Notify Team

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Customer Support Automation

Analyze Ticket → Route by Priority → Generate Response → Human Handoff

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Workflow Operations

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Triggering Workflows

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Manual Execution

• Run Now: Immediate workflow execution for testing
• Scheduled Runs: One-time execution at specified time
• Bulk Operations: Run workflows across multiple contexts

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Automated Triggers

• Cron Schedules: Time-based workflow execution
• Event Triggers: React to external events or changes
• Chain Execution: Workflows that trigger other workflows

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Monitoring and Debugging

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Run Inspection

• Live Status: Real-time workflow progress
• Node Outputs: Generated content and data at each step
• Error Details: Complete error context and stack traces
• Performance Metrics: Execution time and resource usage

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Approval Management

• Pending Approvals: Dashboard of items awaiting review
• Approval History: Complete audit trail of decisions
• Bulk Actions: Approve or reject multiple items
• Delegation: Route approvals to appropriate team members

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Workflow Collaboration

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Team Editing

• Concurrent Access: Multiple team members can edit workflows safely
• Change Tracking: Git integration for version control
• Permission Management: Control who can edit vs. run workflows
• Review Process: Optional approval for workflow changes

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Knowledge Sharing

• Workflow Libraries: Share successful patterns across teams
• Documentation: Rich descriptions and usage guides
• Template Creation: Convert working workflows into reusable templates
• Best Practices: Team conventions and standards

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Advanced Capabilities

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Integration Ecosystem

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Tool Integration

• Native Tools: Built-in support for common operations
• Skill System: Extensible through OpenClaw skills
• API Connectors: Connect to external services and APIs
• Custom Tools: Build team-specific automation tools

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Media Generation

• Multi-Provider: Support for multiple generation services
• Auto-Discovery: Automatic detection of available capabilities
• Quality Control: Human review and iteration cycles
• Asset Management: Organized storage and reuse of generated content

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External Publishing

• Social Media: Direct publishing to Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
• Documentation: Update wikis, knowledge bases, and documentation
• Communication: Send notifications and updates to team channels
• Data Export: Push results to databases and external systems

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Performance and Scalability

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Optimization

• Parallel Execution: Run independent nodes simultaneously
• Caching: Reuse expensive computations and API calls
• Resource Management: Control memory and compute usage
• Rate Limiting: Respect external service limits

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Monitoring

• Metrics Dashboard: Track workflow performance and success rates
• Alerting: Notifications for failures and performance issues
• Logging: Comprehensive logs for debugging and auditing
• Analytics: Usage patterns and optimization opportunities

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Best Practices

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Workflow Design

• Start Simple: Begin with linear workflows before adding complexity
• Error Handling: Include error paths for all critical operations
• Modularity: Break complex workflows into reusable components
• Documentation: Clearly describe workflow purpose and usage

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Team Collaboration

• Naming Conventions: Consistent workflow and node naming
• Testing: Thorough testing before deploying to production
• Version Control: Use git branches for experimental changes
• Knowledge Transfer: Document team-specific patterns and decisions

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Security and Governance

• Access Control: Appropriate permissions for editing and execution
• Approval Gates: Human oversight for sensitive operations
• Audit Trails: Complete records of workflow changes and executions
• Secret Management: Secure handling of API keys and credentials

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

• Verify all required agents are available
• Check workflow trigger configuration
• Ensure necessary plugins are installed
• Review team permissions and access

• Check node configuration and parameters
• Verify tool availability and permissions
• Review error logs in run detail pages
• Test node configuration independently

• Verify approval binding configuration
• Check notification delivery to reviewers
• Review approval channel connectivity
• Consider timeout value adjustments

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Getting Help

• Run Logs: Detailed execution information
• Team Memory: Documented procedures and troubleshooting guides
• Template Examples: Reference implementations for common patterns
• Community Resources: Shared workflows and best practices

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Related Documentation

• Workflow Visual Editor: Complete guide to the visual editor
• Media Generation: AI-powered content creation workflows
• Team Memory: Knowledge management and workflow context
• ClawRecipes Documentation: Technical foundation and CLI tools