Declarative Workflow System

A Declarative Workflow System is a workflow system that uses configuration specifications to define workflow behavior without procedural programming.

• AKA: Declarative Workflow, Config-Based Workflow, Configuration-Driven Workflow System, Specification-Based Workflow System, No-Code Workflow System, YAML Workflow.
• Context:
  • It can typically express Workflow Logic through declarative workflow syntax with configuration files.
  • It can typically define Workflow State through declarative workflow models with state specifications.
  • It can typically manage Workflow Transitions through declarative workflow rules with condition expressions.
  • It can typically support Workflow Composition through declarative workflow templates with reusable components.
  • It can often enable Workflow Validation through declarative workflow schemas with syntax checkers.
  • It can often facilitate Workflow Portability through declarative workflow standards with platform-agnostic formats.
  • It can often provide Workflow Visualization through declarative workflow diagrams with automatic layout generation.
  • It can range from being a Simple Declarative Workflow System to being a Complex Declarative Workflow System, depending on its language expressiveness.
  • It can range from being a Domain-Specific Declarative Workflow System to being a General-Purpose Declarative Workflow System, depending on its application scope.
  • It can range from being a Static Declarative Workflow System to being a Dynamic Declarative Workflow System, depending on its runtime flexibility.
  • It can range from being a Text-Based Declarative Workflow System to being a Visual Declarative Workflow System, depending on its authoring interface.
  • It can range from being a Lightweight Declarative Workflow System to being an Enterprise Declarative Workflow System, depending on its deployment scale.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • YAML-Based Workflow Systems, such as:
    • GitHub Actions Workflow System for CI/CD automation.
    • Ansible Playbook System for infrastructure automation.
    • Kubernetes Job System for container orchestration.
  • JSON-Based Workflow Systems, such as:
    • AWS Step Functions System for serverless orchestration.
    • Apache Airflow DAG System for data pipeline automation.
  • Domain-Specific Language Workflow Systems, such as:
    • BPMN Workflow System for business process modeling.
    • Windows Workflow Foundation System for .NET application workflows.
  • Visual Workflow Builder Systems, such as:
    • Zapier Workflow System for application integration.
    • Microsoft Power Automate System for office automation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Imperative Workflow System, which uses procedural code to define workflow logic.
  • Hard-Coded Workflow System, which embeds workflow behavior directly in application code.
  • Manual Workflow Process, which lacks automated execution and formal specification.
• See: Workflow Specification Language, No-Code Workflow Automation Platform, Workflow Orchestration Framework, Simple Workflow Process, Domain-Specific Language, Configuration Management System, Infrastructure as Code, Business Process Execution Language, Workflow Management System, YAML Configuration.
• Reference(s):
  • https://www.gabormelli.com/RKB/Workflow_Specification_Language
  • https://www.gabormelli.com/RKB/No-Code_Workflow_Automation_Platform

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