54 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
54 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
# Understanding Steps
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Steps are the building blocks of workflows. Each step is a self-contained unit that takes some input, processes it, and produces an output.
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## What is a Step?
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A step has three main parts:
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1. **Input Schema** - what data it expects to receive
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2. **Output Schema** - what data it will produce
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3. **Execute Function** - the logic that transforms input to output
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## Step Structure
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Every step follows this pattern:
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```typescript
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const myStep = createStep({
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id: "unique-step-name",
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description: "What this step does",
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inputSchema: z.object({
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// Define expected input structure
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}),
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outputSchema: z.object({
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// Define output structure
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}),
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execute: async ({ inputData }) => {
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// Your logic here
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return {
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// Return data matching output schema
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};
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},
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});
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```
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## Why Use Schemas?
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Schemas provide several benefits:
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- **Type Safety**: TypeScript knows exactly what data flows between steps
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- **Runtime Validation**: Invalid data is caught immediately with helpful error messages
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- **Documentation**: Schemas serve as living documentation of your workflow
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- **Debugging**: Clear contracts make it easy to identify issues
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## Key Benefits
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- **Reusable**: Steps can be used in multiple workflows
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- **Testable**: Each step can be tested in isolation
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- **Composable**: Steps can be combined in different ways
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- **Reliable**: Schemas catch data flow issues early
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- **Traceable**: Every step is traced so you can see the flow of data
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Next, you'll create your first step!
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