Workflows
Workflows

Model runtime behavior as sequence-style workflows over your objects.

Where objects and links describe structure, workflows describe behavior: how a request or process moves across objects over time. Workflows render as sequence diagrams and reuse the same objects you already modeled.

Where workflows live

Workflows are declared under the model and stored as workflow artifacts (.wf) using sequenceDiagram syntax:

# in the model root
workflows:
  checkout:
    type: wf
    title: Checkout
    diagram:
      syntax: sequenceDiagram
      file: checkout.wf
FieldPurpose
type: wfMarks the entry as a workflow
titleDisplay name
descOptional description
diagram.syntaxsequenceDiagram
diagram.fileThe .wf source file
tagsgroup:value classification

Participants are model objects

Workflow participants resolve to objects in the model. Because of this, a workflow stays consistent with structure:

Reference real objects

Participants map to object paths, so messages connect actual systems and components.

Order the messages

The sequence defines step order, arrows, and replies.

Read it as steps or a diagram

The same workflow renders as a sequence diagram and as an ordered steps view.

Structure and behavior stay aligned

Because participants are model objects, a workflow that references a renamed or removed object surfaces as an unresolved participant — a prompt to keep behavior and structure in sync.

When to use workflows

  • Request/response lifecycles across services.
  • Cross-component processes (checkout, onboarding, provisioning).
  • Handoffs that span teams or systems.

Keep one workflow per process. Several focused workflows are easier to read and maintain than one diagram that tries to show everything.

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