Workflow Executor Skill

Type

workflow_executor

Formats

JSON, Python DSL, Agent-based

Purpose: The Workflow Executor skill enables agents to run sophisticated multi-step workflows with support for conditional branching, parallel execution, and orchestration across multiple systems.

Common Use Cases

Multi-step deployment pipelinesBuild, test, and deploy applications across multiple environments

Complex orchestration tasksCoordinate operations across multiple services and systems

Dependent task executionExecute tasks with dependencies and data passing between steps

Conditional workflow branchingMake decisions based on runtime conditions and previous step outcomes

Workflow Formats

Format	Best For	Key Features
JSON	Simple, linear workflows	Declarative syntax, version control friendly, schema validation
Python DSL	Complex logic, dynamic workflows	Full Python capabilities, dynamic step generation, complex conditionals
Agent-based	Multi-agent orchestration	Delegate to specialized agents, hierarchical execution

Format Selection: Start with JSON for simple workflows, use Python DSL for complex logic, Agent-based for multi-agent coordination.

Configuration

Example Configuration:

{
  "validation_enabled": true,
  "timeout": 1800,
  "allowed_executors": ["shell", "python", "docker"],
  "max_parallel_steps": 5,
  "on_failure": "stop"
}

📋 Full Configuration Reference

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`validation_enabled`	boolean	true	Validate workflows before execution
`timeout`	number	1800	Global workflow timeout (seconds)
`allowed_executors`	array	[“shell”, “python”]	Permitted step executors
`max_parallel_steps`	number	5	Maximum concurrent steps
`parallel_execution`	boolean	true	Enable parallel execution
`on_failure`	string	”stop”	Failure strategy (stop, continue, retry)
`max_retries`	number	3	Maximum retry attempts per step
`retry_delay`	number	5	Delay between retries (seconds)
`enable_context_sharing`	boolean	true	Share data between steps

Quick Start

# Create skill
kubiya skill create --name "CI/CD Executor" --type workflow_executor --enabled

# Associate with agent
kubiya skill associate agent <agent-id> <skill-id>

View Complete Examples

See full deployment pipelines, ETL workflows, and multi-agent orchestration examples

Workflow Features

Conditional Execution

Execute steps based on runtime conditions:

{
  "id": "deploy-to-prod",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "deploy-production.sh",
  "condition": "test_results.passed && approval.status == 'approved'"
}

Parallel Execution

Run independent steps concurrently:

{
  "parallel_group": "testing",
  "steps": [
    {"id": "unit-tests", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run test:unit"},
    {"id": "integration-tests", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run test:integration"},
    {"id": "e2e-tests", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run test:e2e"}
  ]
}

Data Passing Between Steps

Share outputs between workflow steps:

{
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "get-version",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "cat version.txt",
      "output_variable": "app_version"
    },
    {
      "id": "build-image",
      "type": "docker",
      "command": "build -t myapp:{{app_version}} .",
      "depends_on": ["get-version"]
    }
  ]
}

Error Handling and Retries

Configure retry behavior for resilient workflows:

{
  "id": "api-call",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "curl https://api.example.com/data",
  "retries": 3,
  "retry_delay": 5,
  "on_error": "continue"
}

Example Workflow

Deployment Pipeline

{
  "name": "deployment-pipeline",
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "build",
      "type": "docker",
      "command": "build -t myapp:latest .",
      "timeout": 300
    },
    {
      "parallel_group": "testing",
      "depends_on": ["build"],
      "steps": [
        {"id": "unit-tests", "type": "shell", "command": "npm test"},
        {"id": "lint", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run lint"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "deploy",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "kubectl apply -f k8s/",
      "depends_on": ["testing"],
      "condition": "unit_tests.status == 'success'"
    }
  ]
}

Security Best Practices

Validate Workflows

Always enable validation_enabled to catch errors before execution.

"validation_enabled": true  # Validate workflow syntax and dependencies

Restrict Executors

Limit allowed_executors to only necessary execution methods.

"allowed_executors": ["shell", "python"]  # No docker or agent execution

Set Timeouts

Configure timeouts to prevent runaway workflows.

"timeout": 1800  # Global 30-minute timeout

Best Practice: Start with on_failure: "stop" for production workflows to catch issues early.

Workflow Validation Fails

Solutions:

Check JSON syntax is valid
Verify all depends_on references exist
Ensure no circular dependencies
Validate executor types are in allowed_executors

Step Timeout

Solutions:

Increase step-specific timeout
Increase global workflow timeout
Optimize step execution
Break into smaller steps

Context Data Not Available

Solutions:

Verify enable_context_sharing: true
Check output_variable is set on source step
Ensure variable name matches in dependent step

Agent Communication

Delegate workflow steps to specialized agents

Shell Skill

Execute shell commands in workflow steps

Docker Skill

Build and deploy containers in workflows

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Introduction

Quick Start

Web Interface

Core Concepts

Infrastructure

Workflow Executor Skill

Type

Formats

Common Use Cases

Workflow Formats

Configuration

Quick Start

View Complete Examples

Workflow Features

Conditional Execution

Parallel Execution

Data Passing Between Steps

Error Handling and Retries

Example Workflow

Deployment Pipeline

Security Best Practices

Agent Communication

Shell Skill

Docker Skill

View All Skills

Type

Formats

​Common Use Cases

​Workflow Formats

​Configuration

​Quick Start

View Complete Examples

​Workflow Features

​Conditional Execution

​Parallel Execution

​Data Passing Between Steps

​Error Handling and Retries

​Example Workflow

​Deployment Pipeline

​Security Best Practices

​Troubleshooting & Related Skills

​Related Skills

Agent Communication

Shell Skill

Docker Skill

View All Skills

Common Use Cases

Workflow Formats

Configuration

Quick Start

Workflow Features

Conditional Execution

Parallel Execution

Data Passing Between Steps

Error Handling and Retries

Example Workflow

Deployment Pipeline

Security Best Practices

Troubleshooting & Related Skills

Related Skills