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Workfile

Scope

Workfile Core defines the Workfile document format, static validation, and the semantics for workflow evaluation.

In addition to Workfile Core, this specification defines connector and filter-package manifest formats, catalog resolution and packaging, the Standard Library, and optional capabilities and execution profiles.

This specification does not define vendor-specific integrations; deployment policy or configuration; an execution, scheduling, or storage architecture; internal connector implementation; retention policy; or hosting, distribution, service, and authoring interfaces. Optional profiles can constrain observable behavior in these areas without prescribing an implementation’s internal design.

Specification Structure

Section titled “Specification Structure”

This specification defines:

  • Workfile Core: the Workfile document format, values, bindings, expressions, static validation, basic constructs, and logical execution semantics.
  • Connector Manifest: the document format and contracts for reusable connector actions and triggers.
  • Filter Package Manifest: the document format and contracts for reusable pure expression filters.
  • Catalog Resolution and Packaging: namespaces, references, resolution, pinning, packaging, and content identity.
  • Standard Library: connector and filter-package definitions versioned with the Standard.

Capabilities and profiles are:

  • Scheduled initiation (wf.scheduled-initiation): starting runs according to a declared schedule.
  • External-event initiation (wf.external-event-initiation): accepting external events and starting runs from them.
  • Polling initiation (wf.polling-initiation): polling through a connector trigger and starting runs from matching results.
  • Template rendering (wf.template-rendering): execution of wf.render.
  • Workflow composition (wf.composition): execution of wf.call, including statically resolved callees and child-run behavior; required of every Core Executor.
  • Action-source iteration (wf.action-source-iteration): iteration over an action-call source.
  • Agent execution (wf.agent-execution): execution of wf.agent through a deployment-resolved agent.
  • Run records (wf.run-records): inspection of retained runs, independently of Durable execution and Replay.
  • Stateful Workflow Profile: state declarations, transitions, and correlation.
  • Durable Execution Profile: suspension, recovery, compensation, durable cancellation, and durable run history.
  • Replay Profile: reconstruction, re-evaluation, and continuation from history.

The Capability Registry is the authoritative list of standard capabilities.

Workfile Core conformance does not require run initiation, action-source iteration, stateful coordination, suspension, durable recovery, persistent run history, retention after termination, replay, or agent execution. Operational requirements for those features apply when the corresponding capability or profile is claimed; static checks follow Validation Ownership.