flow-builder

flow-builder provides an open source frontend for authoring flow interoperability project specification compliant flows. It enables the importing, editing and exporting of flow json, as well as authoring from scratch. Such flows can then be run using a compatible flow runner such as FLOIP/flow-runner.

What are flows

Flows are a modern paradign for describing the logic of digital information systems that interact with individuals, often for the purpose of (a) collecting data or (b) providing information through interactive requests. Some common examples of this are in mobile services using voice-based or SMS-based conversations over basic mobile phones. Flows follow the "flowchart" paradigm, consisting of actions (nodes) and connections between actions, which can incorporate decision-making logic.

Project setup - Testing and Developing

Serving

git clone git@github.com:FLOIP/flow-builder.git

cd flow-builder

yarn install

yarn serve

And visit localhost:8080/trees/create to create a new flow or localhost:8080/trees/1/edit to edit an example flow.

Note, yarn serve will also hot reload for development.

Compiles and minifies for production

yarn build

Lints and fixes files

yarn lint

webpack-dev-server stub routes

For UI standalone usage, we implemented stub routes under /vue.config.js, eg: /audiofiles/upload Therefore, if we want to integrate the flow-builder repo into other project:

we should remove those stub routes
we should create equivalent routes (and their associated controllers) inside the project which will use the flow-builder

Changes on JS dependencies

/src/lib/mixins/FlowUploader.js

This is related to Flow.js library which is providing multiple simultaneous, stable and resumable uploads via the HTML5 File API.

On standalone UI, we import the Flow like import Flow from '@flowjs/flow.js'; and use it inside the file like new Flow(...)
But when we integrate the flow-builder into other project, we may need to call a global Flow like new global.Flow(...).

Usage

Create new flow

To begin, you can create a new flow by visiting https://floip.github.io/flow-builder/#/. Click on New Flow , from there, you can enter in the pertinent flow information before opening the Flow Builder.

You may also go directly to the following link: https://https://floip.github.io/flow-builder/#/flows/new

Adding Blocks and Content

Once you have the canvas open you can add blocks to create your flow

Adding and Removing Connections

Adding and removing connections can be done easily

Navigating the Block Toolbar

Each block has a toolbar at the top that appears when hovering over the block. You may select the block, delete the block, duplicate the block, or access the sidebar editor from this toolbar.

Multiple Block Actions

If you select multiple blocks, you are able to duplicate or delete them on the Multiple Select Toolbar

Import existing flow

Visit https://floip.github.io/flow-builder/#/ and click on the Import/Paste a JSON File Link in order to import an exiting flow via JSON schema or by pasting the JSON file directly

You may also go directly to the following link: https://floip.github.io/flow-builder/#/flows/import

Importing JSON file

Pasting JSON file directly

Edits using the builder will then be reflected in the flow JSON in this panel and vice versa.

Export flow

To export, simply copy the json in this panel to a file.

Storybook

You only need to serve it with yarn storybook:serve
Then follow the provided url, by default it should be http://localhost:6006/ (but in case the port 6006 is non-available, it may use different one)

An explanation of app.config.json vs builder.config.json

app.config.json is intended to support the configuration needed when integrating this flow building ui into a larger platform or application while builder.config.json is intended to configure those features which are core to the flow builder - the blocks enabled, languages or content types supported etc.

More detail to follow.

Integrating With/Embedding In a Host App - Configuration Guide:

See here

Future extensions and improvements

Documentation on integration of this UI into another app including configuration of routes used for server side persistence
Validations and human readable validation error messages for the full flow spec - compulsory fields, string formats etc.
Documentation on extending this library - adding support for new block types or extending existing block types
More fully featured resource editing including audio upload
A way to add to the supportable languages
Guidance for integration into a permissions system for flow editing/viewing
Add regression testing pipeline for storyshots

AlexHg/flow-builder