ToĪddress this we introduced dynamic expressions and a data-flow to pass data from a Requirement with the introduction of a Domain-specific language (DSL) that acts as anĪbstraction layer, enabling operators to create workflows in an easy and user-friendly way.Īnother requirement was to be able to influence the workflow execution based on input provided externally at workflowĮxecution time or depending on values generated while running the workflow e.g., the current value of a PLC node. Given that operators often lack coding skills, we addressed this To define workflows to cover future use-cases. Brief overview of requirements and mapping to the features we builtĪ fundamental requirement of the solution was to be self-service in the sense that factory operators should be able We hope this information will be helpful if you areĬonsidering using DTFx and want to tailor it to your specific needs. With thisīlog post, we detail what we built, explaining the why and how. However, out-of-the-box DTFx also did not meet all of our requirements and we built some features on top of it. From the variety of existing workflowĮngines we selected the Durable Task Framework (DTFx) due to its performanceĬharacteristics, broad capabilities, big community and Microsoft support. We found that workflow engines would be good candidates to base our solution upon. Given that production of such hardware components requires a series of steps to be executed in sequence as a workflow, Helped the customer iterate and scale production faster, while potentially cutting down on manual errors. Our project helped eliminate or simplify these manual steps, which in turn Self-service solution with the ability for bi-directional communication to their PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers).īefore our engagement with them, PLC operators would need to manually configure each of the relevant PLCs on the factoryįloor to obtain desired output/results. In late 2022, we were approached by a large customer in the automotive industry who asked us to help them implement a

Building a custom workflow engine on top of Durable Task Framework (DTFx) Introduction

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