A sophisticated framework for building automated, multi-node pipelines with reusable components and persistent state management.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install workflow
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install workflow using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Workflow Skill?
The Workflow skill is a core architecture for developers using Openclaw Skills to create structured, repeatable automation sequences. It enables the creation of complex pipelines where data flows seamlessly between discrete nodes, ensuring that each step of a process is modular and maintainable. By organizing operations into connections, nodes, and triggers, this skill provides a standardized way to build everything from simple data fetchers to complex, multi-stage AI agent operations.
At its heart, the Workflow skill emphasizes reliability and observability. It includes built-in patterns for managing state—allowing agents to resume exactly where they left off—and detailed logging for every execution. This makes it an essential tool for anyone looking to scale their automation capabilities within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem while maintaining strict control over data integrity and process execution.
Workflow Skill Use Cases
- Creating multi-step data processing pipelines that require precise data passing between steps.
- Building stateful AI agents that can handle long-running tasks across multiple sessions.
- Standardizing organizational automation by sharing reusable connection and node components.
- Implementing high-reliability workflows with automated retries and error recovery logic.
- Managing complex sequences that require file-based locking to prevent concurrent execution conflicts.
How Workflow Skill Works
- Initialize the workflow structure by creating the necessary directory hierarchy within the workflows folder.
- Define reusable components including auth connections, operational nodes, and event triggers to be used across Openclaw Skills.
- Configure specific flows using Markdown definitions and YAML parameters to orchestrate the sequence of operations.
- Execute nodes sequentially, where each node captures output in a numbered JSON file to be consumed by the subsequent node.
- Maintain process state through dedicated JSON files that track processed items, current progress, and recovery checkpoints.
Workflow Skill Setup
To get started with this skill in the Openclaw Skills environment, ensure you have the required CLI utilities installed:
# Install core dependencies
sudo apt-get install jq yq curl
Ensure your workspace is structured to support the workflow architecture:
mkdir -p workflows/components/{connections,nodes,triggers}
mkdir -p workflows/flows/my-new-flow/{state,logs,data}
Finally, ensure that your secrets are managed securely via your system's keychain to allow the components to authenticate with external services.
Workflow Skill Data Schema & Taxonomy
The Workflow skill organizes data into a strict hierarchy to ensure consistency across all Openclaw Skills implementations:
| Directory/File | Purpose | Data Type |
|---|---|---|
state/cursor.json |
Tracks the last processed item for pagination or resume. | JSON |
state/seen.json |
Stores identifiers of already processed records to ensure idempotency. | JSON |
data/NN-name.json |
Intermediate data passed between node NN and the next step. | JSON |
logs/ |
Detailed execution history stored as JSONL files. | JSONL |
config.yaml |
Parameter definitions for a specific flow instance. | YAML |
Workflow Skill Advanced Features
- Modular component reuse allowing connections and nodes to be shared across multiple Openclaw Skills projects.
- Sophisticated error declaration patterns including retry(N), fail, continue, and alert status.
- Native concurrency control using flock to ensure data safety during parallel executions.
- Integrated state management with checkpointing for multi-step recovery in complex environments.
- Seamless compatibility with other Openclaw Skills like the cycle skill for iterative LLM processes.
SKILL.md
Loading
Related Openclaw Skills
Work Skill for AI Agents
A comprehensive skill for navigating corporate environments, professional communication, and office politics with precision.
Wishlist
Build a personalized wishlist system for capturing desires, tracking price drops, and making data-driven purchasing decisions.
WireGuard VPN Configuration
A specialized tool for orchestrating secure, high-performance WireGuard VPN tunnels and managing complex network routing configurations.
Windows Operational Patterns & Security
A comprehensive technical guide to mastering Windows-specific patterns, security practices, and avoiding silent operational failures in automation.
Workouts
A local-first, AI-driven fitness tracking system for managing exercises, routines, and performance progression.
Write
A structured AI writing system that automates planning, drafting, and version-controlled refinement of professional content.
Featured*
