Skip to main content

Understanding Agent Workflows

Agent workflows define how your AI coworker processes tasks and interacts with users. A workflow is essentially a list of tasks that your agent needs to perform, powered by the skills you've assigned to it. Think of it as writing a to-do list for your AI assistant, where each task utilizes one or more of its configured skills.

Prerequisites​

Before creating a workflow, ensure you have:

  1. Added necessary skills to your agent
  2. Understood what tasks each skill enables
  3. Planned the sequence of tasks you want to automate

Accessing the Workflow Configuration​

  1. Navigate to your agent in the AI Coworkers section
  2. Click on the Task List tab
  3. Find the View button at the top of the page
  4. Click to choose between three views:
    • Task List View (visual representation)
    • JSON View (technical configuration)
    • List of Nodes (simplified node list)

Starting with Tasks​

When you first access the Task List tab, you'll see:

  1. A clean workspace with an "Add a Task" button at the center
  2. Option to import existing workflows
  3. View selector (Task List, JSON, or Nodes) in the top right

Adding Your First Task​

  1. Click the "Add a Task" button
  2. Write your task in plain language, for example:
    • "Read emails from the 'Urgent' Gmail label"
    • "Send daily reports to Slack channel #updates"
    • "Monitor weather for New York and alert if rain is predicted"
  3. The system will analyze your task and match it with available skills

Building the Workflow​

As you add tasks, Telex will:

  1. Match tasks with appropriate skills
  2. Suggest additional related tasks
  3. Help configure task parameters
  4. Create connections between tasks automatically

View Options​

Task List View (Default)​

  • Visual representation of your tasks
  • Drag-and-drop task ordering
  • Easy task addition and editing
  • Clear view of task relationships

JSON View​

When you select "JSON View", you'll see an editor interface with:

  • Syntax-highlighted workflow JSON
  • Toolbar with actions:
    • Prettify: Formats the JSON for better readability
    • Compress: Minifies the JSON
    • Copy: Copies to clipboard
    • Save: Saves changes

The Role of Skills​

Skills are fundamental to workflows:

  1. Task Enablement

    • Each task requires one or more skills
    • Skills determine what tasks are possible
    • New skills enable new task types

  2. Task Configuration

    • Skills provide task parameters
    • Skills determine data formats
    • Skills enable connections between tasks

  3. Examples of Skill-Task Relationships

SkillPossible Tasks
Gmail Integration- Read emails from specific labels - Monitor for new emails - Send email responses
Slack Integration- Post messages to channels - Monitor channel activity - Send direct messages
Weather API- Check weather forecasts - Monitor conditions - Set up weather alerts

Future Capabilities​

The workflow system is designed to support:

  1. Automatic Workflow Generation

    • Write tasks in plain language
    • Click "Generate Workflow"
    • System creates optimized workflow

  2. Smart Task Suggestions

    • Based on installed skills
    • Learns from common patterns
    • Suggests task optimizations

Best Practices​

  1. Clear Instructions

    • Write detailed, specific instructions in long_description
    • Include all required steps and formats
    • Specify any tools the agent should use

  2. Organized Structure

    • Group related nodes together
    • Use meaningful names for nodes
    • Keep the workflow focused on a specific purpose

  3. Testing

    • Always test the workflow after making changes
    • Verify all nodes are properly connected
    • Check that instructions are being followed correctly

Next Steps​

  • Learn about Task Lists to understand how to organize agent tasks
  • Explore Agent Skills to add capabilities to your workflow
  • Review Prompts to refine how your agent communicates