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Best Practices

Guidelines and best practices for building efficient and reliable workflows with Axon OS.

Workflow Design​

Structure & Organization​

  • Modular Design: Break complex workflows into smaller, reusable components
  • Clear Naming: Use descriptive names for nodes and variables
  • Documentation: Add comments and descriptions to complex logic
  • Version Control: Track workflow changes and maintain backups

Error Handling​

  • Graceful Failures: Always implement error handling for external dependencies
  • Retry Logic: Add appropriate retry mechanisms for transient failures
  • Logging: Include comprehensive logging for debugging and monitoring
  • Fallback Strategies: Provide alternative paths when primary operations fail

Node Development​

Performance Optimization​

  • Memory Management: Avoid memory leaks in long-running workflows
  • Batch Processing: Process large datasets in manageable chunks
  • Caching: Cache expensive operations and API responses
  • Resource Cleanup: Properly dispose of resources after use

Security Considerations​

  • Input Validation: Always validate and sanitize user inputs
  • Credential Management: Store secrets securely, never in plain text
  • Access Control: Implement proper authorization checks
  • Data Privacy: Handle sensitive data according to compliance requirements

Integration Best Practices​

API Usage​

  • Rate Limiting: Respect API rate limits and implement backoff strategies
  • Authentication: Use secure authentication methods (OAuth, JWT)
  • Error Handling: Handle all HTTP status codes appropriately
  • Monitoring: Track API usage and performance metrics

Database Operations​

  • Connection Pooling: Use connection pools for database operations
  • Query Optimization: Write efficient queries and use indexes
  • Transaction Management: Use transactions for data consistency
  • Backup Strategy: Implement regular backup and recovery procedures

Testing & Quality Assurance​

Testing Strategy​

  • Unit Testing: Test individual nodes with various input scenarios
  • Integration Testing: Test complete workflows end-to-end
  • Load Testing: Verify performance under expected loads
  • Security Testing: Test for vulnerabilities and security issues

Monitoring & Observability​

  • Metrics Collection: Track key performance indicators
  • Alerting: Set up alerts for critical failures and performance issues
  • Log Analysis: Implement structured logging for better analysis
  • Health Checks: Regular health checks for system components

Deployment & Operations​

Environment Management​

  • Environment Separation: Use separate environments for dev, test, and production
  • Configuration Management: Externalize configuration from workflows
  • Secret Management: Use secure secret management solutions
  • Infrastructure as Code: Define infrastructure using code

Scaling Considerations​

  • Horizontal Scaling: Design workflows to scale horizontally
  • Load Balancing: Distribute load across multiple instances
  • Resource Allocation: Right-size resources based on usage patterns
  • Auto-scaling: Implement auto-scaling based on demand

Documentation Standards​

Code Documentation​

  • Inline Comments: Explain complex logic and business rules
  • API Documentation: Document all custom node APIs
  • Workflow Diagrams: Create visual representations of complex workflows
  • Change Logs: Maintain detailed change logs for all modifications

User Documentation​

  • Getting Started Guides: Provide clear onboarding documentation
  • Examples: Include practical examples and use cases
  • FAQ: Maintain frequently asked questions
  • Video Tutorials: Create video content for complex procedures

Community Guidelines​

Contributing​

  • Code Standards: Follow established coding standards and conventions
  • Pull Requests: Use clear descriptions and include tests
  • Issue Reporting: Provide detailed information when reporting issues
  • Community Support: Help other users and contribute to discussions

Sharing & Reuse​

  • Open Source: Consider open-sourcing reusable components
  • Documentation: Document shared components thoroughly
  • Versioning: Use semantic versioning for shared libraries
  • Licensing: Clearly specify licensing terms

Continuous Improvement​

Performance Monitoring​

  • Regular Reviews: Conduct regular performance reviews
  • Optimization: Continuously optimize based on usage patterns
  • Feedback Loop: Establish feedback mechanisms with users
  • Benchmarking: Compare performance against industry standards

Learning & Development​

  • Training: Regular training on new features and best practices
  • Knowledge Sharing: Share learnings and experiences with the team
  • Community Engagement: Participate in community discussions and events
  • Technology Updates: Stay current with platform updates and new features