Asynchronous workflow management

Abstract

A system and method for asynchronous programmatic workflow execution, including: writing run outputs to coordination storage (e.g., a channel); optionally determining whether a run should be suspended or restarted; when the run should be suspended, suspending the run and storing an identifier for the run in a run queue associated with the coordination storage; and when a run should be restarted, identifying the run from the run queue and restarting the run with a value from the coordination storage.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a set of workflows, wherein each workflow comprises a set of code blocks; and   a run module configured to execute a run, comprising:   executing a code block from a set of code blocks;   storing block information to run storage during code block execution;   identifying a subsequent code block from the block information stored in run storage to execute when the code block does not suspend the run loop; and   storing the run storage to persistent storage when the code block suspends the run loop.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein comprising a set of coordination modules configured to control communication of values across runs. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the coordination modules comprise a set of suspension conditions, wherein a suspension command is generated when the set of suspension conditions are satisfied. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the values are stored in coordination storage shared across runs, wherein the set of suspension conditions comprises a number of values stored in the coordination storage exceeding a threshold size. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the block information comprises: a persistent identifier for an other code block; a set of variables from the code block; and a set of values bound to at least a subset of the set of variables. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein executing the run further comprises:
 returning a return value after code block execution; and   binding the return value to a variable of the set of variables; wherein the other code block is executed using the return value.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the run storage does not comprise compiled code.