Getting started with AWS Step Functions
What is AWS Step Functions?
AWS Step Functions lets you add resilient workflow automation to your applications in minutes—without writing code. Workflows built with Step Functions include built-in error handling, parameter passing, recommended security settings, and state management, reducing the amount of code you have to write and maintain.
AWS Step Functions is a service that makes it easy to coordinate the components of distributed applications and microservices using visual workflows. Microservices are processes that communicate with each other over a network to complete a larger goal. Applications built as a collection of microservices are more resilient and easier to scale. A very simple microservice can be deployed with an AWS Lambda function.
Many applications require more than one function, it is common to have combinations and patterns of two or three functions. For example, you may want to execute two functions in parallel and feed the combined results to a third. You could write a lot of code to orchestrate the interaction of your microservices, or you could use AWS Step Functions to coordinate your workflows.
How to get started with AWS Step Functions?
It's easy to get started with Step Functions. You can start building quickly with Workflow Studio, a simple drag-and-drop interface for expressing your workflows. With Step Functions you define your workflow in the form of a state machine and specify the tasks to be performed in sequence or in parallel and incorporate branching logic as needed. Step Functions manages each execution, keeps track of each step in a central audit trail and manages task timeouts, retries and errors with built-in try-catch-finally patterns.
Ready to get started?
Follow the Step Functions self-guided workshop, walk through interactive modules to learn more about Step Functions' features.
Try the getting started tutorials series to create a basic workflow for processing credit card application. Learn how to use commonly used states like Map, Choice, Parrallel, and Task states in Step Functions. You will integrate your workflow with other AWS services, like AWS Lambda and Amazon Simple Notification Service.
Visit the Serverless Workflows Collection. View the collection of workflow patterns to quickly build applications using AWS SAM and CDK templates. Filter by use-case and copy the template or workflow definition directly into your application.
Core concepts of serverless workflows
What are the core concepts of serverless workflows that you might encounter when working with Step Functions?
Below we will go over some of the most important concepts, and their definitions such as: pass states, parallel states, choice states, state transitions, component reusability, and branching logic.
Once you've gone through the main concepts, you will be ready to create your first Step Functions State Machine.
AWS Step Functions lets you coordinate individual tasks into a visual workflow, so you can build and update apps quickly.
The workflows you build with Step Functions are called state machines, and each step of your workflow is called a state.
Tasks perform work, either by coordinating another AWS service or an application that you can host basically anywhere.
Pass states pass their input as output to the next state. You can also delay execution when you need to using wait states.
Parallel states begin multiple branches of execution at the same time, such as running multiple Lambda functions at once.
Choice states add branching logic to your state machine, and make decisions based on their input.
When you execute your state machine, each move from one state to the next is called a state transition.
You can reuse components, easily edit the sequence of steps or swap out the code called by task states as your needs change.
That's it! You're now familiar with the core concepts of Step Functions. Why not create your first state machine?
10-minute tutorials
To help you get started, there are 10-minute AWS Step Functions tutorials designed for beginners. Learn how to create a serverless workflow, handle errors in serverless applications, and schedule a serverless workflow.
The Step Functions getting started tutorials will teach how to use AWS Step Functions to design and run a serverless workflow that coordinates multiple AWS Lambda Functions, how to use AWS Step Functions to handle workflow runtime errors using built-in retry and catch capabilities, and how to orchestrate a serverless workflow in response to an event that fires according to schedule.
10 MINUTES
Learn how to use AWS Step Functions to design and run a serverless workflow that coordinates multiple AWS Lambda functions
IAM, Lambda, Step Functions
10 MINUTES
Use the built-in retry and catch capabilities of AWS Step Functions to handle AWS Lambda runtime errors with different logic depending on the exception raised
IAM, Lambda, Step Functions
10 MINUTES
Orchestrate a serverless workflow in response to an Amazon CloudWatch event that fires according to a time-based schedule
CloudWatch, IAM, Step Functions
Discover more AWS Step Functions resources