# Workflow Authoring

> Guidance for writing, editing, reviewing, and debugging JavaScript workflow code for pi-dynamic-workflows. Use when authoring or changing workflow scripts; not for merely running an existing workflow.

- Skill: `zerx-lab/workflow-authoring` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 28 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add zerx-lab/workflow-authoring`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/zerx-lab/workflow-authoring/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Productivity
- Author: zerx-lab (https://skillmd.com/u/zerx-lab)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/zerx-lab/workflow-authoring

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# Workflow authoring

Load this skill when workflow JavaScript changes. Running an existing workflow needs no authoring reference.

## Choose a branch

Read only what the task needs:

- **Write or edit:** start with [runtime](references/runtime.md). Add [pattern selection](references/pattern-selection.md) for topology, [lifecycle](references/lifecycle.md) for limits or resume, and [focused recipes](references/focused-recipes.md) for the matching concern.
- **Helper task:** read [quality helpers](references/quality-helpers.md) only for `verify` or `judgePanel`, the [retry helper](references/retry-helper.md) only for `retry`, and [specialized helpers](references/specialized-helpers.md) only for `completenessCheck`, `loopUntilDry`, `gate`, or `checkpoint`.
- **Review:** use the [review checklist](references/review.md), plus only the matching [quality](references/quality-helpers.md) or [specialized](references/specialized-helpers.md) helper contracts.
- **Debug:** use the [debugging map](references/debugging.md).
- **Routing:** read [registry ownership](references/registry-ownership.md) before using `model`, `tier`, phase models, or `agentType`; use environment-specific names only when context supplies them.
- **Exact lookup or portability:** start with the generated [capability index](references/capabilities.md). Follow its exhaustive-facts pointer only for constraints or support boundaries. Use [versions](references/versions.md) when moving scripts between installations.

## Invariants

- Start with literal `export const meta = { name, description }`; declare phases as an array of used `{ title }` objects and enter each named phase.
- Call `agent()` at least once, give every call a short unique `label`, and return plain JSON data explicitly.
- Pair ordered results with stable work IDs before filtering. When one agent consumes another's selected result, include both its stable ID and actual data in the downstream prompt. Treat recoverable `null` as missing coverage and report it.
- Bound fan-out, loops, retries, agents, and concurrency to the task. Treat invocation-level token and time caps as opt-in user constraints, not defaults.
- Use `log()` for new code; `console` is compatibility-only.
- Write plain JavaScript without imports or filesystem modules. Pass nondeterminism through `args`; `Date.now()`, `Math.random()`, and no-argument `new Date()` are unavailable.