This is the core abstraction of furmly. It is divided in the following main concepts.

• Process
• Step
• Processor
• Form/Elements
• Async Processors

Process

A process like the name implies is represents everything needed for a user to complete a set of steps. It has a number of predefined steps. Rules:-

• A process is a sequence of steps an actor or actors take to achieve a business goal.

• A process must be uniquely identifiable system wide.

• There can be several steps in a process but there must be atleast one step.

• A process can describe its required steps.

• A process can be returned to when not completed.

• Processess are created with a unique id,title,description and steps.

Step

A step like the name implies is a task the user must complete to proceed towards the final goal. There are two types of steps namely:-

1. Client:- these steps present an interface the user can interact with. All client type steps contain forms.
2. Offline:- these steps don't have an interface. They could be used to start offline tasks.

Steps also have two distinct modes:-

1. default:- steps in this mode require a processing after a user submits a form.
2. view:- steps in this mode do not require any processing, i.e a user cannot submit this kind of step/form.

Rules:-

• Steps can either involve collecting input from a user or from another system generated event.

• A step must be uniquely identifiable within a process.

• Steps can have a chain of processors but the chain must have atleast one.

• Steps can have a chain of post processors but no minimum is required.

• Steps requiring user input must contain a form.

• Steps are created with id ,type and processors.

• A step can describe its form and processors.

• Client Steps require a form.

• A form can describe its elements properties and validators.

Processors

Processors are snippets of code that contain business logic used to process several tasks during the lifecycle of a process. When steps are completed and submitted ,processors are responsible for processing the user input.

• Processors can modify the regular flow of steps.

• Processors are uniquely identifiable system wide.

• Processors can create entities

• Processors can edit entities.

• Processors can delete entities.

Elements/Form

A form is a collection of elements presented to a user. Elements describe the type of information required by the form/step. Elements can contain other elements.

• A form must contain atleast one element.

• An element can contain any number of validators.

• Validators can either run on the clients machine or externally.