CaseStudies

Visual Workflow Designer

Status: 📋 Planned
Version: v0.2.0+
Last Updated: November 15, 2025

Overview

No-code visual workflow designer with drag-and-drop interface for building complex multi-agent interactions, enabling non-technical users to create sophisticated agent workflows without writing YAML or code.

Description

Goal

Create an intuitive graphical interface where users can design multi-agent workflows by dragging nodes (agents, tools, conditions) and connecting them, automatically generating the underlying configuration files.

Key Features

1. Visual Workflow Canvas
   • Drag-and-drop node placement
   • Visual connection between nodes
   • Real-time validation and error highlighting
   • Zoom, pan, and auto-layout capabilities
2. Node Types
   • Agent Nodes: Configure backend, model, parameters
   • Tool Nodes: MCP servers, custom tools, file operations
   • Logic Nodes: Conditionals, loops, parallel execution
   • Data Nodes: Input/output, transformations
   • Control Nodes: Start, end, merge, split
3. Template Library
   • Pre-built workflow templates (research, coding, analysis)
   • Community-shared workflows
   • Import/export workflows as JSON
   • Version control integration
4. Live Testing
   • Test workflows in the designer
   • Step-by-step execution with breakpoints
   • Inspect intermediate results
   • Debug mode with detailed logs
5. Auto-Generation
   • Export to YAML config files
   • Generate Python scripts for advanced users
   • CLI command generation
   • Documentation generation

Example Use Cases

• Research Pipeline: Search → Summarize → Synthesize → Report
• Code Review: Fetch code → Analyze → Test → Document → Review
• Data Processing: Load → Clean → Transform → Analyze → Visualize
• Content Creation: Research → Draft → Review → Edit → Publish

Testing Guidelines

Test Scenarios

1. Basic Workflow Creation
   • Action: Drag 3 agent nodes, connect sequentially
   • Expected: Valid workflow graph created
   • Validation: Generated YAML executes correctly
2. Parallel Branch Test
   • Action: Create workflow with parallel paths that merge
   • Expected: Proper fork/join logic in generated config
   • Validation: Both paths execute in parallel, results merge correctly
3. Template Usage Test
   • Action: Load “Research Assistant” template, customize parameters
   • Expected: Template loads with defaults, allows customization
   • Validation: Customized workflow works as expected
4. Error Handling Test
   • Action: Create invalid connection (e.g., circular dependency)
   • Expected: Real-time error highlighting and message
   • Validation: Cannot save/export invalid workflow
5. Live Testing
   • Action: Run workflow in designer with breakpoints
   • Expected: Execution pauses at breakpoints, shows intermediate results
   • Validation: Can inspect state, modify, and continue
6. Complex Workflow Test
   • Action: Create 10-node workflow with conditionals and loops
   • Expected: Designer remains responsive, layout is readable
   • Validation: Generated config matches visual design exactly

Usability Testing

• Learning Curve: Can new users create simple workflow in <5 minutes?
• Discoverability: Are features easily findable without documentation?
• Error Recovery: Can users easily fix mistakes?
• Performance: Does designer lag with 50+ nodes?

Validation Criteria

• ✅ Create basic 3-agent workflow in <2 minutes
• ✅ 100% accuracy in YAML generation (visual → config)
• ✅ Support workflows with 50+ nodes without lag
• ✅ Real-time validation catches all configuration errors
• ✅ Template library has 10+ common patterns

Implementation Notes

Technology Stack (Suggested)

• Frontend: React + React Flow (node-based UI library)
• Backend: Python FastAPI for workflow validation/execution
• Storage: JSON format for workflows, export to YAML
• Deployment: Web app (hosted) + Desktop app (Electron/Tauri)

Architecture

Visual Designer (React)
    ↓
Workflow Graph (JSON)
    ↓
Validator & Generator
    ↓
YAML Config → MassGen Execution

Related Work

• Config Builder (v0.1.9) - CLI configuration tool
• Agent Task Planning (v0.1.7) - Workflow execution foundation
• MCP Planning Mode (v0.0.29) - Preview before execution

References

See ROADMAP.md for detailed long-term vision and development timeline.