Perform selective checkpointing using Standard and Express workflows
This sample project demonstrates how to combine Standard and Express Workflows by running a mock e-commerce workflow that does selective checkpointing. Deploying this sample project creates a Standard workflows state machine, a nested Express Workflows state machine, an Amazon Lambda function, an Amazon Simple Queue Service (Amazon SQS) queue, and an Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS) topic.
For more information about Express Workflows, nested workflows, and Step Functions service integrations, see the following:
Step 1: Create the State Machine
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Open the Step Functions console
and choose Create state machine. -
Find and choose the starter template you want to work with. Choose Next to continue.
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Choose Run a demo to create a read-only and ready-to-deploy workflow, or choose Build on it to create an editable state machine definition that you can build on and later deploy.
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Choose Use template to continue with your selection.
Next steps depend on your previous choice:
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Run a demo – You can review the state machine before you create a read-only project with resources deployed by Amazon CloudFormation to your Amazon Web Services account.
You can view the state machine definition, and when you are ready, choose Deploy and run to deploy the project and create the resources.
Deploying can take up to 10 minutes to create resources and permissions. You can use the Stack ID link to monitor progress in Amazon CloudFormation.
After deploy completes, you should see your new state machine in the console.
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Build on it – You can review and edit the workflow definition. You might need to set values for placeholders in the sample project before attemping to run your custom workflow.
Note
Standard charges might apply for services deployed to your account.
Step 2: Run the state machine
On the State machines page, choose your sample project.
On the sample project page, choose Start execution.
In the Start execution dialog box, do the following:
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(Optional) Enter a custom execution name to override the generated default.
Non-ASCII names and logging
Step Functions accepts names for state machines, executions, activities, and labels that contain non-ASCII characters. Because such characters will not work with Amazon CloudWatch, we recommend using only ASCII characters so you can track metrics in CloudWatch.
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(Optional) In the Input box, enter input values as JSON. You can skip this step if you are running a demo.
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Choose Start execution.
The Step Functions console will direct you to an Execution Details page where you can choose states in the Graph view to explore related information in the Step details pane.
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Congratulations!
You should now have either a running demo or a state machine definition that you can customize.