Best Practices

Follow these best practices to get the most out of PEDAL and ensure reliable, maintainable workflows.

Workflow Design

Keep Workflows Focused

• Design workflows for a single, clear purpose

• Break complex workflows into smaller, reusable components

• Use descriptive names that explain what the workflow does

Error Handling

• Always include error handling and retry logic

• Use conditional steps to handle different scenarios

• Log errors with sufficient context for debugging

Dependencies

• Minimize dependencies between workflows

• Use explicit dependency declarations

• Avoid circular dependencies

Configuration Management

Environment Variables

• Use environment variables for sensitive data (API keys, passwords)

• Keep configuration in version control when possible

• Use different configs for different environments

Secrets Management

• Never hardcode secrets in workflow definitions

• Use PEDAL's built-in secrets management

• Rotate secrets regularly

Performance Optimization

Resource Usage

• Monitor workflow execution time and resource consumption

• Optimize slow steps or consider parallelization

• Clean up temporary files and artifacts

Caching

• Cache expensive operations when possible

• Use PEDAL's built-in caching features

• Invalidate caches when dependencies change

Security

Access Control

• Use least-privilege access for workflows

• Regularly review and update permissions

• Audit workflow access and execution logs

Input Validation

• Validate all external inputs

• Use PEDAL's schema validation features

• Sanitize data before processing

Monitoring and Observability

Logging

• Use structured logging with consistent formats

• Include relevant context in log messages

• Set appropriate log levels

Metrics

• Track key performance indicators

• Monitor workflow success rates

• Set up alerts for critical failures

Testing

Workflow Testing

• Test workflows with realistic data

• Include negative test cases

• Test error conditions and edge cases

Integration Testing

• Test workflows end-to-end

• Verify integration with external systems

• Test rollback and recovery procedures

Documentation

Workflow Documentation

• Document the purpose and expected behavior of each workflow

• Include examples and use cases

• Keep documentation up to date with changes

Code Comments

• Add comments for complex logic

• Explain business rules and requirements

• Document assumptions and limitations

Team Collaboration

Version Control

• Use meaningful commit messages

• Review workflow changes before deployment

• Tag releases for important changes

Communication

• Notify team members of workflow changes

• Document breaking changes clearly

• Share knowledge and lessons learned

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For troubleshooting, see Common Issues.