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00 overview

Documentation for 00_overview from the Pipeline ex repository.

Pipeline Visual Editor - Overview

Executive Summary

The Pipeline Visual Editor is a comprehensive web-based tool for creating, editing, and managing AI pipelines in the pipeline_ex system. It provides multiple views and interaction modes to accommodate both novice users and power developers, supporting the full spectrum of pipeline complexity from simple linear workflows to recursive, parallel, and conditional execution patterns.

Vision

Transform the complex YAML-based pipeline configuration into an intuitive visual experience that:

  • Democratizes AI pipeline creation for non-technical users
  • Accelerates development for experienced engineers
  • Validates configurations in real-time
  • Visualizes execution flow and dependencies
  • Integrates seamlessly with the existing pipeline_ex ecosystem

Core Design Principles

1. Progressive Disclosure

  • Simple tasks should be simple
  • Complex features available when needed
  • Gradual learning curve from visual to code

2. Multi-Modal Interaction

  • Visual graph editing for workflow structure
  • Form-based editing for detailed configuration
  • Code view for power users
  • Hybrid modes for flexibility

3. Real-Time Validation

  • Instant feedback on configuration errors
  • Type checking for step connections
  • Resource usage estimation
  • Compatibility warnings

4. Extensibility

  • Plugin architecture for new step types
  • Custom validation rules
  • Theme support
  • Integration points for external tools

User Personas

1. AI Engineer (Primary)

  • Needs: Rapid pipeline prototyping, complex logic support
  • Skills: Technical, familiar with YAML/JSON
  • Usage: Daily pipeline development and optimization

2. Data Scientist

  • Needs: Focus on data flow, minimal coding
  • Skills: Python/R background, limited YAML experience
  • Usage: Creating analysis and ML pipelines

3. Business Analyst

  • Needs: Visual workflow creation, templates
  • Skills: Non-technical, process-oriented
  • Usage: Building content generation and analysis workflows

4. DevOps Engineer

  • Needs: Pipeline maintenance, monitoring integration
  • Skills: Infrastructure and automation focused
  • Usage: Deployment pipelines, system integration

High-Level Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   Pipeline Visual Editor                 │
├─────────────────┬────────────────┬──────────────────────┤
│   Graph View    │  Detail Panel  │    Code Editor       │
│  (React Flow)   │ (JSON Forms)   │ (Monaco Editor)      │
├─────────────────┴────────────────┴──────────────────────┤
│              State Management (Zustand)                  │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│            Pipeline Model & Validation                   │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│         YAML Parser/Generator (js-yaml)                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Features

1. Visual Pipeline Builder

  • Drag-and-drop step creation
  • Connection validation
  • Nested pipeline visualization
  • Parallel execution lanes
  • Conditional flow indicators

2. Intelligent Configuration

  • Context-aware form generation
  • Smart defaults based on step type
  • Auto-completion for references
  • Template variable resolution

3. Advanced Capabilities

  • Recursive pipeline support
  • Loop and condition builders
  • File operation management
  • State variable tracking
  • Resource usage estimation

4. Developer Experience

  • Syntax highlighting
  • IntelliSense for YAML
  • Diff view for changes
  • Git integration
  • Export/import functionality

5. Collaboration Features

  • Pipeline sharing
  • Version history
  • Comments and annotations
  • Team templates
  • Access control

Technology Stack

Frontend

  • React 18+: Component framework
  • TypeScript: Type safety
  • React Flow: Node-based editor
  • Monaco Editor: Code editing
  • Formik + Yup: Form handling and validation
  • Tailwind CSS: Styling
  • Radix UI: Accessible components

State & Data

  • Zustand: State management
  • React Query: Data fetching
  • js-yaml: YAML parsing
  • Ajv: JSON Schema validation

Build & Development

  • Vite: Build tool
  • Vitest: Testing
  • Storybook: Component development
  • Playwright: E2E testing

Integration Points

1. Pipeline Registry

  • Browse available pipelines
  • Search and filter
  • Import as templates
  • Publish new pipelines

2. Execution Engine

  • Validate before execution
  • Monitor running pipelines
  • View execution history
  • Debug failed runs

3. Component Library

  • Access reusable components
  • Create new components
  • Share across projects
  • Version management

4. External Tools

  • VS Code extension
  • CLI integration
  • CI/CD webhooks
  • Monitoring dashboards

Success Metrics

Adoption

  • User count and growth
  • Pipelines created per user
  • Template usage rates
  • Feature adoption funnel

Efficiency

  • Time to create pipeline
  • Error reduction rate
  • Successful execution rate
  • Support ticket reduction

Quality

  • Pipeline complexity handled
  • Validation accuracy
  • Performance benchmarks
  • User satisfaction scores

Roadmap Overview

Phase 1: Core Editor (MVP)

  • Basic graph editing
  • Step configuration forms
  • YAML import/export
  • Simple validation

Phase 2: Advanced Features

  • Nested pipelines
  • Loops and conditions
  • Template system
  • Enhanced validation

Phase 3: Collaboration

  • Multi-user support
  • Version control
  • Pipeline registry
  • Team features

Phase 4: Intelligence

  • AI-assisted creation
  • Performance optimization
  • Cost estimation
  • Auto-generation

Next Steps

  1. Review and approve design documents
  2. Set up development environment
  3. Create component library
  4. Build MVP prototype
  5. User testing and iteration
  6. Production deployment