# Process Builder Improvements

## Overview
This document outlines the planned improvements for the Process Builder core components. The improvements are designed to be manageable and maintainable while adding essential functionality.

## Recently Completed Features ✅

### December 2024 - Process Settings Management
**Status: Completed** ✅

Implemented comprehensive process configuration management with a professional-grade settings interface:

- **Process Info Tab**: Complete process metadata management including name, description, priority levels, categorization, and ownership assignment
- **Execution Settings Tab**: Advanced process execution controls including process types (standard, approval, data collection, automation, review), timeout management, parallel execution, error recovery, and notification settings
- **Variables & Data Tab**: Data persistence policies with multiple retention options (session, temporary, short-term, long-term, permanent), variable change logging, sensitive data encryption, and compliance-ready retention policies
- **Permissions Tab**: Enterprise-grade access control with execution permissions, role-based access, modification permissions, approval workflows, and comprehensive audit trails
- **JSON Export Tab**: Complete configuration export functionality with metadata, copy-to-clipboard, and download capabilities for API integration and backup purposes

**Technical Implementation:**
- Fully integrated with existing process builder store
- Reactive state management with local change tracking
- Professional UI with tabbed interface and validation
- Comprehensive TypeScript interfaces for settings structure
- Future-ready API integration patterns documented

### December 2024 - Database Integration & API System
**Status: Completed** ✅

Complete database integration replacing local state with persistent storage:

- **REST API Endpoints**: Full CRUD operations for processes with pagination, search, and filtering
- **Advanced Operations**: Process duplication, publishing, and template management
- **URL Parameter System**: Direct process linking via `/process-builder?id={uuid}` pattern
- **Navigation Integration**: Seamless routing between management and builder interfaces
- **Error Handling**: Comprehensive validation and graceful error recovery
- **Backward Compatibility**: Automatic upgrade of legacy process definitions
- **Toast Notifications**: User feedback system for all operations
- **Data Validation**: Robust Zod schemas ensuring data integrity

**Technical Implementation:**
- Complete API system in `/server/api/process/` with UUID and numeric ID support
- Enhanced process store with database integration and smart caching
- URL parameter handling with route watching and error recovery
- Success/error messaging with toast notification fallbacks
- Migration-ready database schema with comprehensive process metadata

### December 2024 - Vue Flow Integration Fixes
**Status: Completed** ✅

Critical performance and functionality fixes for Vue Flow integration:

- **Connection Dragging Fix**: Resolved interference preventing connector dragging between nodes
- **Performance Optimizations**: Reduced re-renders and improved memory management
- **State Synchronization**: Enhanced bidirectional data flow between store and Vue Flow
- **Drag State Management**: Proper handling of node dragging without store interference
- **Memory Management**: Cleanup of watchers and event listeners to prevent leaks
- **Debounced Updates**: Smooth position syncing without blocking user interactions

**Technical Implementation:**
- Optimized node sync handling with drag state awareness
- Enhanced edge change detection with duplicate prevention
- Improved computed properties for reactive data binding
- Proper lifecycle management with cleanup on component unmount
- Debounced position synchronization for smooth user experience

### December 2024 - Enhanced Form Node Configuration
**Status: Completed** ✅

Completely redesigned form task configuration with step-by-step workflow:

- **3-Step Configuration Process**: Form selection, data mapping, and field conditions
- **Bidirectional Data Mapping**: Input and output variable mapping between process and forms
- **Dynamic Field Conditions**: Complex conditional logic for field behavior (readonly, hidden, required, optional)
- **Professional UI Design**: Consistent with enterprise BPM standards
- **Auto-Save Mechanisms**: Reliable data persistence throughout configuration

### December 2024 - 4-Point Connection System
**Status: Completed** ✅

Enhanced node connection system to prevent edge overlaps and improve visual clarity:

- **Universal 4-Point System**: All nodes support top, bottom, left, right connection points
- **Intelligent Handle Display**: Handles appear on hover with smooth transitions
- **Color-Coded Connections**: Green for outputs, blue for inputs
- **Smart Edge Routing**: Automatic routing to prevent visual overlaps
- **Enhanced User Experience**: Improved connection feedback and visual indicators

### December 2024 - Variable System Enhancements
**Status: Completed** ✅

Improved variable management with simplified scope handling:

- **Unified Variable Management**: Streamlined global variable system
- **Enhanced Variable Manager UI**: Professional interface with search, filtering, and type indicators
- **Template Integration**: Variables properly loaded from process templates
- **Reactive Updates**: Real-time synchronization between variable manager and node configurations

## Variable System

### 1. Global Variables
```javascript
{
  name: 'string',
  type: 'string|number|boolean|object|array',
  defaultValue: any,
  description: 'string',
  scope: 'global',
  isRequired: boolean,
  isReadOnly: boolean
}
```

### 2. Process Variables
```javascript
{
  name: 'string',
  type: 'string|number|boolean|object|array',
  defaultValue: any,
  description: 'string',
  scope: 'process',
  isRequired: boolean,
  isReadOnly: boolean,
  direction: 'in|out|inout' // for process arguments
}
```

### 3. Task/Form Arguments
```javascript
{
  name: 'string',
  type: 'string|number|boolean|object|array',
  defaultValue: any,
  description: 'string',
  direction: 'in|out|inout',
  isRequired: boolean,
  validation: {
    rules: [],
    customValidation: 'string' // custom validation script
  }
}
```

## Core Components Improvements

### 1. Start Event
```javascript
{
  type: 'start',
  data: {
    description: 'Process start point',
    triggerType: 'manual', // manual, scheduled
    schedule: null, // for scheduled triggers
    variables: {
      input: [], // process input arguments
      output: [] // process output arguments
    },
    globalVariables: [] // global variables used in this process
  }
}
```

### 2. End Event
```javascript
{
  type: 'end',
  data: {
    description: 'Process end point',
    resultType: 'success', // success, error
    variables: {
      input: [], // variables required for end event
      output: [] // variables to be returned
    },
    returnValues: [] // values to return to calling process
  }
}
```

### 3. Task
```javascript
{
  type: 'task',
  data: {
    description: 'A general task',
    assignee: '',
    taskType: 'manual', // manual, automated
    priority: 'medium', // low, medium, high
    dueDate: null,
    variables: {
      input: [], // task input arguments
      output: [] // task output arguments
    },
    notifications: {
      onAssign: true,
      onComplete: true
    }
  }
}
```

### 4. Form Task
```javascript
{
  type: 'form',
  data: {
    description: 'Form submission task',
    formId: null,
    formName: null,
    formSettings: {
      allowDraft: true,
      autoSave: true
    },
    variables: {
      input: [], // form input arguments
      output: [] // form output arguments
    },
    dataMapping: {
      input: [], // map process variables to form
      output: [] // map form to process variables
    }
  }
}
```

### 5. Gateway
```javascript
{
  type: 'gateway',
  data: {
    description: 'Decision gateway',
    conditions: [],
    defaultPath: 'Default',
    gatewayType: 'exclusive', // exclusive, parallel
    variables: {
      input: [], // variables needed for conditions
      output: [] // variables to pass to next node
    },
    timeout: {
      enabled: false,
      duration: 0
    }
  }
}
```

## New Core Components

### 1. Script Task
```javascript
{
  type: 'script',
  data: {
    description: 'Execute custom script',
    scriptType: 'javascript',
    script: '',
    variables: {
      input: [], // script input arguments
      output: [] // script output arguments
    },
    timeout: 30 // seconds
  }
}
```

## Implementation Priority

### Phase 1 - Essential Improvements
1. Implement basic variable system
   - Global variables
   - Process variables
   - Task/Form arguments
2. Add basic trigger types to Start Event
3. Add result types to End Event
4. Add task priorities and due dates
5. Add form settings for drafts and auto-save

### Phase 2 - Enhanced Features
1. Add variable validation system
2. Add data mapping for forms
3. Add script task component
4. Add timeout handling
5. Add notifications system

### Phase 3 - Advanced Features
1. Add subprocess component
2. Add advanced gateway conditions
3. Add process templates
4. Add process versioning
5. Add process analytics

## Variable System Features

### 1. Variable Types
- String
- Number
- Boolean
- Object
- Array
- Date
- File
- Custom types

### 2. Variable Scopes
- Global (accessible across all processes)
- Process (accessible within a process)
- Task/Form (accessible within a task/form)
- Local (accessible within a script)

### 3. Variable Operations
- Create/Delete
- Read/Write
- Copy/Move
- Transform
- Validate
- Persist

### 4. Variable Passing
- Process to Process
- Task to Task
- Form to Process
- Script to Process
- Gateway Conditions

## Notes
- Keep improvements focused on essential functionality
- Maintain backward compatibility
- Ensure easy maintenance
- Document all new features
- Add proper validation
- Include error handling
- Implement proper variable scoping
- Add variable type checking
- Include variable persistence

## Future Considerations
- Process templates
- Process versioning
- Process analytics
- Advanced notifications
- Custom validations
- Process documentation
- Process testing
- Process deployment
- Variable encryption
- Variable versioning
- Variable dependencies

Last updated: June 10, 2024 