Workflow Orchestration Patterns

---
version: 4.1.0-fractal
name: workflow-orchestration-patterns
description: Design durable workflows with Temporal for distributed systems. Covers workflow vs activity separation, saga patterns, state management, and determinism constraints. Use when building long-running processes, distributed transactions, or microservice orchestration.
---

# Workflow Orchestration Patterns

Master workflow orchestration architecture with Temporal, covering fundamental design decisions, resilience patterns, and best practices for building reliable distributed systems.

## Use this skill when

- Working on workflow orchestration patterns tasks or workflows
- Needing guidance, best practices, or checklists for workflow orchestration patterns

## Do not use this skill when

- The task is unrelated to workflow orchestration patterns
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope

## Instructions

- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.
- If detailed examples are required, open `resources/implementation-playbook.md`.

## When to Use Workflow Orchestration

## 🧠 Knowledge Modules (Fractal Skills)

### 1. [Ideal Use Cases (Source: docs.temporal.io)](./sub-skills/ideal-use-cases-source-docstemporalio.md)
### 2. [When NOT to Use](./sub-skills/when-not-to-use.md)
### 3. [Workflows (Orchestration)](./sub-skills/workflows-orchestration.md)
### 4. [Activities (External Interactions)](./sub-skills/activities-external-interactions.md)
### 5. [Design Decision Framework](./sub-skills/design-decision-framework.md)
### 6. [1. Saga Pattern with Compensation](./sub-skills/1-saga-pattern-with-compensation.md)
### 7. [2. Entity Workflows (Actor Model)](./sub-skills/2-entity-workflows-actor-model.md)
### 8. [3. Fan-Out/Fan-In (Parallel Execution)](./sub-skills/3-fan-outfan-in-parallel-execution.md)
### 9. [4. Async Callback Pattern](./sub-skills/4-async-callback-pattern.md)
### 10. [Automatic State Preservation](./sub-skills/automatic-state-preservation.md)
### 11. [Determinism Constraints](./sub-skills/determinism-constraints.md)
### 12. [Versioning Strategies](./sub-skills/versioning-strategies.md)
### 13. [Retry Policies](./sub-skills/retry-policies.md)
### 14. [Idempotency Requirements](./sub-skills/idempotency-requirements.md)
### 15. [Activity Heartbeats](./sub-skills/activity-heartbeats.md)
### 16. [Workflow Design](./sub-skills/workflow-design.md)
### 17. [Activity Design](./sub-skills/activity-design.md)
### 18. [Common Pitfalls](./sub-skills/common-pitfalls.md)
### 19. [Operational Considerations](./sub-skills/operational-considerations.md)