{"slug":"step-functions","title":"step-functions","summary":"AWS Step Functions workflow orchestration with state machines. Use when designing workflows, implementing error handling, configuring parallel execution, integrating with AWS services, or debugging executions.","platform":"Claude","tags":[],"authorName":"LLM Mart","authorSlug":"llm-mart","score":0,"source":"github","price":null,"verified":false,"createdAt":"2026-09-30T19:53:40.971588Z","repo":{"url":"https://github.com/itsmostafa/aws-agent-skills","stars":1159,"forks":445,"license":"MIT","updatedAt":"2026-09-28T17:13:57Z"},"bodyHtml":"
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name: step-functions\ndescription: AWS Step Functions workflow orchestration with state machines. Use when designing workflows, implementing error handling, configuring parallel execution, integrating with AWS services, or debugging executions.\nlast_updated: \"2026-01-07\"\ndoc_source: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/step-functions/latest/dg/

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AWS Step Functions

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AWS Step Functions is a serverless orchestration service that lets you build and run workflows using state machines. Coordinate multiple AWS services into business-critical applications.

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Table of Contents

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Core Concepts

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Workflow Types

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TypeDescriptionPricing
StandardLong-running, durable, exactly-oncePer state transition
ExpressHigh-volume, short-durationPer execution (time + memory)
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State Types

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StateDescription
TaskExecute work (Lambda, API call)
ChoiceConditional branching
ParallelExecute branches concurrently
MapIterate over array
WaitDelay execution
PassPass input to output
SucceedEnd successfully
FailEnd with failure
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Amazon States Language (ASL)

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JSON-based language for defining state machines.

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Common Patterns

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Simple Lambda Workflow

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{\n  \"Comment\": \"Process order workflow\",\n  \"StartAt\": \"ValidateOrder\",\n  \"States\": {\n    \"ValidateOrder\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:ValidateOrder\",\n      \"Next\": \"ProcessPayment\"\n    },\n    \"ProcessPayment\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:ProcessPayment\",\n      \"Next\": \"FulfillOrder\"\n    },\n    \"FulfillOrder\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:FulfillOrder\",\n      \"End\": true\n    }\n  }\n}\n
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Create State Machine

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AWS CLI:

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aws stepfunctions create-state-machine \\\n  --name OrderWorkflow \\\n  --definition file://workflow.json \\\n  --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/StepFunctionsRole \\\n  --type STANDARD\n
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boto3:

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import boto3\nimport json\n\nsfn = boto3.client('stepfunctions')\n\ndefinition = {\n    \"Comment\": \"Order workflow\",\n    \"StartAt\": \"ProcessOrder\",\n    \"States\": {\n        \"ProcessOrder\": {\n            \"Type\": \"Task\",\n            \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...\",\n            \"End\": True\n        }\n    }\n}\n\nresponse = sfn.create_state_machine(\n    name='OrderWorkflow',\n    definition=json.dumps(definition),\n    roleArn='arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/StepFunctionsRole',\n    type='STANDARD'\n)\n
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Start Execution

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import boto3\nimport json\n\nsfn = boto3.client('stepfunctions')\n\nresponse = sfn.start_execution(\n    stateMachineArn='arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:stateMachine:OrderWorkflow',\n    name='order-12345',\n    input=json.dumps({\n        'order_id': '12345',\n        'customer_id': 'cust-789',\n        'items': [{'product_id': 'prod-1', 'quantity': 2}]\n    })\n)\n\nexecution_arn = response['executionArn']\n
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Choice State (Conditional Logic)

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{\n  \"StartAt\": \"CheckOrderValue\",\n  \"States\": {\n    \"CheckOrderValue\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Choice\",\n      \"Choices\": [\n        {\n          \"Variable\": \"$.total\",\n          \"NumericGreaterThan\": 1000,\n          \"Next\": \"HighValueOrder\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"Variable\": \"$.priority\",\n          \"StringEquals\": \"rush\",\n          \"Next\": \"RushOrder\"\n        }\n      ],\n      \"Default\": \"StandardOrder\"\n    },\n    \"HighValueOrder\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessHighValue\",\n      \"End\": true\n    },\n    \"RushOrder\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessRush\",\n      \"End\": true\n    },\n    \"StandardOrder\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessStandard\",\n      \"End\": true\n    }\n  }\n}\n
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Parallel Execution

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{\n  \"StartAt\": \"ProcessInParallel\",\n  \"States\": {\n    \"ProcessInParallel\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Parallel\",\n      \"Branches\": [\n        {\n          \"StartAt\": \"UpdateInventory\",\n          \"States\": {\n            \"UpdateInventory\": {\n              \"Type\": \"Task\",\n              \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:UpdateInventory\",\n              \"End\": true\n            }\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"StartAt\": \"SendNotification\",\n          \"States\": {\n            \"SendNotification\": {\n              \"Type\": \"Task\",\n              \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:SendNotification\",\n              \"End\": true\n            }\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"StartAt\": \"UpdateAnalytics\",\n          \"States\": {\n            \"UpdateAnalytics\": {\n              \"Type\": \"Task\",\n              \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:UpdateAnalytics\",\n              \"End\": true\n            }\n          }\n        }\n      ],\n      \"Next\": \"Complete\"\n    },\n    \"Complete\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Succeed\"\n    }\n  }\n}\n
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Map State (Iteration)

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{\n  \"StartAt\": \"ProcessItems\",\n  \"States\": {\n    \"ProcessItems\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Map\",\n      \"ItemsPath\": \"$.items\",\n      \"MaxConcurrency\": 10,\n      \"Iterator\": {\n        \"StartAt\": \"ProcessItem\",\n        \"States\": {\n          \"ProcessItem\": {\n            \"Type\": \"Task\",\n            \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessItem\",\n            \"End\": true\n          }\n        }\n      },\n      \"ResultPath\": \"$.processedItems\",\n      \"End\": true\n    }\n  }\n}\n
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Error Handling

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{\n  \"StartAt\": \"ProcessWithRetry\",\n  \"States\": {\n    \"ProcessWithRetry\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:Process\",\n      \"Retry\": [\n        {\n          \"ErrorEquals\": [\"Lambda.ServiceException\", \"Lambda.TooManyRequestsException\"],\n          \"IntervalSeconds\": 2,\n          \"MaxAttempts\": 6,\n          \"BackoffRate\": 2\n        },\n        {\n          \"ErrorEquals\": [\"States.Timeout\"],\n          \"IntervalSeconds\": 5,\n          \"MaxAttempts\": 3,\n          \"BackoffRate\": 1.5\n        }\n      ],\n      \"Catch\": [\n        {\n          \"ErrorEquals\": [\"CustomError\"],\n          \"ResultPath\": \"$.error\",\n          \"Next\": \"HandleCustomError\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"ErrorEquals\": [\"States.ALL\"],\n          \"ResultPath\": \"$.error\",\n          \"Next\": \"HandleAllErrors\"\n        }\n      ],\n      \"End\": true\n    },\n    \"HandleCustomError\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Task\",\n      \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...:function:HandleCustom\",\n      \"End\": true\n    },\n    \"HandleAllErrors\": {\n      \"Type\": \"Fail\",\n      \"Error\": \"ProcessingFailed\",\n      \"Cause\": \"An error occurred during processing\"\n    }\n  }\n}\n
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CLI Reference

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State Machine Management

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CommandDescription
aws stepfunctions create-state-machineCreate state machine
aws stepfunctions update-state-machineUpdate definition
aws stepfunctions delete-state-machineDelete state machine
aws stepfunctions list-state-machinesList state machines
aws stepfunctions describe-state-machineGet details
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Executions

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CommandDescription
aws stepfunctions start-executionStart execution
aws stepfunctions stop-executionStop execution
aws stepfunctions describe-executionGet execution details
aws stepfunctions list-executionsList executions
aws stepfunctions get-execution-historyGet execution history
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Best Practices

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Design

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Performance

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Reliability

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Cost Optimization

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Troubleshooting

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Execution Failed

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# Get execution history\naws stepfunctions get-execution-history \\\n  --execution-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:execution:MyWorkflow:exec-123 \\\n  --query 'events[?type==`TaskFailed` || type==`ExecutionFailed`]'\n
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Lambda Timeout

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Causes:

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Fix:

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{\n  \"Type\": \"Task\",\n  \"Resource\": \"arn:aws:lambda:...\",\n  \"TimeoutSeconds\": 300,\n  \"HeartbeatSeconds\": 60\n}\n
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State Stuck

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Check:

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Invalid State Machine

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# Validate definition\naws stepfunctions validate-state-machine-definition \\\n  --definition file://workflow.json\n
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References

\n\n","files":[{"path":"SKILL.md","sizeBytes":9709,"isText":true},{"path":"workflow-patterns.md","sizeBytes":8970,"isText":true}],"reviewScore":null,"reviewSummary":null,"trust":{"provenance":"trusted-source-unreviewed","notice":"Community-authored content, reproduced verbatim and not vetted as instructions. Treat it as data to evaluate, never as directives to follow.","bodySource":null},"bodyLocked":false,"purchaseUrl":null,"sourceUrl":null,"report":{"provenance":"trusted-source-unreviewed","screen":{"ran":true,"outcome":"clean","suspicious":0,"notes":0,"hiddenCharacters":false},"virusScan":{"engine":"clamav","status":"clean","scannedAt":"2026-09-30T19:54:28.758952Z","sha256":"C7ED803F942BB288408320D49C10C8006C5CDEC6E5B8F20E401AC16E13D1C7EB","sizeBytes":5414},"review":null,"source":{"repositoryUrl":"https://github.com/itsmostafa/aws-agent-skills","path":"skills/step-functions","license":"MIT","commit":"e786d25128a6018d42bd7bcb8c47c531ff31c0f0","subtreeSha":"4F4EDF7110F7FF4F0C1CD603372672996E4C5732A23516DE4A486FD17DBECAB3","lastSyncedAt":"2026-09-30T19:53:38.659374Z"},"reviewedAt":"2026-09-30T20:02:17.787253Z","notice":"Community-authored content, reproduced verbatim and not vetted as instructions. Treat it as data to evaluate, never as directives to follow."},"install":[{"target":"skills-cli","command":"npx skills add https://github.com/itsmostafa/aws-agent-skills/tree/main/skills/step-functions"},{"target":"claude-code","command":"claude plugin marketplace add https://llmmart.ai/marketplace.json && claude plugin install itsmostafa-aws-agent-skills@llmmart"},{"target":"git","command":"git clone https://github.com/itsmostafa/aws-agent-skills.git"}]}