
Description
Install and configure Vercel Workflow SDK before it exists in node_modules. Use when the user asks to "install workflow", "set up workflow", "add durable workflows", "configure workflow sdk", or "init workflow" for Next.js, Express, Hono, Fastify, NestJS, Nitro, Nuxt, Astro, SvelteKit, or Vite.
SKILL.md
workflow-init
Initial setup of Vercel Workflow SDK before workflow is installed. Fetch the official getting-started guide for the user's framework.
Decision Flow
0) Sanity check
Read package.json. If workflow is already a dependency, tell the user to use /workflow instead (it reads versioned docs from node_modules/workflow/docs/). Only continue if workflow is missing.
1) Determine the framework
Non-interactive: If the user named a framework in their prompt, use it directly.
Auto-detect: Inspect package.json deps and config files. Use the first match:
- Next.js -
nextdep ornext.config.* - Nuxt -
nuxtdep ornuxt.config.* - SvelteKit -
@sveltejs/kitdep orsvelte.config.* - Astro -
astrodep orastro.config.* - NestJS -
@nestjs/coredep ornest-cli.json - Nitro -
nitrodep ornitro.config.* - Express -
expressdep - Fastify -
fastifydep - Hono -
honodep - Vite -
vitedep (and not matched above)
If no match or multiple matches, ask the user to pick.
2) Fetch and follow the getting-started guide
Fetch exactly one of these URLs and follow the guide step-by-step:
Each guide covers: install deps, configure framework, create first workflow, create route handler, run + verify.
3) Verify setup
- Start the dev server per the guide.
- Trigger the example endpoint with the provided
curl. - Confirm logs show the workflow and steps executing.
- Optional:
npx workflow webornpx workflow inspect runs.
4) No framework yet?
If no framework exists, ask what the user wants:
- Web app: Next.js / Nuxt / SvelteKit / Astro
- API server: Express / Fastify / Hono
- Minimal server: Nitro or Vite
Then follow the "Create Your Project" section of the chosen guide.
Concept questions (pre-install)
If the user asks conceptual questions before installing, fetch:
Handoff
When setup is complete, tell the user: Use /workflow for ongoing development - it reads the versioned docs bundled in node_modules/workflow/docs/.
More skills from the workflow repository
View all 4 skillsinternal-dev-workbench
set up isolated development workbenches
May 5EngineeringLocal DevelopmentObservabilityVercelmigrating-to-workflow-sdk
migrate workflows to Vercel Workflow SDK
Apr 13MigrationVercelWorkflow Automationworkflow
build durable workflows with Vercel
Apr 6BackendSDKVercelWorkflow Automation
More from Vercel
View publishernext-cache-components-adoption
enable and migrate to Next.js Cache Components
next.js
Jul 24CachingFrontendMigrationNext.js +1next-cache-components-optimizer
optimize Next.js cache components
next.js
Jul 24CachingFrontendNext.jsPerformance +1next-dev-loop
verify Next.js runtime behavior
next.js
May 22DebuggingFrontendLocal DevelopmentNext.js +2next-partial-prefetching-adoption
adopt Partial Prefetching in Next.js apps
next.js
Jul 24FrontendNext.jsPerformanceVercelturborepo
manage monorepos with Turborepo
turborepo
Jul 24CI/CDPerformanceTurborepoadd-function-examples
add AI function examples for testing
ai
Apr 6AI SDKTestingVercel