Workflows

Workflows are a subset of Slack apps with unique abilities and restrictions. You can create workflows without any code in the developer-adjacent Workflow Builder. While Workflow Builder contains many built-in steps spanning both Slack-native and external app functionality, you may wish to create a step that carries out custom logic. For that, we have custom workflow steps.

Custom workflow steps can be written in an app created using the Deno Slack SDK or using the Bolt framework, available in Bolt for Python, Bolt for JavaScript, and Bolt for Java. Regardless of which framework you choose to create your app, you can do so where you already work, using the Slack CLI.

Functionality varies slightly when choosing which framework to create custom steps in; the biggest difference is where the steps are hosted. Apps created using the Deno Slack SDK are Slack-hosted, and apps created using the Bolt framework are self-hosted.

✨ Learn more about custom workflow steps and how to build them in our guide to workflow steps.

✨ If you'd rather build instead of develop and need no custom logic, check out Workflow Builder.

✨ Want a side-by-side breakdown of workflows vs. apps? Look no further than this guide.