name: workflow-init 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. metadata: author: Vercel Inc. version: '1.3'

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:

1. Next.js - next dep or next.config.*
2. Nuxt - nuxt dep or nuxt.config.*
3. SvelteKit - @sveltejs/kit dep or svelte.config.*
4. Astro - astro dep or astro.config.*
5. NestJS - @nestjs/core dep or nest-cli.json
6. Nitro - nitro dep or nitro.config.*
7. Express - express dep
8. Fastify - fastify dep
9. Hono - hono dep
10. Vite - vite dep (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 web or npx 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:

• https://workflow-sdk.dev/docs/foundations/workflows-and-steps
• https://workflow-sdk.dev/cookbook

Handoff

When setup is complete, tell the user: Use /workflow for ongoing development - it reads the versioned docs bundled in node_modules/workflow/docs/.