Patching Sample

This sample shows how to safely alter a workflow using patched and deprecate_patch in stages.

To run, first see README.md for prerequisites. Then follow the patching stages below.

Stage 1 - Initial code

This stage is for existing running workflows. To simulate our initial workflow, run the worker in a separate terminal:

uv run worker.py --workflow initial

Now we can start this workflow:

uv run starter.py --start-workflow initial-workflow-id

This will output "Started workflow with ID initial-workflow-id and ...". Now query this workflow:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow initial-workflow-id

This will output "Query result for ID initial-workflow-id: pre-patch".

Stage 2 - Patch the workflow

This stage is for needing to run old and new workflows at the same time. To simulate our patched workflow, stop the worker from before and start it again with the patched workflow:

uv run worker.py --workflow patched

Now let's start another workflow with this patched code:

uv run starter.py --start-workflow patched-workflow-id

This will output "Started workflow with ID patched-workflow-id and ...". Now query the old workflow that's still running:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow initial-workflow-id

This will output "Query result for ID initial-workflow-id: pre-patch" since it is pre-patch. But if we execute a query against the new code:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow patched-workflow-id

We get "Query result for ID patched-workflow-id: post-patch". This is how old workflow code can take old paths and new workflow code can take new paths.

Stage 3 - Deprecation

Once we know that all workflows that started with the initial code from "Stage 1" are no longer running, we don't need the patch so we can deprecate it. To use the patch deprecated workflow, stop the workflow from before and start it again with:

uv run worker.py --workflow patch-deprecated

All workflows in "Stage 2" and any new workflows will work. Now let's start another workflow with this patch deprecated code:

uv run starter.py --start-workflow patch-deprecated-workflow-id

This will output "Started workflow with ID patch-deprecated-workflow-id and ...". Now query the patched workflow that's still running:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow patched-workflow-id

This will output "Query result for ID patched-workflow-id: post-patch". And if we execute a query against the latest workflow:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow patch-deprecated-workflow-id

As expected, this will output "Query result for ID patch-deprecated-workflow-id: post-patch".

Stage 4 - Patch complete

Once we know we don't even have any workflows running on "Stage 2" or before (i.e. the workflow with the patch with both code paths), we can just remove the patch deprecation altogether. To use the patch complete workflow, stop the workflow from before and start it again with:

uv run worker.py --workflow patch-complete

All workflows in "Stage 3" and any new workflows will work. Now let's start another workflow with this patch complete code:

uv run starter.py --start-workflow patch-complete-workflow-id

This will output "Started workflow with ID patch-complete-workflow-id and ...". Now query the patch deprecated workflow that's still running:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow patch-deprecated-workflow-id

This will output "Query result for ID patch-deprecated-workflow-id: post-patch". And if we execute a query against the latest workflow:

uv run starter.py --query-workflow patch-complete-workflow-id

As expected, this will output "Query result for ID patch-complete-workflow-id: post-patch".

Following these stages, we have successfully altered our workflow code.