Workflow & Automation

Service Hub was developed to address the need for a centralized platform to manage and integrate various tools previously implemented in legacy workflows and systems. This cloud-based solution offers a flexible and scalable approach, adaptable to diverse deployment scenarios. A prime example is n8n workflow, a powerful toolset for top-level automation that excels in defining data flow and integrating with external services due to its extensive built-in connectivity.

Service Hub acts as a unifying layer, encapsulating services under a common API umbrella. It facilitates both synchronous (REST request waits for completion) and asynchronous (REST enqueues execution with webhook feedback) execution patterns. By standardizing calls and execution methods, Service Hub enables seamless integration and interoperability between different tools and systems.

To support efficient operations with multiple agents, including on-premises deployments, Service Hub leverages Google Pub/Sub. This messaging system ensures reliable communication and coordination between components, contributing to the overall scalability and performance of the platform.

Design/implementation: Q2/2024

In search of a forward-thinking and adaptable workflow solution to handle media preprocessing tasks for our new, digitally focused projects, my friend Toon introduced me to n8n. This discovery proved to be quite remarkable.

n8n's intuitive visual interface accelerates workflow creation and provides a clear overview of the process. Its modular structure, based on autonomous, multi-step agents, empowers us to meticulously design, write, test, and debug each step or sequence of operations.

The platform's robust integration capabilities, including centralized management of API keys and access control, streamline the process of connecting to various services and ensuring secure data handling.

Design/implementation: 2023/2024 (Currently abandoned, as I switched to Google Workflows)

Wolluk.pro's genesis lies in the need for a content creation-centric workflow specifically designed for efficient catalog production. It was crucial for us to have granular control over every step in the process and enable seamless integration between various tools.

Inspiration for the core logic came from the concept of sticky notes – each note representing a processing step that triggers dedicated agents. This approach ensured clear process visualization and facilitated intuitive workflow construction. Google Cloud Functions and Google Pub/Sub formed the backbone of the execution mechanism.

This architecture empowered us to develop new tools and consolidate complex operations into single, reusable APIs. The platform further benefits from embedded logic based on JSONata expressions, allowing for sophisticated data manipulation. Wolluk.pro leverages a user-friendly, Vue.js-based front-end application to provide a visually appealing and intuitive workflow design experience.

Design: mid 2022/Implementation 2022 - 2023 (Not active at the moment, kept for the future projects)

Wolluk.pub, launched in 2017, addressed the specific needs of magazine and catalog publishers by offering a streamlined media-to-print workflow solution. This self-architected system leveraged a non-SQL real-time database – Firebase – for efficient data management. The backend, built on Ruby and Sidekiq, ran on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) using a Kubernetes cluster for scalability and efficient resource utilization. The front-end user interface, an evolution of Wolluk.pro, utilized Angular.js, ensuring a familiar and user-friendly experience.

Wolluk.pub's workflow centered around pre-defined steps and operations, internally referred to as "flows." These flows were triggered by various processes, including document and asset uploads through the user interface, Dropbox integration, and connections to Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems like Wooding Assets.

The platform supported both pre-media preparation and output processing. For pre-media tasks, Wolluk.pub seamlessly integrated with Pixometry (formerly Elpical Claro) and other image processing tools. The output process, on the other hand, relied on InDesign Server, empowered by Callas PDF Toolbox, to generate high-quality print-ready outputs.

Actively architecture, developed since 2017.
Scheduled to end service in at the end of 2024

Wolluk.pics, launched in 2015, marked my foray into the world of cloud-based solutions. This project, built on Firebase for data management and a Ruby backend running in a virtualized environment, catered specifically to the evolving needs of photographers and photo editors.

Wolluk.pics pioneered the concept of hybrid workflows, seamlessly integrating automated toning tools, image conversion mechanisms, and the expertise of offshore photo retouchers within a user-friendly, all-encompassing application. This empowered users with a sense of control over the often-daunting task of bulk image preparation.

The core workflow leveraged a sequence of operations governed by logical expressions. These expressions were translated into state-transitioning Ruby scripts that orchestrated the entire process. A unique feature of Wolluk.pics was its embedded billing and cost tracking functionality. This provided users with precise insights into the time and resources expended on each image preparation step, ensuring complete transparency and cost optimization.