Workflows Overview
The Workflows tab in the Optra Edge portal is where you create, manage, and deploy workflows to your connected devices. A workflow ties together devices, skills, and actions into a single, deployable unit of orchestration.
What makes up a workflow
Every workflow has three core components arranged in columns on the workflow card:
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Devices | The enrolled devices that will run the skill |
| Skills | The Docker-based applications to deploy to those devices |
| Actions | What happens with the output data produced by the skills |
A workflow needs at least one device assigned before it can be synced.
The workflows list
When you open the Workflows tab, you'll see all workflows in your organization. Each workflow card shows its configured devices, skills, and actions.
Searching and filtering
- Use the search bar to find a workflow by name
- Filter by All, Starred, or Mine
- Sort by Newest, Oldest, Name A–Z, or Name Z–A
Layout options
Use the layout buttons at the end of the filter bar to switch between:
- Expanded view — full card layout showing all workflow details
- Collapsed view — compact list for high-density browsing
Workflow status
Each workflow shows a live status indicating the overall health of its skill deployment across devices.
Sync state
The header of each workflow shows one of three sync states:
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (no indicator) | The workflow has never been synced, or is in a clean state |
| Deploying (pulsing) | A sync is actively in progress |
| Running | The skill is deployed and running on at least one device |
Per-device counters
When a workflow has been synced, the deploy button area shows live counts for each device's skill state:
| Counter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Running | The skill is actively running on this device |
| Starting | The skill is in the process of starting up |
| Failed | The skill failed to start or has stopped unexpectedly |
| Unknown | The device's skill state cannot be determined (e.g., device is offline) |
Clicking View Details opens the sync progress panel for a full breakdown per device.
Unsynchronized changes
Items that have been added, edited, or removed since the last sync display a sync icon (⟳) next to their name. These changes are staged and will be pushed to devices on the next sync.
Items that have been removed but not yet synced show a trash icon and a strikethrough. The removal is applied to devices when you next click Sync.
Starring workflows
Click the star icon (☆) on any workflow to add it to your starred list. Starred workflows appear when you filter by Starred, making it easy to surface the workflows you use most.
Permissions
Different actions require different roles:
| Action | Required role |
|---|---|
| View workflows and workflow details | Any organization member |
| Create, rename, duplicate, or delete a workflow | Admin, Workflow Editor, or Workflow Deployer |
| Add or remove devices, skills, and actions | Admin, Workflow Editor, or Workflow Deployer |
| Sync (deploy) a workflow | Admin or Workflow Deployer |
Next steps
- Add a Workflow — step-by-step guide to creating your first workflow
- Managing Workflows — renaming, duplicating, copying, and deleting
- Devices — adding individual devices and device groups
- Skills — configuring the skill deployed by a workflow
- Actions — configuring what happens with skill output
- Syncing & Deployments — understanding the sync process and deployment status