Design: subflows

A subflow is a set of connected nodes that can be easily referenced and reused within a larger flow.

A subflow is represented as a single node in the workspace which can be opened up in a tab to see the underlying flow.

A subflow can be used in one of two modes: (this is tbd. Might just stick with singleton for v1)

1. Singleton : only one copy of the flow exists.
2. Instance : each reference to the subflow is its own copy.

Creating a subflow

1. User selects some existing nodes.
2. Selects 'convert to subflow' option.
3. Dialog opens to name the subflow.
4. Nodes are removed from workspace and replaced by a subflow node.
5. Subflow node added to palette

Questions:

• how to automatically identify the input/output ports to map to
• what restrictions should be applied?
  • a single, continuous flow of nodes - aside from comment nodes
  • only one 'left most' node

Editing a subflow

1. Double click subflow node.
2. Opens in closeable tab containing the flow.

Questions:

• how to rename the flow? Via subflow sidebar tab?
• how to pick singleton/instance mode?

Delete subflow

1. Open a subflow sidebar tab that lists all subflows with usage count (cf config node tab - perhaps combine them...?)
2. ...

Definition

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