Connection Best Practices

Workflow Organization

Organize Your Connections

Keep your workflow clean and understandable by organizing connections logically:

• Minimize crossing connections when possible to reduce visual complexity
• Group related blocks together to make data flow more intuitive
• Use consistent flow direction (typically left-to-right or top-to-bottom)
• Label complex connections with descriptive names

Connection Naming Conventions

When working with multiple connections, consistent naming helps maintain clarity:

Data Validation

Validate Data Flow

Ensure that the data being passed between blocks is compatible:

• Check that required fields are available in the source block
• Verify data types match expectations before using them
• Use Function blocks to transform data when necessary
• Handle missing or null values with default values or conditional logic

// Example: Validating and transforming data in a Function block
function processUserData() {
  // Validate required fields
  if (!input.userBlock || !input.userBlock.id) {
    return { error: "Missing user data", valid: false };
  }
  
  // Transform and validate data types
  const userId = String(input.userBlock.id);
  const userName = input.userBlock.name || "Unknown User";
  const userScore = Number(input.userBlock.score) || 0;
  
  return {
    valid: true,
    user: {
      id: userId,
      name: userName,
      score: userScore,
      isHighScore: userScore > 100
    }
  };
}

Documentation

Document Connection Purpose

Add comments or descriptions to clarify the purpose of connections, especially in complex workflows:

• What data is being passed: Document the key fields and their purpose
• Why this connection exists: Explain the relationship between blocks
• Any transformations or conditions applied: Note any data processing that occurs

// Example: Documenting connection purpose in a Function block
/*
 * This function processes user data from the UserFetcher block
 * and order history from the OrderHistory block to generate
 * personalized product recommendations.
 * 
 * Input:
 * - userBlock: User profile data (id, preferences, history)
 * - orderBlock: Recent order history (items, dates, amounts)
 * 
 * Output:
 * - recommendations: Array of recommended product IDs
 * - userSegment: Calculated user segment for marketing
 * - conversionProbability: Estimated likelihood of purchase
 */
function generateRecommendations() {
  // Implementation...
}

Testing and Debugging

Test Connection References

Verify that connection references work as expected:

• Test with different input values to ensure robustness
• Check edge cases (empty values, large datasets, special characters)
• Ensure error handling for missing or invalid data
• Use console logging in Function blocks to debug connection issues

// Example: Testing connection references with edge cases
function testConnections() {
  console.log("Testing connections...");
  
  // Log all inputs for debugging
  console.log("All inputs:", JSON.stringify(input, null, 2));
  
  // Test for missing data
  const hasUserData = !!input.userBlock;
  console.log("Has user data:", hasUserData);
  
  // Test edge cases
  const items = input.orderBlock?.items || [];
  console.log("Item count:", items.length);
  console.log("Empty items test:", items.length === 0 ? "Passed" : "Failed");
  
  // Return test results
  return {
    tests: {
      hasUserData,
      hasItems: items.length > 0,
      hasLargeOrder: items.length > 10
    }
  };
}

Performance Considerations

Optimize Data Flow

Keep your workflows efficient by optimizing how data flows through connections:

• Pass only necessary data between blocks to reduce memory usage
• Use Function blocks to filter large datasets before passing them on
• Consider caching results for expensive operations
• Break complex workflows into smaller, reusable components

// Example: Optimizing data flow by filtering
function optimizeUserData() {
  const userData = input.userBlock;
  
  // Only pass necessary fields to downstream blocks
  return {
    id: userData.id,
    name: userData.name,
    email: userData.email,
    // Filter out unnecessary profile data, history, etc.
  };
}

Security Best Practices

Secure Sensitive Data

Protect sensitive information when using connections:

• Never expose API keys or credentials in connection data
• Sanitize user input before processing it
• Redact sensitive information when logging connection data
• Use secure connections for external API calls

Advanced Patterns

Conditional Connections

Use Condition blocks to create dynamic workflows:

• Route data based on content to different processing paths
• Implement fallback paths for error handling
• Create decision trees for complex business logic

Feedback Loops

Create more sophisticated workflows with feedback connections:

• Implement iterative processing by connecting later blocks back to earlier ones
• Use Memory blocks to store state between iterations
• Set termination conditions to prevent infinite loops