# Workflow

A **workflow** is a set of tasks that needs to be executed in sequence to evaluate a configuration as part of an [optimization study](https://docs.akamas.io/akamas-docs/3.1.3/akamas-reference/glossary/optimization-studies). A **task** is a single action performed within a workflow. 

Workflows allow you to automate Akamas optimization studies, by automatically executing a sequence of tasks such as initializing an environment, triggering load testing, restoring a database, applying configurations, and much more. 

These are examples of common tasks that can be performed by a task

* Launch remote commands via SSH
* Apply parameters values in configuration files
* Execute Spark jobs via spark-submit API
* Start performance tests by integrating with external tools such as Neoload

Workflows are first-class entities that can be defined globally and then used in multiple optimization studies.

Akamas provides several [workflow operators](https://docs.akamas.io/akamas-docs/3.1.3/akamas-reference/workflow-operators) that can be used to perform tasks in a workflow. Some operators are general-purpose, such as those executing a command or script on a specific host, while others provide native integrations with specific technologies and tools, such as Spark History Server or load testing tools.

## Construct

The construct to be used to define a workflow is described on the [Workflow template](https://docs.akamas.io/akamas-docs/3.1.3/akamas-reference/construct-templates/using-workflows) page. 

## Commands

A telemetry provider is an [Akamas resource](https://docs.akamas.io/akamas-docs/3.1.3/cli-reference#clireference-operations) that can be managed via CLI using the [resource management commands.](https://docs.akamas.io/akamas-docs/3.1.3/akamas-reference/cli-reference/cli-reference-2) 

## User Interface

The Akamas UI shows systems in a specific top-level menu.

<figure><img src="https://3992428493-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FD2bGkjffNK6bMgSMYyrY%2Fuploads%2FsY7LhpPethI6S67CIPnr%2FScreenshot%202022-12-22%20at%2009.46.33.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e758d247-0944-4c48-a9ab-df23fd402331" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The list of tasks is displayed when drilling down to each specific workflow.

<figure><img src="https://3992428493-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FD2bGkjffNK6bMgSMYyrY%2Fuploads%2FWH3kuWCGHQ2JhlcCRWN3%2FScreenshot%202022-12-22%20at%2009.47.02.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ed2ecbd9-dd2e-486e-be2b-c33479066bb5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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