Designing a Flow
Fastn’s visual canvas allows you to build workflows by dragging and connecting flow components. Each component represents a logic or data processing block.
At Fastn, flows are built using a set of core elements that define the structure and behavior of your automations. These include components such as the starting point of a flow, the steps it performs, how data moves between those steps, and how different services are connected.
Let’s dig into these components to see how they come together in a working flow.
Flow Elements in Fastn
These are the building blocks you’ll use to create automations in Fastn. Each element plays a specific role in making your flows powerful, flexible, and easy to maintain.
Connectors
Connectors link your flow to external services and APIs; like Slack, HubSpot, or Google Sheets, enabling seamless data exchange.
Simply select the app you want to integrate in the connector type, then choose the specific task you want to automate within the endpoint.
Database
Use this to read from or write to Fastn’s internal database using SQL queries. Ideal for managing structured data inside your flows.
Data Mapper
This lets you transform data between steps. You can map data from previous steps, variables, or secrets into a new object format you need later in the flow.
Variables
Set and reuse values across your flow — like counters, strings, objects, or flags. Great for storing intermediate data or config settings.
Switch
Create conditional logic to control the flow of actions based on specific criteria. Switches let your automation choose different paths depending on conditions.
For example, "if your input equals a certain value, do action X; otherwise, do action Y." This makes your flows flexible and able to handle different situations automatically.
Loop & End Loop
Repeat actions in a controlled way:
Loop N times: Run a block a fixed number of times.
Loop over data: Iterate through each item in a list.
While loop: Keep looping as long as a condition is true. Use End Loop to mark where the loop finishes.
Download File
Fetch a file from a URL and use it within your flow.
For example, to parse a CSV or attach a file to an email.
Logger
Add a step to log messages or data objects. Useful for debugging or tracking flow activity.
Converter
Convert JSON data into other formats like CSV, XML, or plain text — helpful when preparing data for export or API calls.
Custom Code
Write your own logic in JavaScript or Python. Use this when you need more control or advanced data handling within a flow.
Flow Response: Success & Error
Control what gets returned when your flow ends. Customize success or error messages based on HTTP response codes.
See an example of how a flow works for setting up HubSpot integration in your platform, and how you can use Fastn’s flow elements to build and automate it seamlessly:
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