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Integrations

Integrations are the building blocks that enable Vectense Platform to connect with external systems, process data, and automate business workflows. They are divided into Triggers (that start workflows) and Actions (that perform operations).

Overview​

Integrations provide the connectivity and functionality that make workflows powerful:

  • Triggers: Events that initiate workflow execution
  • Actions: Operations that process data and interact with external systems
  • Extensibility: Plugin architecture for custom integrations
  • Standardization: Consistent interface across all integrations

Quick Navigation​

  • Introduction - Understanding the integration framework
  • Triggers - Events that start workflows
  • Actions - Operations that workflows can perform

Integration Categories​

Triggers​

Events and conditions that initiate workflow execution:

Scheduling Triggers

External System Triggers

File System Triggers

Actions​

Operations that workflows can perform:

AI and Processing Actions

Communication Actions

Data Processing Actions

Utility Actions

Integration Architecture​

Plugin System​

Vectense Platform uses a plugin-based architecture:

  • Standardized Interface: All integrations follow consistent patterns
  • Dynamic Loading: Integrations are loaded on-demand
  • Type Safety: Strong typing for configuration and data flow
  • Error Handling: Robust error handling and recovery

Configuration Schema​

Each integration defines its configuration requirements:

  • Parameter Definition: Required and optional parameters
  • Data Types: Type validation for configuration values
  • Default Values: Sensible defaults for common use cases
  • Validation Rules: Ensure configuration correctness

Data Flow​

Integrations handle data consistently:

  • Input Processing: Standardized input data handling
  • Memory Management: Consistent variable storage and retrieval
  • Output Generation: Standardized output formatting
  • Error Reporting: Consistent error handling and reporting

Common Integration Patterns​

Trigger Patterns​

Polling Triggers

  • Periodically check external systems for changes
  • Configurable polling intervals
  • State management for change detection
  • Efficient resource usage

Event-Driven Triggers

  • Respond to real-time events
  • Webhook-based notifications
  • Immediate response to changes
  • Low latency processing

Scheduled Triggers

  • Time-based execution
  • Cron expression support
  • Timezone handling
  • Flexible scheduling options

Action Patterns​

API Integration

  • RESTful API communication
  • Authentication handling
  • Request/response processing
  • Error handling and retries

Data Transformation

  • Input data processing
  • Format conversion
  • Validation and sanitization
  • Output formatting

External System Communication

  • Protocol-specific communication
  • Connection management
  • State synchronization
  • Error recovery

Integration Development​

Creating Custom Integrations​

Developers can create custom integrations:

  • Integration Base Classes: Extend standard base classes
  • Schema Definition: Define configuration and data schemas
  • Implementation: Implement trigger or action logic
  • Testing: Comprehensive testing framework
  • Documentation: Auto-generated documentation

Best Practices​

  • Error Handling: Implement robust error handling
  • Resource Management: Efficient resource usage
  • Security: Secure handling of credentials and data
  • Performance: Optimize for speed and efficiency
  • Documentation: Provide clear usage documentation

Integration Registry​

Manage available integrations:

  • Global Registry: Platform-wide integrations
  • Workspace Registry: Workspace-specific integrations
  • Version Management: Handle integration versions
  • Dependency Management: Manage integration dependencies

Security Considerations​

Credential Management​

  • Secure Storage: Encrypted storage of API keys and credentials
  • Access Control: Role-based access to sensitive configurations
  • Rotation: Support for credential rotation
  • Audit Logging: Track credential usage and access

Data Security​

  • Encryption: Encrypt data at rest and in transit
  • Validation: Validate all input data
  • Sanitization: Sanitize output data
  • Privacy: Respect data privacy requirements

Network Security​

  • HTTPS: Use encrypted connections
  • Certificate Validation: Validate SSL certificates
  • Firewall: Support for network restrictions
  • Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting for external calls

Performance and Scalability​

Performance Optimization​

  • Connection Pooling: Reuse connections for efficiency
  • Caching: Cache frequently accessed data
  • Batch Processing: Process multiple items efficiently
  • Async Operations: Use asynchronous processing where appropriate

Scalability​

  • Horizontal Scaling: Support for multiple instances
  • Load Balancing: Distribute load across instances
  • Resource Limits: Configurable resource limits
  • Monitoring: Comprehensive performance monitoring

Resource Management​

  • Memory Usage: Efficient memory management
  • CPU Usage: Optimize CPU-intensive operations
  • Network Bandwidth: Minimize network usage
  • Storage: Efficient data storage and retrieval

Monitoring and Debugging​

Integration Monitoring​

  • Health Checks: Monitor integration health
  • Performance Metrics: Track response times and throughput
  • Error Rates: Monitor failure rates and patterns
  • Usage Statistics: Track integration usage patterns

Debugging Tools​

  • Logging: Comprehensive logging for debugging
  • Tracing: Request tracing across integrations
  • Error Analysis: Detailed error analysis and reporting
  • Testing Tools: Tools for integration testing

Alerts and Notifications​

  • Failure Alerts: Immediate notification of failures
  • Performance Alerts: Alerts for performance issues
  • Threshold Monitoring: Configurable thresholds
  • Escalation: Alert escalation procedures

Integration Marketplace​

Available Integrations​

Vectense Platform provides a comprehensive set of built-in integrations:

  • Core Integrations: Essential triggers and actions
  • Popular Services: Common external services and APIs
  • Industry-Specific: Specialized integrations for specific industries
  • Community Contributions: User-contributed integrations

Integration Discovery​

  • Search and Browse: Find integrations by category or functionality
  • Documentation: Comprehensive documentation for each integration
  • Examples: Usage examples and templates
  • Reviews: User reviews and ratings

Custom Integration Sharing​

  • Publishing: Publish custom integrations to the marketplace
  • Versioning: Manage integration versions
  • Distribution: Distribute integrations to other users
  • Monetization: Optional monetization for premium integrations

Getting Started​

Using Existing Integrations​

  1. Browse Available Integrations: Explore the integration library
  2. Read Documentation: Understand integration capabilities and requirements
  3. Configure Integration: Set up required parameters and credentials
  4. Test Integration: Validate configuration with test data
  5. Use in Workflows: Integrate into your automation workflows

Developing Custom Integrations​

  1. Review Architecture: Understand the integration framework
  2. Define Requirements: Specify integration functionality and interface
  3. Implement Integration: Develop using provided base classes and tools
  4. Test Thoroughly: Comprehensive testing with various scenarios
  5. Document and Deploy: Document usage and deploy to your workspace

Support and Resources​

Documentation​

  • Integration Guides: Detailed guides for each integration
  • API Reference: Complete API documentation
  • Developer Guides: Resources for custom integration development
  • Best Practices: Recommended patterns and practices

Community​

  • User Forums: Community discussions and support
  • Integration Sharing: Share and discover custom integrations
  • Best Practices: Learn from other users' experiences
  • Feature Requests: Request new integrations and features

Professional Support​

  • Technical Support: Professional support for enterprise users
  • Custom Development: Custom integration development services
  • Training: Training on integration development and best practices
  • Consulting: Strategic consulting on integration architecture

Integrations are the foundation of powerful automation in Vectense Platform. Explore the Triggers and Actions sections to learn about specific integration capabilities.