Xera Docs

Playbooks

Design multi‑step workflows with forms, approvals, and reusable steps.

Last updated: September 2025

Overview

Playbooks orchestrate repeatable workflows. Define inputs, chain agent steps, call tools, and collect outputs you can ship to downstream systems.

Structure

  • Inputs: typed fields users or triggers provide.
  • Steps: agent actions, tool calls, or transformations.
  • Outputs: structured results (JSON, files, links).

Forms and validation

  • Build forms for operators with required fields, defaults, and help text.
  • Validate before starting runs to avoid failures mid‑workflow.

Approvals and handoffs

  • Insert human‑in‑the‑loop checkpoints for sensitive actions.
  • Pause and resume runs with full audit trails.
  • Escalate to teammates via notifications.

Error handling and retries

  • Per‑step retry policy with exponential backoff.
  • Fallback branches on tool failure (e.g., alternative provider).
  • Dead‑letter outputs for later review.

Reusability

  • Export/share playbooks across projects or teams.
  • Templatize common step groups and variables.
  • Version playbooks to track changes over time.