---
title: Steps
description: Choose the right step for each job, and edit, share and version an agent's workflow in the editor.
updated: 2026-10-29
---

> All VIABLE docs, for people and their agents: https://developers.viablelab.org/llms.txt

# Steps

Every agent is a workflow of steps on a canvas. This page says which step to reach for, and how to edit, share and version the workflow.

::: figure stage-studio

## Which step to use

**Add step** (or `/`) opens the step library.

- **Start & reply.** **Input** starts a run with the message and conversation. **Reply** ends a path with the text the reader sees. **Ask user** asks a question and waits for the answer.
- **AI.** **LLM** makes one model call to write or judge. **Agent** lets a model use tools, such as **Use knowledge**, until it can answer. **Image**, **Speech** and **Transcribe** handle pictures and sound.
- **Checks & review.** **VETTING** has a reviewer check each reply against your rules. **Guardrail** checks text once and goes to `pass` or `fail`.
- **Routing & logic.** **Branch** picks a path from an earlier field, with no model call. **Router** has a model choose a route. **Loop** repeats steps, and **Parallel** runs 2–6 paths at once.
- **Knowledge & memory.** **Knowledge** searches knowledge bases. **Memory** keeps facts about a person. **State** keeps variables.
- **Web & data.** **Fetch URL** reads one public web address. **Transform** reshapes earlier outputs.

An Agent step is slower and costlier than fixed steps, and its path varies. A rule that must always hold, such as "never give the answer", needs a check.

## Edit on the canvas

- Drag from an output dot (`next`, `pass`…) onto the next step.
- Every run starts at the step marked **Entry**. A step's menu has **Make this the entry step**.
- Click a step to open **Build → Step settings**. In text, **Insert a field…** adds an earlier step's output, such as `{{tutor.content}}`.
- The chip beside **Tools** says **Ready**, or how many issues to fix.

> [!WARNING]
> Never put a password, API key or token in a step. Every project member can read it, and **Export JSON** copies it into the agent file.

## Code view and the assistant

**Build → Code** shows the workflow as JSON. Edit it or paste JSON from an AI tool, then click **Apply JSON**; until then you can't publish. **AI prompt + JSON** writes a prompt for your own AI tool.

**Build → Assistant** answers questions about the agent and proposes changes, each waiting for **Apply to draft** or **Discard**.

## Work together

An agent has one shared draft that saves as you go. Edits from teammates, the API and the VIABLE CLI land in it too. **Share & invite** invites people to the whole project as **Editor** or **Viewer**. **Undo** undoes only your own edits.

## Versions

- **History → Save a version** marks a point to return to. **View & restore versions** lets you **Preview** one or **Restore** it into the draft.
- **Publish** makes the draft a new numbered version, the one learners, chat pages and apps use.
- **Tools → Discard changes** puts the draft back to the live version. **Tools → Unpublish agent** stops new runs and keeps the draft.

::: cards
- [VETTING](/docs/build/vetting): check every reply against rules you state.
- [Knowledge bases](/docs/build/knowledge): give an agent documents to search and cite.
- [Testing and run history](/docs/build/testing): try the draft and read each step of a run.
:::