> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.instabase.com/flow/creating-flows/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.instabase.com/_mcp/server.

# Creating flows

> Structure your flow development work from editing and planning through configuration, testing, and packaging.

Enterprise Single-tenant

Flows transform your document processing requirements into production-ready pipelines. The flow creation process guides you through building and configuring steps, linking modules for refinement and validation, and packaging everything into a deployable advanced app.

Members with the advanced developer role or higher can access the flow editor and develop flows. Advanced view must be enabled in your organization.

## The flow creation workflow

Developing a flow follows a structured development process.

1. [Working in the flow editor](/flow/working-in-flow-editor) -- Learn how to use the flow editor to build and test your flow.

2. [Planning flows](/flow/planning-flows) -- Decide step order, branching, filters, and where checkpoints belong before you wire everything up.

3. [Configuring steps and modules](/flow/step-config-reference) -- Add and configure steps, and link their supported modules as needed.

4. [Creating advanced apps from flows](/flow/advanced-apps) -- Compile your flow to a binary from the flow editor, then publish it as an advanced app through the Hub.

5. [Deploying advanced apps](/automate/deploy) -- Deploy your advanced app using the same deployments framework as low-code apps, with access to the same integrations, human review workflows, SLA management, and monitoring.

## Ways to get started

There are two ways to create a flow:

* Working exclusively in the flow editor, you can create a flow from scratch. Within the flow editor, you can additionally adjust your flow using the canvas or the JSON editor view.

* [Starting in the app editor](/automate/creating), you can generate a schema, define classes, and then [export the project](/automate/projects#exporting-and-importing-projects) to the flow editor. This approach is useful when you want to speed up development and focus on using the flow editor to fine-tune later steps in the workflow. This approach also offers a simpler way to set up packet-processing apps, by configuring your cross-class fields through the app editor UI.

> Structure your flow development work from editing and planning through configuration, testing, and packaging.

## Docs

- [Working with flows](https://docs.instabase.com/flow/working-in-flow-editor.md): Use the flow editor to create and test flows.
- [Planning flows](https://docs.instabase.com/flow/planning-flows.md): Choose step order, filters, checkpoints, and modules before you configure individual steps.
- [Integrating flows](https://docs.instabase.com/flow/integrate-flows.md): After you've created and compiled a flow, integrate it into your existing business processes to achieve maximum value.
- [Creating or versioning advanced apps](https://docs.instabase.com/flow/advanced-apps.md): Package your flow into a reusable advanced app
- [Logging and troubleshooting](https://docs.instabase.com/flow/debug-flows.md): Troubleshoot failing or slow flows with the flow dashboard