Automated Administration Using Composites of Atomic Operations

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface;
• and
• a memory, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to implement an automation server, wherein the automation server is configured to:
• access information representing an activity, wherein the activity comprises a plurality of operations, wherein the plurality of operations comprises a first operation and a second operation, and wherein the information indicates that the second operation processes a value that is generated by the first operation;
• generate a sequence number;
• generate an output structure for the first operation, wherein the output structure associates the sequence number with an output value generated by the first operation;
• generate an input structure for the second operation, wherein the input structure associates the sequence number with an input value consumed by the second operation;
• and
• send a message, via the network interface, to an automation agent implemented on a computing device, wherein the computing device implements a software target of the first operation of the plurality of operations, wherein the message comprises information identifying the first operation and the output structure.

A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions executable to implement an automation server, wherein the automation server is configured to:

• access information representing an activity, wherein the activity comprises a plurality of operations, wherein the plurality of operations comprises a first operation and a second operation, and wherein the information indicates that the second operation processes a value that is generated by the first operation;
• generate a sequence number;
• generate an output structure for the first operation, wherein the output structure associates the sequence number with an output value generated by the first operation;
• generate an input structure for the second operation, wherein the input structure associates the sequence number with an input value consumed by the second operation;
• and
• send a message, via the network interface, to an automation agent implemented on a computing device, wherein the computing device implements a software target of the first operation of the plurality of operations, wherein the message comprises information identifying the first operation and the output structure.