Decision tables and flow engine for building automated flows within a cloud based development platform

A method comprising:

• setting a trigger element of a design-time flow plan so that the trigger element activates in response to one or more predetermined computing conditions being satisfied;
• setting a plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan, the plurality of action elements executing at run-time in response to activation of the trigger element, wherein at least one of the plurality of action elements is a decision action element implemented by a decision table that includes decision inputs and respective condition logic based on the decision inputs for each of a plurality of decision answers associated with the decision table, wherein the decision table is external to and decoupled from the design-time flow plan;
• defining a first one of the plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan as a first decision answer action element that is executed at run-time when a decision answer served-up by the decision table corresponds to a first decision answer path in the design-time flow plan that is associated with a first one of the plurality of decision answers;
• defining a second one of the plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan as a second decision answer action element that is executed at run-time when the decision answer served-up by the decision table corresponds to a second decision answer path in the design-time flow plan that is associated with a second one of the plurality of decision answers;
• and
• publishing the design-time flow plan.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a program, the program comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to:

• set a trigger element of a design-time flow plan so that the trigger element activates in response to one or more predetermined computing conditions being satisfied;
• set a plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan, the plurality of action elements executing at run-time in response to activation of the trigger element, wherein at least one of the plurality of action elements is a decision action element implemented by a decision table that includes decision inputs and respective condition logic based on the decision inputs for each of a plurality of decision answers associated with the decision table, wherein the decision table is external to and decoupled from the design-time flow plan;
• define a first one of the plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan as a first decision answer action element that is executed at run-time when a decision answer served-up by the decision table corresponds to a first decision answer path in the design-time flow plan that is associated with a first one of the plurality of decision answers;
• define a second one of the plurality of action elements of the design-time flow plan as a second decision answer action element that is executed at run-time when the decision answer served-up by the decision table corresponds to a second decision answer path in the design-time flow plan that is associated with a second one of the plurality of decision answers;
• and
• publish the design-time flow plan.