Why Kestra Became the Ideal Workflow Automation Platform: A Developer Experience Testimonial

Automating workflows is a challenge for many businesses, and finding the right platform is never easy. In this search, a Software Engineer, who worked with AWS Step Functions and Apache Airflow in a corporate setting, found that Kestra perfectly met his needs by radically simplifying workflow creation. Here’s his experience, highlighting the distinctive advantages of Kestra in terms of simplicity, flexibility, and power.

I found his testimonial to be detailed, precise, and incredibly insightful—so much so that I felt it would be valuable to share.

"Kestra is the workflow platform I’ve always been looking for"

The developer wanted a tool that could easily execute a simple sequence of actions – A, B, C – with some basic branching logic and the ability to run Docker images while retrieving their outputs. With Kestra, he found a solution that easily automates an increasing number of workflows, as new ones seem to appear weekly.

An Intuitive Interface for No-Code Workflow Creation

One of the major frustrations with traditional tools is the technical configuration burden. Airflow, for example, though powerful, imposes a complex management model. "Airflow is powerful but painful to use on a daily basis," the user tells us, pointing out the challenges of configuration and scheduling.

Kestra, on the other hand, offers a visual interface that allows no-code workflow creation in just a few clicks. "Kestra says ‘just tell us what your workflow steps are.’ This simplicity changes everything," he explains. This way, they can focus on the heart of their work without wasting time navigating through a complicated interface.

Built-In Input UI: Finally, a Solution for Non-Technical Users

With Kestra, creating a workflow that allows a user to input data without dealing with APIs or JSON is simple and built-in. This is a real benefit for our user: "Kestra provides a built-in Input UI, allowing someone like a campaign manager to interact with the workflow without needing technical skills." Where Step Functions and Airflow require custom configurations or interfaces, Kestra simplifies workflow access for non-technical profiles.

Integrated Storage: A Well-Organized and Automated Workspace

Storage management is another pain point with tools like Apache Airflow, which require manual tracking of old files and disk space. Kestra, in contrast, offers automated storage with S3 and database integrations, making workflow maintenance easier. "Kestra saves us from having to manually manage internal file cleanup," he notes, emphasizing the peace of mind this feature provides

The Docker Output Management Headache, Finally Solved

Amazon Step Functions posed frustrating challenges for him: "I had to make sure my Docker images wrote their outputs to S3 so I could use them in subsequent steps." A cumbersome process that slowed development. With Kestra, steps can pass data to each other directly without requiring extra steps to make the data compatible. By removing this complexity, Kestra makes integrating Docker workflows smooth and fast.

Simplified and Enjoyable Management: When Building Workflows Becomes Fun

Unlike solutions where every modification feels like a complex puzzle, Kestra makes building workflows enjoyable. "With Kestra, creating a workflow is not only simple, but it’s also fun". Kestra stands out with an interface and features that feel well-thought-out and robust.

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Conclusion: Scale easily with Kestra

It's never really been my thing to put ourselves ahead of others. At Kestra, we follow our own path based on our vision, not by comparing ourselves to others. However, for those who face challenges with tools like Step Functions or Airflow, I think it's valuable that there are modern and refreshing alternatives like Kestra. Feel free to share your own experiences as well.

For this engineer, Kestra has radically transformed the way he works, allowing him to focus on his goals without getting bogged down by complex configurations. Whether you’re looking for an intuitive platform, a powerful user interface, or simplified storage, Kestra is here to streamline and accelerate your workflow orchestration.

Ready to take your workflows to the next level? Discover how Kestra can free you from complexity and make automation a breeze. https://kestra.io