schemesthat

Schemeshat is a term used to describe a lightweight, machine-readable schema for detailing stepwise procedures in technical writing and automation workflows. It aims to bridge narrative documentation with structured data by encoding steps, their dependencies, and branching options in a compact format that can be rendered as text, diagrams, or executable workflows.

Core concepts in schemesthat include steps, prerequisites, actions, outcomes, and conditional branches. Each step carries a unique identifier, a human-readable name, and a short description. Dependencies specify which steps must complete before a given step can start, while outcomes capture expected results and potential alternatives. The format is designed to be language-agnostic and convertible to other representations such as flowcharts or scripts.

In practice, a schemesthat document might outline a chemical synthesis or a software deployment procedure. For example, Step A must precede Step B; Step B includes an action to perform a check; if the check passes, the workflow proceeds to Step C, otherwise it returns to Step A or aborts with a defined error condition.

Schemeshat originated as a community-driven idea in open documentation and workflow tooling. It remains a niche format with variable tool support; several projects experiment with schemesthat parsers and renderers, but there is no single standard widely adopted.

It complements narrative documentation by enabling reuse, validation, and automation. It is related to but distinct from flowcharts, BPMN, and task lists, which offer different emphases on visualization or process semantics. As a developing concept, its ecosystem continues to evolve with ongoing experiments in tooling and documentation practices.