tassemples

Tassemples are modular, reusable units intended for building automated workflows. A tassemble encapsulates a task or small set of tasks into a self-contained unit that can be parameterized, versioned, and composed with other tassemblies in a pipeline. They typically include a task definition, input and output schemas, configuration parameters, and a description of execution steps.

Design and components: A tassemble comprises a template, a runtime adapter, and metadata. The template defines the logic to perform the task, while the runtime adapter translates inputs into the steps and manages dependencies, error handling, and logging. Metadata includes provenance information, version, authors, and compatibility constraints.

Usage and benefits: Tassemblies support modular design, enabling reuse across projects and teams. They help standardize task execution, improve reproducibility, and simplify pipeline maintenance. They can be orchestrated by workflow engines or executed in parallel where possible. Interoperability relies on common interfaces or schemas, and versioning ensures backward compatibility.

Example: a tassemble named DataCleanse with inputs rawData and config; steps: cleanMissing(data, config.missingPolicy) -> data1; normalize(data1, configNormalization) -> data2; outputs: cleanedData. This tassemble can be inserted into a larger pipeline that includes transformation and analysis steps.

Limitations: Overhead in maintaining many tassemblies; potential for duplication if interfaces diverge; requires governance to avoid fragmentation; learning curve for new users.

See also: workflow templates; modular design; data pipelines; software engineering; templating systems.