Flow Distillation

Flow distillation is the bridge between interactive chat and repeatable automation. After solving a task in chat, you can convert that session into a YAML flow that reproduces the same steps.

How It Works

The distill_flow tool analyzes the current chat session’s tool call trace and generates a YAML flow file that captures the sequence of operations performed. The resulting flow can be run independently without further interaction.

Triggering Distillation

In chat, use the /distill slash command after completing a task.

The agent can also distill proactively if it recognizes a workflow that should be reusable.

What Gets Captured

• Tool calls made during the session
• The sequence and dependencies between steps
• Input parameters that should be configurable
• Output handling

What It Produces

A saved YAML flow file in ~/.config/astonish/flows/.

Using Distilled Flows

Once distilled, the flow can be:

• Run standalone: astonish flows run <name>
• Scheduled: via the scheduler for periodic execution
• Edited: in the Studio Flow Editor for fine-tuning
• Shared: via tap repositories

The Distillation Workflow

The natural pattern is:

1. Explore and solve a problem interactively in chat.
2. Distill it into a reusable flow.
3. Run the flow whenever the same task comes up again.

This lets you iterate quickly in conversation, then lock in the solution as deterministic automation.