Quick Start Guide

Last updated: Jan 2026

Overview

By the end of this guide, you'll have created a simple workflow that takes text input, processes it with an AI model (Claude), and displays the AI-generated response. This demonstrates the core concepts of ORCFLO in just a few minutes.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

  • An ORCFLO account (free tier works great)
  • Basic understanding of what workflows are

1. Access the Workflow Builder

From your dashboard, click the "New Workflow" button or navigate to Workflows → Create New.

Give your workflow a name like My First Workflow and click Create.

2. Add Your Nodes

You'll see an empty canvas ready for you to build your workflow. Use the component library to drag and drop nodes onto the canvas.

Add three nodes to your canvas:

  1. Input node: The workflow's entry point
  2. Claude Model node: Processes input with AI
  3. Output node: Displays the results

Pro Tip

The node picker is searchable! Just start typing to filter available nodes.

3. Configure the Input Node

Click on the Input node to open its configuration panel on the right side of the screen. This is where you'll define the data that flows into your workflow.

Enter this sample text in the Input node's text field:

text
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence demonstrated by machines,
as opposed to natural intelligence displayed by animals including humans.
AI research has been defined as the field of study of intelligent agents,
which refers to any system that perceives its environment and takes actions
that maximize its chance of achieving its goals.

Input Node

The Input node defines what data your workflow will process.

4. Configure the LLM Step

Click on the Claude Model node to open its configuration panel. This is where you'll tell the AI what to do with your input.

1

Model

Select Claude Haiku 4.5 from the center of the step.

2

Task Instructions

Write the task you want the AI to perform. The input data will be automatically passed to the AI.

Enter this task in the Task Instructions field:

text
You are a helpful assistant that summarizes text concisely.
Please summarize the provided text in 2-3 sentences, capturing the main points.

5. Connect the Nodes

Now you need to link your nodes together so data flows from one to the next:

  1. Hover over the Input node to see its output handle (small circle on the right)
  2. Click and drag from the handle to the input of the Claude Model node
  3. Repeat to connect the Claude Model node to the Output node

Your workflow should now show: Input → Claude Model → Output

6. Execute Your Workflow

Time to see your workflow in action! Click the Execute button in the top toolbar.

When execution starts, an Execution Pane automatically opens on the right side of the screen. This pane shows real-time progress as each step runs:

  • Watch each step's status update in real-time (pending → running → completed)
  • Click on any step to view its input and output data
  • See the final AI-generated summary in the Output step's results

Debugging Tip

The execution pane is your best friend for debugging! Click on any step to inspect exactly what data flowed in and out. If something goes wrong, you'll see the error message right there.

Congratulations!

You've built your first AI-powered workflow! This simple example demonstrates the core concepts of ORCFLO. From here, you can add more nodes, create branches with conditional logic, connect to external services, and much more.

Next Steps

Ready to go deeper? Here are some recommended resources:

Continue to Core Concepts
Core Concepts