Reliable workflows and agents
Recover repeated work without causing duplicate effects.
Reviewed: 2026-10-03
Source-based teaching example · Fictional data
Narration: Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized

00:00:00.000 — What you will learn

Recover repeated work without causing duplicate effects.

Visual description:
Recover repeated work without causing duplicate effects.

00:00:06.542 — The idea

Record an operation’s identity and intended effect. Replaying the same operation should not duplicate that effect. Durable recovery also needs a storage and reconciliation design.

Visual description:
Record an operation’s identity and intended effect. Replaying the same operation should not duplicate that effect. Durable recovery also needs a storage and reconciliation design.

00:00:21.375 — One useful term

Idempotency key. An identifier used to recognize repeated attempts at the same intended operation.

Visual description:
An identifier used to recognize repeated attempts at the same intended operation.

00:00:30.958 — A worked example

The simulated workflow records an action and crashes before acknowledging its message. Replay uses the same key and does not duplicate the action. Changed intent is rejected.

Visual description:
The simulated workflow records an action and crashes before acknowledging its message. Replay uses the same key and does not duplicate the action. Changed intent is rejected.

00:00:45.000 — Your turn to think

Does an in-memory exercise prove recovery after a real process restart? Pause and decide before continuing.

Visual description:
Does an in-memory exercise prove recovery after a real process restart?
Pause the video if you need more time.

00:01:03.333 — Why this answer works

No. Memory disappears with the process. Persistent storage and reconciliation need separate design and tests.

Visual description:
No. Memory disappears with the process. Persistent storage and reconciliation need separate design and tests.

00:01:14.292 — Check 1

Test identical replay and changed intent.

Visual description:
Test identical replay and changed intent.

00:01:19.958 — Check 2

Keep approvals in reliable state.

Visual description:
Keep approvals in reliable state.

00:01:25.042 — Check 3

Distinguish simulation from durable recovery.

Visual description:
Distinguish simulation from durable recovery.

00:01:30.917 — Now try a different case

Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.

Visual description:
Open the lesson
Try the new case
Check and revise
The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.