Deploying a workflow that waits for human approval in Step Functions - AWS Step Functions

Deploying a workflow that waits for human approval in Step Functions

This tutorial shows you how to deploy a human approval project that allows an AWS Step Functions execution to pause during a task, and wait for a user to respond to an email. The workflow progresses to the next state once the user has approved the task to proceed.

Deploying the AWS CloudFormation stack included in this tutorial will create all necessary resources, including:

  • Amazon API Gateway resources

  • An AWS Lambda functions

  • An AWS Step Functions state machine

  • An Amazon Simple Notification Service email topic

  • Related AWS Identity and Access Management roles and permissions

Note

You will need to provide a valid email address that you have access to when you create the AWS CloudFormation stack.

For more information, see Working with CloudFormation Templates and the AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine resource in the AWS CloudFormation User Guide.

Step 1: Create an AWS CloudFormation template

  1. Copy the example code from the AWS CloudFormation Template Source Code section.

  2. Paste the source of the AWS CloudFormation template into a file on your local machine.

    For this example the file is called human-approval.yaml.

Step 2: Create a stack

  1. Log into the AWS CloudFormation console.

  2. Choose Create Stack, and then choose With new resources (standard).

  3. On the Create stack page, do the following:

    1. In the Prerequisite - Prepare template section, make sure Template is ready is selected.

    2. In the Specify template section, choose Upload a template file and then choose Choose file to upload the human-approval.yaml file you created earlier that includes the template source code.

  4. Choose Next.

  5. On the Specify stack details page, do the following:

    1. For Stack name, enter a name for your stack.

    2. Under Parameters, enter a valid email address. You'll use this email address to subscribe to the Amazon SNS topic.

  6. Choose Next, and then choose Next again.

  7. On the Review page, choose I acknowledge that AWS CloudFormation might create IAM resources and then choose Create.

    AWS CloudFormation begins to create your stack and displays the CREATE_IN_PROGRESS status. When the process is complete, AWS CloudFormation displays the CREATE_COMPLETE status.

  8. (Optional) To display the resources in your stack, select the stack and choose the Resources tab.

Step 3: Approve the Amazon SNS subscription

Once the Amazon SNS topic is created, you will receive an email requesting that you confirm subscription.

  1. Open the email account you provided when you created the AWS CloudFormation stack.

  2. Open the message AWS Notification - Subscription Confirmation from no-reply@sns.amazonaws.com

    The email will list the Amazon Resource Name for the Amazon SNS topic, and a confirmation link.

  3. Choose the confirm subscription link.

    Illustrative screenshot of a subscription confirmation email.

Step 4: Run the state machine

  1. On the HumanApprovalLambdaStateMachine page, choose Start execution.

    The Start execution dialog box is displayed.

  2. In the Start execution dialog box, do the following:

    1. (Optional) Enter a custom execution name to override the generated default.

      Non-ASCII names and logging

      Step Functions accepts names for state machines, executions, activities, and labels that contain non-ASCII characters. Because such characters will not work with Amazon CloudWatch, we recommend using only ASCII characters so you can track metrics in CloudWatch.

    2. In the Input box, enter the following JSON input to run your workflow.

      { "Comment": "Testing the human approval tutorial." }
    3. Choose Start execution.

      The ApprovalTest state machine execution starts, and pauses at the Lambda Callback task.

    4. The Step Functions console directs you to a page that's titled with your execution ID. This page is known as the Execution Details page. On this page, you can review the execution results as the execution progresses or after it's complete.

      To review the execution results, choose individual states on the Graph view, and then choose the individual tabs on the Step details pane to view each state's details including input, output, and definition respectively. For details about the execution information you can view on the Execution Details page, see Execution details overview.

      Execution waiting for callback
  3. In the email account you used for the Amazon SNS topic earlier, open the message with the subject Required approval from AWS Step Functions.

    The message includes separate URLs for Approve and Reject.

  4. Choose the Approve URL.

    The workflow continues based on your choice.

    Execution waiting for callback

AWS CloudFormation Template Source Code

Use this AWS CloudFormation template to deploy an example of a human approval process workflow.

AWSTemplateFormatVersion: "2010-09-09" Description: "AWS Step Functions Human based task example. It sends an email with an HTTP URL for approval." Parameters: Email: Type: String AllowedPattern: "^[a-zA-Z0-9_.+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9-]+\\.[a-zA-Z0-9-.]+$" ConstraintDescription: Must be a valid email address. Resources: # Begin API Gateway Resources ExecutionApi: Type: "AWS::ApiGateway::RestApi" Properties: Name: "Human approval endpoint" Description: "HTTP Endpoint backed by API Gateway and Lambda" FailOnWarnings: true ExecutionResource: Type: 'AWS::ApiGateway::Resource' Properties: RestApiId: !Ref ExecutionApi ParentId: !GetAtt "ExecutionApi.RootResourceId" PathPart: execution ExecutionMethod: Type: "AWS::ApiGateway::Method" Properties: AuthorizationType: NONE HttpMethod: GET Integration: Type: AWS IntegrationHttpMethod: POST Uri: !Sub "arn:aws:apigateway:${AWS::Region}:lambda:path/2015-03-31/functions/${LambdaApprovalFunction.Arn}/invocations" IntegrationResponses: - StatusCode: 302 ResponseParameters: method.response.header.Location: "integration.response.body.headers.Location" RequestTemplates: application/json: | { "body" : $input.json('$'), "headers": { #foreach($header in $input.params().header.keySet()) "$header": "$util.escapeJavaScript($input.params().header.get($header))" #if($foreach.hasNext),#end #end }, "method": "$context.httpMethod", "params": { #foreach($param in $input.params().path.keySet()) "$param": "$util.escapeJavaScript($input.params().path.get($param))" #if($foreach.hasNext),#end #end }, "query": { #foreach($queryParam in $input.params().querystring.keySet()) "$queryParam": "$util.escapeJavaScript($input.params().querystring.get($queryParam))" #if($foreach.hasNext),#end #end } } ResourceId: !Ref ExecutionResource RestApiId: !Ref ExecutionApi MethodResponses: - StatusCode: 302 ResponseParameters: method.response.header.Location: true ApiGatewayAccount: Type: 'AWS::ApiGateway::Account' Properties: CloudWatchRoleArn: !GetAtt "ApiGatewayCloudWatchLogsRole.Arn" ApiGatewayCloudWatchLogsRole: Type: 'AWS::IAM::Role' Properties: AssumeRolePolicyDocument: Version: "2012-10-17" Statement: - Effect: Allow Principal: Service: - apigateway.amazonaws.com Action: - 'sts:AssumeRole' Policies: - PolicyName: ApiGatewayLogsPolicy PolicyDocument: Version: 2012-10-17 Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "logs:*" Resource: !Sub "arn:${AWS::Partition}:logs:*:*:*" ExecutionApiStage: DependsOn: - ApiGatewayAccount Type: 'AWS::ApiGateway::Stage' Properties: DeploymentId: !Ref ApiDeployment MethodSettings: - DataTraceEnabled: true HttpMethod: '*' LoggingLevel: INFO ResourcePath: /* RestApiId: !Ref ExecutionApi StageName: states ApiDeployment: Type: "AWS::ApiGateway::Deployment" DependsOn: - ExecutionMethod Properties: RestApiId: !Ref ExecutionApi StageName: DummyStage # End API Gateway Resources # Begin # Lambda that will be invoked by API Gateway LambdaApprovalFunction: Type: 'AWS::Lambda::Function' Properties: Code: ZipFile: Fn::Sub: | const { SFN: StepFunctions } = require("@aws-sdk/client-sfn"); var redirectToStepFunctions = function(lambdaArn, statemachineName, executionName, callback) { const lambdaArnTokens = lambdaArn.split(":"); const partition = lambdaArnTokens[1]; const region = lambdaArnTokens[3]; const accountId = lambdaArnTokens[4]; console.log("partition=" + partition); console.log("region=" + region); console.log("accountId=" + accountId); const executionArn = "arn:" + partition + ":states:" + region + ":" + accountId + ":execution:" + statemachineName + ":" + executionName; console.log("executionArn=" + executionArn); const url = "https://console.aws.amazon.com/states/home?region=" + region + "#/executions/details/" + executionArn; callback(null, { statusCode: 302, headers: { Location: url } }); }; exports.handler = (event, context, callback) => { console.log('Event= ' + JSON.stringify(event)); const action = event.query.action; const taskToken = event.query.taskToken; const statemachineName = event.query.sm; const executionName = event.query.ex; const stepfunctions = new StepFunctions(); var message = ""; if (action === "approve") { message = { "Status": "Approved! Task approved by ${Email}" }; } else if (action === "reject") { message = { "Status": "Rejected! Task rejected by ${Email}" }; } else { console.error("Unrecognized action. Expected: approve, reject."); callback({"Status": "Failed to process the request. Unrecognized Action."}); } stepfunctions.sendTaskSuccess({ output: JSON.stringify(message), taskToken: event.query.taskToken }) .then(function(data) { redirectToStepFunctions(context.invokedFunctionArn, statemachineName, executionName, callback); }).catch(function(err) { console.error(err, err.stack); callback(err); }); } Description: Lambda function that callback to AWS Step Functions FunctionName: LambdaApprovalFunction Handler: index.handler Role: !GetAtt "LambdaApiGatewayIAMRole.Arn" Runtime: nodejs18.x LambdaApiGatewayInvoke: Type: "AWS::Lambda::Permission" Properties: Action: "lambda:InvokeFunction" FunctionName: !GetAtt "LambdaApprovalFunction.Arn" Principal: "apigateway.amazonaws.com" SourceArn: !Sub "arn:aws:execute-api:${AWS::Region}:${AWS::AccountId}:${ExecutionApi}/*" LambdaApiGatewayIAMRole: Type: "AWS::IAM::Role" Properties: AssumeRolePolicyDocument: Version: "2012-10-17" Statement: - Action: - "sts:AssumeRole" Effect: "Allow" Principal: Service: - "lambda.amazonaws.com" Policies: - PolicyName: CloudWatchLogsPolicy PolicyDocument: Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "logs:*" Resource: !Sub "arn:${AWS::Partition}:logs:*:*:*" - PolicyName: StepFunctionsPolicy PolicyDocument: Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "states:SendTaskFailure" - "states:SendTaskSuccess" Resource: "*" # End Lambda that will be invoked by API Gateway # Begin state machine that publishes to Lambda and sends an email with the link for approval HumanApprovalLambdaStateMachine: Type: AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine Properties: RoleArn: !GetAtt LambdaStateMachineExecutionRole.Arn DefinitionString: Fn::Sub: | { "StartAt": "Lambda Callback", "TimeoutSeconds": 3600, "States": { "Lambda Callback": { "Type": "Task", "Resource": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:states:::lambda:invoke.waitForTaskToken", "Parameters": { "FunctionName": "${LambdaHumanApprovalSendEmailFunction.Arn}", "Payload": { "ExecutionContext.$": "$$", "APIGatewayEndpoint": "https://${ExecutionApi}.execute-api.${AWS::Region}.amazonaws.com/states" } }, "Next": "ManualApprovalChoiceState" }, "ManualApprovalChoiceState": { "Type": "Choice", "Choices": [ { "Variable": "$.Status", "StringEquals": "Approved! Task approved by ${Email}", "Next": "ApprovedPassState" }, { "Variable": "$.Status", "StringEquals": "Rejected! Task rejected by ${Email}", "Next": "RejectedPassState" } ] }, "ApprovedPassState": { "Type": "Pass", "End": true }, "RejectedPassState": { "Type": "Pass", "End": true } } } SNSHumanApprovalEmailTopic: Type: AWS::SNS::Topic Properties: Subscription: - Endpoint: !Sub ${Email} Protocol: email LambdaHumanApprovalSendEmailFunction: Type: "AWS::Lambda::Function" Properties: Handler: "index.lambda_handler" Role: !GetAtt LambdaSendEmailExecutionRole.Arn Runtime: "nodejs18.x" Timeout: "25" Code: ZipFile: Fn::Sub: | console.log('Loading function'); const { SNS } = require("@aws-sdk/client-sns"); exports.lambda_handler = (event, context, callback) => { console.log('event= ' + JSON.stringify(event)); console.log('context= ' + JSON.stringify(context)); const executionContext = event.ExecutionContext; console.log('executionContext= ' + executionContext); const executionName = executionContext.Execution.Name; console.log('executionName= ' + executionName); const statemachineName = executionContext.StateMachine.Name; console.log('statemachineName= ' + statemachineName); const taskToken = executionContext.Task.Token; console.log('taskToken= ' + taskToken); const apigwEndpint = event.APIGatewayEndpoint; console.log('apigwEndpint = ' + apigwEndpint) const approveEndpoint = apigwEndpint + "/execution?action=approve&ex=" + executionName + "&sm=" + statemachineName + "&taskToken=" + encodeURIComponent(taskToken); console.log('approveEndpoint= ' + approveEndpoint); const rejectEndpoint = apigwEndpint + "/execution?action=reject&ex=" + executionName + "&sm=" + statemachineName + "&taskToken=" + encodeURIComponent(taskToken); console.log('rejectEndpoint= ' + rejectEndpoint); const emailSnsTopic = "${SNSHumanApprovalEmailTopic}"; console.log('emailSnsTopic= ' + emailSnsTopic); var emailMessage = 'Welcome! \n\n'; emailMessage += 'This is an email requiring an approval for a step functions execution. \n\n' emailMessage += 'Check the following information and click "Approve" link if you want to approve. \n\n' emailMessage += 'Execution Name -> ' + executionName + '\n\n' emailMessage += 'Approve ' + approveEndpoint + '\n\n' emailMessage += 'Reject ' + rejectEndpoint + '\n\n' emailMessage += 'Thanks for using Step functions!' const sns = new SNS(); var params = { Message: emailMessage, Subject: "Required approval from AWS Step Functions", TopicArn: emailSnsTopic }; sns.publish(params) .then(function(data) { console.log("MessageID is " + data.MessageId); callback(null); }).catch( function(err) { console.error(err, err.stack); callback(err); }); } LambdaStateMachineExecutionRole: Type: "AWS::IAM::Role" Properties: AssumeRolePolicyDocument: Version: "2012-10-17" Statement: - Effect: Allow Principal: Service: states.amazonaws.com Action: "sts:AssumeRole" Policies: - PolicyName: InvokeCallbackLambda PolicyDocument: Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "lambda:InvokeFunction" Resource: - !Sub "${LambdaHumanApprovalSendEmailFunction.Arn}" LambdaSendEmailExecutionRole: Type: "AWS::IAM::Role" Properties: AssumeRolePolicyDocument: Version: "2012-10-17" Statement: - Effect: Allow Principal: Service: lambda.amazonaws.com Action: "sts:AssumeRole" Policies: - PolicyName: CloudWatchLogsPolicy PolicyDocument: Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "logs:CreateLogGroup" - "logs:CreateLogStream" - "logs:PutLogEvents" Resource: !Sub "arn:${AWS::Partition}:logs:*:*:*" - PolicyName: SNSSendEmailPolicy PolicyDocument: Statement: - Effect: Allow Action: - "SNS:Publish" Resource: - !Sub "${SNSHumanApprovalEmailTopic}" # End state machine that publishes to Lambda and sends an email with the link for approval Outputs: ApiGatewayInvokeURL: Value: !Sub "https://${ExecutionApi}.execute-api.${AWS::Region}.amazonaws.com/states" StateMachineHumanApprovalArn: Value: !Ref HumanApprovalLambdaStateMachine