Data type brainstorming

Think about a process you want to automate and identify the types of data it involves. Recognizing data types early helps you design efficient workflows in Rewst.

Why this matters

When you automate a process in Rewst, understanding data types helps you:

• Structure your workflows efficiently

• Avoid errors (e.g., treating a number as a string)

• Make smart decisions (e.g., using Booleans for approvals)

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Step 1: Choose a process to automate

Pick a real-world process you’d like to automate. As you think through your automation, keep these key points in mind:

• You can’t automate what doesn’t exist (Aharon’s Law) – make sure there’s an actual process in place first.

• Start small – focus on a simple, repetitive task rather than a complex workflow.

• Ask yourself: What’s one quick, routine task you’d love to eliminate from your to-do list?

For example, you might automate processes like:

• Adding PTO requests to a calendar once they’re approved

• Sending an alert when a ticket is overdue

• Automatically welcoming new employees with a personalized email

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Step 2: Identify the data types

For your chosen process, identify the data you'll use. The table provides an example of brainstorming data types for overdue ticket alerts.

Data element	Example value	Data type
Ticket number	42	Integer
Employee assigned	Jane Doe	String
Overdue	Yes/No	Boolean
Manager email	[e-mail]	String
Ticket information	Date submitted: 5/12/24 Original priority level: Low Ticket type: Login issues	Dictionary
Other tickets submitted by client	["Ticket #12345", "Ticket #12346", "Ticket #12347"]	List

Write down your own workflow and data type brainstorm somewhere accessible - they will come in handy when you get to Rewst Foundations!

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