How Applications Are Built
Applications for Flowlu are developed using the provided tools, such as the SDK and official documentation, and must follow the platform’s development rules. The general application development process includes the following steps.
1. Designing functionality and integration points
The developer defines what the application will do and where it will be integrated into the Flowlu interface. For example, this may include adding a button in the CRM, a new tab in a task, or a widget on a dashboard.
2. Preparing the manifest and code
The developer creates a manifest.json file that describes the application, including its name, version, required permissions, integration points, and other metadata (see the manifest example below). At the same time, the application’s frontend code is developed, along with backend code if required, depending on the chosen implementation format (embedded web module or external service).
To speed up development, Flowlu provides an SDK with examples and libraries that simplify working with the API and common UI components.
See the Flowlu API documentation for available endpoints, authentication methods, and usage examples.
3. Testing the application
The developer tests the application in a test environment, such as a dedicated Flowlu test account. This includes verifying that the manifest is valid, the UI is displayed correctly in the defined integration points, and permission checks work as expected.
4. Packaging and publishing
The completed application is packaged according to the marketplace requirements. The application package includes the manifest.json file and, where applicable, application resources. For public applications, the package is submitted to Flowlu for moderation.
During the review process, Flowlu verifies the declared functionality, application operability, security considerations, and the appropriateness of the requested permissions and scopes. After approval, the application is published in the marketplace and becomes available for installation by Flowlu users.
Manifest validation
Flowlu automatically validates the uploaded manifest against a JSON schema. If required fields are missing or have an invalid format, application installation or publication is rejected. For this reason, developers should always follow the current manifest schema published in the documentation and use validation tools during development.
