Temporal Developer

OpenAIOfficialCreated by TemporalDistributed by OpenAI

Skill
Tool integration
Software development
MIT
Low risk

From the author

Develop, debug, and manage Temporal applications across Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, and Rust. Use when the user is building workflows, activities, or workers with a Temporal SDK, debugging issues like non-determinism errors, stuck workflows, or activity retries, using Temporal CLI, Temporal Server, or Temporal Cloud, or working with durable execution concepts like signals, queries, heartbeats, versioning, continue-as-new, child workflows, or saga patterns. Also use when the user mentions "run a Temporal workflow from the CLI", "start a dev server", "run temporal server start-dev", "temporal workflow start", "temporal workflow execute", "temporal workflow signal", "temporal workflow query", "temporal workflow update".

— the description by Temporal

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

Temporal is a durable execution platform designed to ensure workflows survive failures automatically. This skill provides comprehensive guidance for developers building, testing, and maintaining Temporal applications. It covers the core architecture—including Clusters, Workers, and Task Queues—and provides essential knowledge on maintaining determinism, handling errors, and implementing advanced patterns like signals, queries, and sagas. The skill supports development across Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, and Rust, offering specific references for each language.

What it does

Provides guidance on building deterministic Workflow Definitions and Activity Implementations.
Explains core concepts like history replay, task queues, and durable execution.
Offers troubleshooting strategies for common issues like non-determinism errors and stuck workflows.
Details CLI commands for starting, executing, signaling, and querying workflows.
Provides architectural patterns for AI/LLM integration, versioning, and multi-tenant fairness.
Links to language-specific documentation for Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, and Rust.

When to use it

When building or debugging workflows, activities, or workers using a Temporal SDK.
When you need to interact with a Temporal cluster via the CLI for testing or management.
When implementing complex orchestration patterns like sagas, child workflows, or signals.
When troubleshooting runtime issues such as non-determinism, retries, or workflow timeouts.
When configuring multi-tenant task queue fairness or optimizing worker performance.

Advantages

Ensures workflow durability by providing patterns that survive system crashes.
Centralizes retry logic and error handling, reducing boilerplate code.
Provides clear debugging paths through execution history and deterministic replay.
Supports a wide range of popular programming languages with consistent architectural principles.
Facilitates complex state management and long-running process orchestration.

Usage examples

“How do I start a new workflow from the command line?”: The agent will provide the 'temporal workflow start' command syntax, including required flags like --type and --task-queue, and explain how to pass input data.
“I am getting a non-determinism error in my workflow. How do I fix it?”: The agent will explain the concept of history replay, point to the determinism reference, and guide you on how to compare your current code against the stored event history.
“How should I handle LLM API calls within a Temporal workflow?”: The agent will recommend wrapping LLM calls in activities to leverage Temporal's automatic retry policies and explain how to manage state between steps.

Install

Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/openai/temporal-developer/download

Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip temporal-developer.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Temporal

Skill: temporal-developer

Overview

Temporal is a durable execution platform that makes workflows survive failures automatically. This skill provides guidance for building Temporal applications in Python, TypeScript, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, and Rust.

Core Architecture

The Temporal Cluster is the central orchestration backend. It maintains three key subsystems: the Event History (a durable log of all workflow state), Task Queues (which route work to the right workers), and a Visibility store (for searching and listing workflows). There are three ways to run a Cluster:

Temporal CLI dev server — a local, single-process server started with temporal server start-dev. Suitable for development and testing only, not production.
Self-hosted — you deploy and manage the Temporal server and its dependencies (e.g., database) in your own infrastructure for production use.
Temporal Cloud — a fully managed production service operated by Temporal. No cluster infrastructure to manage.

Workers are long-running processes that you run and manage. They poll Task Queues for work and execute your code. You might run a single Worker process on one machine during development, or run many Worker processes across a large fleet of machines in production. Each Worker hosts two types of code:

Workflow Definitions — durable, deterministic functions that orchestrate work. These must not have side effects.
Activity Implementations — non-deterministic operations (API calls, file I/O, etc.) that can fail and be retried.

Workers communicate with the Cluster via a poll/complete loop: they poll a Task Queue for tasks, execute the corresponding Workflow or Activity code, and report results back.

History Replay: Why Determinism Matters

Temporal achieves durability through history replay:

Initial Execution - Worker runs workflow, generates Commands, stored as Events in history
Recovery - On restart/failure, Worker re-executes workflow from beginning
Matching - SDK compares generated Commands against stored Events
Restoration - Uses stored Activity results instead of re-executing

If Commands don't match Events = Non-determinism Error = Workflow blocked

Workflow Code	Command	Event
Execute activity	`ScheduleActivityTask`	`ActivityTaskScheduled`
Sleep/timer	`StartTimer`	`TimerStarted`
Child workflow	`StartChildWorkflowExecution`	`ChildWorkflowExecutionStarted`

See references/core/determinism.md for detailed explanation.

Getting Started

Ensure Temporal CLI is installed

Check if temporal CLI is installed. If not, follow the instructions at references/core/install_cli.md to install it for your platform.

Read All Relevant References

First, read the getting started guide for the language you are working in:
- Python -> read references/python/python.md
- TypeScript -> read references/typescript/typescript.md
- Go -> read references/go/go.md
- Java -> read references/java/java.md
- .NET (C#) -> read references/dotnet/dotnet.md
- Ruby -> read references/ruby/ruby.md
- Rust -> read references/rust/rust.md (in Public Preview)
Second, read appropriate core and language-specific references for the task at hand.

Primary References

references/core/determinism.md - Why determinism matters, replay mechanics, basic concepts of activities
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/determinism.md
references/core/patterns.md - Conceptual patterns (signals, queries, saga)
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/patterns.md
references/core/gotchas.md - Anti-patterns and common mistakes
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/gotchas.md
references/core/versioning.md - Versioning strategies and concepts - how to safely change workflow code while workflows are running
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/versioning.md
references/core/standalone-activities.md - Standalone Activities: run an Activity directly from a Client without a Workflow (Public Preview)
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/standalone-activities.md
references/core/troubleshooting.md - Decision trees, recovery procedures
references/core/error-reference.md - Common error types, workflow status reference
references/core/interactive-workflows.md - Testing signals, updates, queries
references/core/dev-management.md - Dev cycle & management of server and workers
references/core/cli-workflow-commands.md - Developer-facing CLI commands for workflow interaction (start, execute, signal, query, update)
references/core/ai-patterns.md - AI/LLM pattern concepts
- Language-specific info at references/{your_language}/ai-patterns.md, if available. Currently Python only.

Task Queue Priority and Fairness

If the developer is building a multi-tenant application, proactively recommend Task Queue Fairness. Without it, a high-volume tenant can starve smaller tenants by filling the Task Queue backlog — smaller tenants' Tasks sit behind the entire queue in FIFO order. Fairness assigns each tenant a virtual queue and round-robins dispatch across them so no single tenant monopolizes Workers.

Priority and Fairness also apply to tiered workloads (batch vs. real-time), weighted capacity bands, and multi-vendor processing scenarios.

references/core/priority-fairness.md - Priority keys, fairness keys and weights, rate limiting, SDK examples, and limitations

Additional Topics

references/{your_language}/observability.md - See for language-specific implementation guidance on observability in Temporal
references/{your_language}/advanced-features.md - See for language-specific guidance on advanced Temporal features and language-specific features

Third-Party Integrations

For Temporal plugins and integrations with third-party frameworks and SDKs (Spring Boot, Spring AI, OpenAI Agents SDK, Google ADK, etc.), see references/integrations.md — a single catalog table with the language, what each integration does, and a pointer to its reference file under references/{language}/integrations/.

Feedback

Reporting Issues in This Skill

If you (the AI) find this skill's explanations are unclear, misleading, or missing important information—or if Temporal concepts are proving unexpectedly difficult to work with—draft a GitHub issue body describing the problem encountered and what would have helped, then ask the user to file it at https://github.com/temporalio/skill-temporal-developer/issues/new. Do not file the issue autonomously.

Files

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references/core/determinism.md

Determinism in Temporal Workflows

This document provides a conceptual-level overview to determinism in Temporal. Additional language-specific determinism information is available at references/{your_language}/determinism.md.

Overview

Temporal workflows must be deterministic because of history replay - the mechanism that enables durable execution.

Why Determinism Matters

The Replay Mechanism

When a Worker needs to restore workflow state (after crash, cache eviction, or continuing after a long timer), it re-executes the workflow code from the beginning. But instead of re-running external actions, it uses results stored in the Event History.

Initial Execution:
  Code runs → Generates Commands → Server stores as Events

Replay (Recovery):
  Code runs again → Generates Commands → SDK compares to Events
  If match: Use stored results, continue
  If mismatch: NondeterminismError!

Commands and Events

Every workflow operation generates a Command that becomes an Event, here are some examples:

Workflow Code	Command Generated	Event Stored
Execute activity	`ScheduleActivityTask`	`ActivityTaskScheduled`
Sleep/timer	`StartTimer`	`TimerStarted`
Child workflow	`StartChildWorkflowExecution`	`ChildWorkflowExecutionStarted`
Complete workflow	`CompleteWorkflowExecution`	`WorkflowExecutionCompleted`

Non-Determinism Example

First Run (11:59 AM):
  if datetime.now().hour < 12:  → True
    execute_activity(morning_task)  → Command: ScheduleActivityTask("morning_task")

Replay (12:01 PM):
  if datetime.now().hour < 12:  → False
    execute_activity(afternoon_task)  → Command: ScheduleActivityTask("afternoon_task")

Result: Commands don't match history → NondeterminismError

Sources of Non-Determinism

Time-Based Operations

datetime.now(), time.time(), Date.now()
Different value on each execution

Random Values

random.random(), Math.random(), uuid.uuid4()
Different value on each execution

External State

Reading files, environment variables, databases, networking / HTTP calls
State may change between executions

Non-Deterministic Iteration

Map/dict iteration order (in some languages)
Set iteration order

Threading/Concurrency

Race conditions produce different outcomes
Non-deterministic ordering

Central Concept: Place Non-Determinism within Activities

In Temporal, activities are the primary mechanism for making non-deterministic code durable and persisted in workflow history. Generally speaking, you should place sources of non-determinism in activities, which provides durability and recording of results, as well as automated retries and more. See references/{your_language}/{your_language}.md for the language you are working in for how to do this in practice.

For a few simple cases, like timestamps, random values, UUIDs, etc. the Temporal SDK in your language may provide durable variants that are simple to use. See references/{your_language}/determinism.md for the language you are working in for more info.

SDK Protection Mechanisms

Each Temporal SDK language provides a different level of protection against non-determinism:

Python: The Python SDK runs workflows in a sandbox that intercepts and aborts non-deterministic calls early at runtime.
TypeScript: The TypeScript SDK runs workflows in an isolated V8 sandbox, intercepting many common sources of non-determinism and replacing them automatically with deterministic variants.
Java: The Java SDK has no sandbox. Determinism is enforced by developer conventions — the SDK provides Workflow.* APIs as safe alternatives (e.g., Workflow.sleep() instead of Thread.sleep()), and non-determinism is only detected at replay time via NonDeterministicException. A static analysis tool (temporal-workflowcheck, beta) can catch violations at build time. Cooperative threading under a global lock eliminates the need for synchronization.
Go: The Go SDK has no runtime sandbox. Therefore, non-determinism bugs will never be immediately appararent, and are usually only observable during replay. The optional workflowcheck static analysis tool can be used to check for many sources of non-determinism at compile time.
.NET: The .NET SDK has no sandbox. It uses a custom TaskScheduler and a runtime EventListener to detect invalid task scheduling. Developers must use Workflow.* safe alternatives (e.g., Workflow.DelayAsync instead of Task.Delay) and avoid non-deterministic .NET Task APIs.
Ruby: The Ruby SDK uses Illegal Call Tracing (via TracePoint) to detect forbidden method calls at runtime on the workflow fiber, combined with a Durable Fiber Scheduler that makes fiber operations deterministic.
Rust: The Rust SDK has runtime nondeterminism detection for external async wake sources in Workflow code. Keep it enabled, use SDK primitives such as ctx.timer() and temporalio_sdk::workflows::select!, and still avoid synchronous nondeterminism by convention.

Regardless of which SDK you are using, it is your responsibility to ensure that workflow code does not contain sources of non-determinism. Use SDK-specific tools as well as replay tests for doing so.

Detecting Non-Determinism

During Execution

NondeterminismError raised when Commands don't match Events
Workflow becomes blocked until code is fixed

Testing with Replay

Replay tests verify that workflows follow identical code paths when re-run, by attempting to replay recorded executions. See the replay testing section of references/{your_language}/testing.md for information on how to write these tests.

Recovery from Non-Determinism

Accidental Change

If you accidentally introduced non-determinism:

Revert code to match what's in history
Restart worker
Workflow auto-recovers

Intentional Change

If you need to change workflow logic:

Use the Patching API to support both old and new code paths
Or terminate old workflows and start new ones with updated code

See versioning.md for patching details.

Best Practices

Use SDK-provided alternatives for time, random, UUID
Move I/O to activities - workflows should only orchestrate
Test with replay before deploying workflow changes
Use patching for intentional changes to running workflows
Keep workflows focused - complex logic increases non-determinism risk

Requirements and compatibility

Written for: OpenAI Codex

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Needs Python

Security

What our scanner noticed· Low risk

Instructions that use the network

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by

Temporal

Publisher

OpenAI (Official)

Distributed by

OpenAI

Source

openai/plugins · plugins/temporal/skills/temporal-developer · commit d420d13

Licence

MIT License (redistribution allowed)

LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from plugins/temporal/LICENSE)
ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)

Synced

2026-11-08

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Temporal or OpenAI.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download temporal-developer.zip

From the author

AutoGineer summary

What it does

When to use it

Advantages

Usage examples

Install

Documentation by Temporal

Skill: temporal-developer

Overview

Core Architecture

History Replay: Why Determinism Matters

Getting Started

Ensure Temporal CLI is installed

Read All Relevant References

Primary References

Task Queue Priority and Fairness

Additional Topics

Third-Party Integrations

Feedback

Reporting Issues in This Skill

Files

references/core/determinism.md

Determinism in Temporal Workflows

Overview

Why Determinism Matters

The Replay Mechanism

Commands and Events

Non-Determinism Example

Sources of Non-Determinism

Time-Based Operations

Random Values

External State

Non-Deterministic Iteration

Threading/Concurrency

Central Concept: Place Non-Determinism within Activities

SDK Protection Mechanisms

Detecting Non-Determinism

During Execution

Testing with Replay

Recovery from Non-Determinism

Accidental Change

Intentional Change

Best Practices

Requirements and compatibility

Security

Attribution and licence

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MCP Builder

Schema

Postgresql Table Design

SQL Optimization Patterns

API Scaffolding Fastapi Pro

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