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Execution State Machine

Gantral enforces a strict, deterministic state machine for all AI execution instances. Use this reference to understand lifecycle transitions.

5.1 Canonical States

State Definitions

StateDescription
CREATEDInstance initialized but not started.
RUNNINGWorkflow is actively executing steps.
WAITING_FOR_HUMANExecution paused by policy. Requires intervention.
APPROVEDHuman authorized the action.
REJECTEDHuman denied the action. Execution terminates.
OVERRIDDENHuman forced a decision, potentially bypassing policy.
RESUMEDTransient state transitioning back to execution.
COMPLETEDWorkflow finished successfully.
TERMINATEDWorkflow stopped due to error or rejection.

5.2 State Guarantees

  • Append-Only: State transitions are append‑only log entries.
  • Immutability: No state mutation in place; history is preserved.
  • Cryptography: Every transition is timestamped and signed for audit.