Merged dev into feature/pom-version-fixing

.circleci/config.yml

@@ -79,6 +79,19 @@ commands:
             - ~/.m2
           key: v1-dependencies-{{ checksum "pom.xml" }}
 
+  check_middleware_api_versions:
+      steps:
+        - checkout
+        - restore_cache:
+            keys:
+              - v1-dependencies-{{ checksum "pom.xml" }}
+        - run:
+            name: Build and Run ValidateApiVersions
+            command: |
+              mvn -s .circleci/mvn-settings.xml -T4 install -DskipTests
+              mvn -s .circleci/mvn-settings.xml -pl qqq-middleware-javalin package appassembler:assemble -DskipTests
+              qqq-middleware-javalin/target/appassembler/bin/ValidateApiVersions -r $(pwd)
+
   mvn_jar_deploy:
     steps:
       - checkout
@@ -130,6 +143,7 @@ jobs:
       ## - localstack/startup
       - install_java17
       - mvn_verify
+      - check_middleware_api_versions
 
   mvn_deploy:
     executor: localstack/default
@@ -137,6 +151,7 @@ jobs:
       ## - localstack/startup
       - install_java17
       - mvn_verify
+      - check_middleware_api_versions
       - mvn_jar_deploy
 
   publish_asciidoc:

pom.xml

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
       <module>qqq-backend-module-rdbms</module>
       <module>qqq-backend-module-mongodb</module>
       <module>qqq-language-support-javascript</module>
+      <module>qqq-openapi</module>
       <module>qqq-middleware-picocli</module>
       <module>qqq-middleware-javalin</module>
       <module>qqq-middleware-lambda</module>

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/dashboard/widgets/AlertWidgetRenderer.java

@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.dashboard.widgets;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.widgets.RenderWidgetInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.widgets.RenderWidgetOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.AlertData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.WidgetType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/AllowAllMetaDataFilter.java

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.metadata;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaDataInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** a default implementation of MetaDataFilterInterface, that allows all the things
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class AllowAllMetaDataFilter implements MetaDataFilterInterface
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public boolean allowTable(MetaDataInput input, QTableMetaData table)
+   {
+      return (true);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public boolean allowProcess(MetaDataInput input, QProcessMetaData process)
+   {
+      return (true);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public boolean allowReport(MetaDataInput input, QReportMetaData report)
+   {
+      return (true);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public boolean allowApp(MetaDataInput input, QAppMetaData app)
+   {
+      return (true);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public boolean allowWidget(MetaDataInput input, QWidgetMetaDataInterface widget)
+   {
+      return (true);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataAction.java

@@ -28,13 +28,18 @@ import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.ActionHelper;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.QCodeLoader;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.permissions.PermissionCheckResult;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.permissions.PermissionsHelper;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QRuntimeException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QBackendMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaDataInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.AppTreeNode;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendAppMetaData;
@@ -49,6 +54,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.memoization.Memoization;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
@@ -57,6 +63,12 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class MetaDataAction
 {
+   private static final QLogger LOG = QLogger.getLogger(MetaDataAction.class);
+
+   private static Memoization<QInstance, MetaDataFilterInterface> metaDataFilterMemoization = new Memoization<>();
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -64,11 +76,11 @@ public class MetaDataAction
    {
       ActionHelper.validateSession(metaDataInput);
 
-      // todo pre-customization - just get to modify the request?
       MetaDataOutput           metaDataOutput = new MetaDataOutput();
-
       Map<String, AppTreeNode> treeNodes      = new LinkedHashMap<>();
 
+      MetaDataFilterInterface filter = getMetaDataFilter();
+
       /////////////////////////////////////
       // map tables to frontend metadata //
       /////////////////////////////////////
@@ -78,6 +90,11 @@ public class MetaDataAction
          String         tableName = entry.getKey();
          QTableMetaData table     = entry.getValue();
 
+         if(!filter.allowTable(metaDataInput, table))
+         {
+            continue;
+         }
+
          PermissionCheckResult permissionResult = PermissionsHelper.getPermissionCheckResult(metaDataInput, table);
          if(permissionResult.equals(PermissionCheckResult.DENY_HIDE))
          {
@@ -102,6 +119,11 @@ public class MetaDataAction
          String           processName = entry.getKey();
          QProcessMetaData process     = entry.getValue();
 
+         if(!filter.allowProcess(metaDataInput, process))
+         {
+            continue;
+         }
+
          PermissionCheckResult permissionResult = PermissionsHelper.getPermissionCheckResult(metaDataInput, process);
          if(permissionResult.equals(PermissionCheckResult.DENY_HIDE))
          {
@@ -122,6 +144,11 @@ public class MetaDataAction
          String          reportName = entry.getKey();
          QReportMetaData report     = entry.getValue();
 
+         if(!filter.allowReport(metaDataInput, report))
+         {
+            continue;
+         }
+
          PermissionCheckResult permissionResult = PermissionsHelper.getPermissionCheckResult(metaDataInput, report);
          if(permissionResult.equals(PermissionCheckResult.DENY_HIDE))
          {
@@ -142,6 +169,11 @@ public class MetaDataAction
          String                   widgetName = entry.getKey();
          QWidgetMetaDataInterface widget     = entry.getValue();
 
+         if(!filter.allowWidget(metaDataInput, widget))
+         {
+            continue;
+         }
+
          PermissionCheckResult permissionResult = PermissionsHelper.getPermissionCheckResult(metaDataInput, widget);
          if(permissionResult.equals(PermissionCheckResult.DENY_HIDE))
          {
@@ -174,9 +206,19 @@ public class MetaDataAction
             continue;
          }
 
-         apps.put(appName, new QFrontendAppMetaData(app, metaDataOutput));
-         treeNodes.put(appName, new AppTreeNode(app));
+         if(!filter.allowApp(metaDataInput, app))
+         {
+            continue;
+         }
 
+         //////////////////////////////////////
+         // build the frontend-app meta-data //
+         //////////////////////////////////////
+         QFrontendAppMetaData frontendAppMetaData = new QFrontendAppMetaData(app, metaDataOutput);
+
+         /////////////////////////////////////////
+         // add children (if they're permitted) //
+         /////////////////////////////////////////
          if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(app.getChildren()))
          {
             for(QAppChildMetaData child : app.getChildren())
@@ -190,9 +232,42 @@ public class MetaDataAction
                   }
                }
 
-               apps.get(appName).addChild(new AppTreeNode(child));
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // if the child was filtered away, so it isn't in its corresponding map, then don't include it here //
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               if(child instanceof QTableMetaData table && !tables.containsKey(table.getName()))
+               {
+                  continue;
+               }
+               if(child instanceof QProcessMetaData process && !processes.containsKey(process.getName()))
+               {
+                  continue;
+               }
+               if(child instanceof QReportMetaData report && !reports.containsKey(report.getName()))
+               {
+                  continue;
+               }
+               if(child instanceof QAppMetaData childApp && !apps.containsKey(childApp.getName()))
+               {
+                  // continue;
+               }
+
+               frontendAppMetaData.addChild(new AppTreeNode(child));
             }
          }
+
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // if the app ended up having no children, then discard it                                          //
+         // todo - i think this was wrong, because it didn't take into account ... something nested maybe... //
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(frontendAppMetaData.getChildren()) && CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(frontendAppMetaData.getWidgets()))
+         {
+            // LOG.debug("Discarding empty app", logPair("name", frontendAppMetaData.getName()));
+            // continue;
+         }
+
+         apps.put(appName, frontendAppMetaData);
+         treeNodes.put(appName, new AppTreeNode(app));
       }
       metaDataOutput.setApps(apps);
 
@@ -228,6 +303,33 @@ public class MetaDataAction
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private MetaDataFilterInterface getMetaDataFilter()
+   {
+      return metaDataFilterMemoization.getResult(QContext.getQInstance(), i ->
+      {
+         MetaDataFilterInterface filter                  = null;
+         QCodeReference          metaDataFilterReference = QContext.getQInstance().getMetaDataFilter();
+         if(metaDataFilterReference != null)
+         {
+            filter = QCodeLoader.getAdHoc(MetaDataFilterInterface.class, metaDataFilterReference);
+            LOG.debug("Using new meta-data filter of type: " + filter.getClass().getSimpleName());
+         }
+
+         if(filter == null)
+         {
+            filter = new AllowAllMetaDataFilter();
+            LOG.debug("Using new default (allow-all) meta-data filter");
+         }
+
+         return (filter);
+      }).orElseThrow(() -> new QRuntimeException("Error getting metaDataFilter"));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataFilterInterface.java

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.metadata;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaDataInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public interface MetaDataFilterInterface
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean allowTable(MetaDataInput input, QTableMetaData table);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean allowProcess(MetaDataInput input, QProcessMetaData process);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean allowReport(MetaDataInput input, QReportMetaData report);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean allowApp(MetaDataInput input, QAppMetaData app);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean allowWidget(MetaDataInput input, QWidgetMetaDataInterface widget);
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/processes/RunBackendStepAction.java

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReferenceLambda;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFunctionInputMetaData;
@@ -257,11 +258,20 @@ public class RunBackendStepAction
       {
          runBackendStepOutput.seedFromRequest(runBackendStepInput);
 
+         Object codeObject;
+         if(code instanceof QCodeReferenceLambda<?> qCodeReferenceLambda)
+         {
+            codeObject = qCodeReferenceLambda.getLambda();
+         }
+         else
+         {
             Class<?> codeClass = Class.forName(code.getName());
-         Object   codeObject = codeClass.getConstructor().newInstance();
+            codeObject = codeClass.getConstructor().newInstance();
+         }
+
          if(!(codeObject instanceof BackendStep backendStepCodeObject))
          {
-            throw (new QException("The supplied code [" + codeClass.getName() + "] is not an instance of BackendStep"));
+            throw (new QException("The supplied codeReference [" + code + "] is not a reference to a BackendStep"));
          }
 
          backendStepCodeObject.run(runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput);

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/processes/RunProcessAction.java

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import java.time.temporal.ChronoUnit;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.UUID;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.ActionHelper;
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaD
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendComponentMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStateMachineStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.session.QSession;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.basepull.BasepullConfiguration;
@@ -134,90 +136,11 @@ public class RunProcessAction
 
       try
       {
-         String lastStepName = runProcessInput.getStartAfterStep();
-
-         STEP_LOOP:
-         while(true)
+         switch(Objects.requireNonNull(process.getStepFlow(), "Process [" + process.getName() + "] has a null stepFlow."))
          {
-            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-            // always refresh the step list - as any step that runs can modify it (in the process state).        //
-            // this is why we don't do a loop over the step list - as we'd get ConcurrentModificationExceptions. //
-            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-            List<QStepMetaData> stepList = getAvailableStepList(processState, process, lastStepName);
-            if(stepList.isEmpty())
-            {
-               break;
-            }
-
-            QStepMetaData step = stepList.get(0);
-            lastStepName = step.getName();
-
-            if(step instanceof QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStep)
-            {
-               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               // Handle what to do with frontend steps, per request setting //
-               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               switch(runProcessInput.getFrontendStepBehavior())
-               {
-                  case BREAK ->
-                  {
-                     LOG.trace("Breaking process [" + process.getName() + "] at frontend step (as requested by caller): " + step.getName());
-                     processFrontendStepFieldDefaultValues(processState, frontendStep);
-                     processFrontendComponents(processState, frontendStep);
-                     processState.setNextStepName(step.getName());
-                     break STEP_LOOP;
-                  }
-                  case SKIP ->
-                  {
-                     LOG.trace("Skipping frontend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "] (as requested by caller)");
-
-                     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-                     // much less error prone in case this code changes in the future... //
-                     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-                     // noinspection UnnecessaryContinue
-                     continue;
-                  }
-                  case FAIL ->
-                  {
-                     LOG.trace("Throwing error for frontend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "] (as requested by caller)");
-                     throw (new QException("Failing process at step " + step.getName() + " (as requested, to fail on frontend steps)"));
-                  }
-                  default -> throw new IllegalStateException("Unexpected value: " + runProcessInput.getFrontendStepBehavior());
-               }
-            }
-            else if(step instanceof QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
-            {
-               ///////////////////////
-               // Run backend steps //
-               ///////////////////////
-               LOG.debug("Running backend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "]");
-               RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput = runBackendStep(runProcessInput, process, runProcessOutput, stateKey, backendStepMetaData, process, processState);
-
-               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               // if the step returned an override lastStepName, use that to determine how we proceed //
-               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               if(runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName() != null)
-               {
-                  LOG.debug("Process step [" + lastStepName + "] returned an overrideLastStepName [" + runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName() + "]!");
-                  lastStepName = runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName();
-               }
-
-               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               // similarly, if the step produced an updatedFrontendStepList, propagate that data outward //
-               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               if(runBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
-               {
-                  LOG.debug("Process step [" + lastStepName + "] generated an updatedFrontendStepList [" + runBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList().stream().map(s -> s.getName()).toList() + "]!");
-                  runProcessOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(runBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
-               }
-            }
-            else
-            {
-               //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               // in case we have a different step type, throw //
-               //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               throw (new QException("Unsure how to run a step of type: " + step.getClass().getName()));
-            }
+            case LINEAR -> runLinearStepLoop(process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput);
+            case STATE_MACHINE -> runStateMachineStep(runProcessInput.getStartAfterStep(), process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput, 0);
+            default -> throw (new QException("Unhandled process step flow: " + process.getStepFlow()));
          }
 
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -259,6 +182,270 @@ public class RunProcessAction
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void runLinearStepLoop(QProcessMetaData process, ProcessState processState, UUIDAndTypeStateKey stateKey, RunProcessInput runProcessInput, RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput) throws Exception
+   {
+      String lastStepName = runProcessInput.getStartAfterStep();
+
+      while(true)
+      {
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // always refresh the step list - as any step that runs can modify it (in the process state).        //
+         // this is why we don't do a loop over the step list - as we'd get ConcurrentModificationExceptions. //
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         List<QStepMetaData> stepList = getAvailableStepList(processState, process, lastStepName);
+         if(stepList.isEmpty())
+         {
+            break;
+         }
+
+         QStepMetaData step = stepList.get(0);
+         lastStepName = step.getName();
+
+         if(step instanceof QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStep)
+         {
+            LoopTodo loopTodo = prepareForFrontendStep(runProcessInput, process, frontendStep, processState);
+            if(loopTodo == LoopTodo.BREAK)
+            {
+               break;
+            }
+         }
+         else if(step instanceof QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
+         {
+            RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput = runBackendStep(process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput, backendStepMetaData, step);
+
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // if the step returned an override lastStepName, use that to determine how we proceed //
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            if(runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName() != null)
+            {
+               LOG.debug("Process step [" + lastStepName + "] returned an overrideLastStepName [" + runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName() + "]!");
+               lastStepName = runBackendStepOutput.getOverrideLastStepName();
+            }
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // in case we have a different step type, throw //
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            throw (new QException("Unsure how to run a step of type: " + step.getClass().getName()));
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private enum LoopTodo
+   {
+      BREAK,
+      CONTINUE
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private LoopTodo prepareForFrontendStep(RunProcessInput runProcessInput, QProcessMetaData process, QFrontendStepMetaData step, ProcessState processState) throws QException
+   {
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // Handle what to do with frontend steps, per request setting //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      switch(runProcessInput.getFrontendStepBehavior())
+      {
+         case BREAK ->
+         {
+            LOG.trace("Breaking process [" + process.getName() + "] at frontend step (as requested by caller): " + step.getName());
+            processFrontendStepFieldDefaultValues(processState, step);
+            processFrontendComponents(processState, step);
+            processState.setNextStepName(step.getName());
+            return LoopTodo.BREAK;
+         }
+         case SKIP ->
+         {
+            LOG.trace("Skipping frontend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "] (as requested by caller)");
+            return LoopTodo.CONTINUE;
+         }
+         case FAIL ->
+         {
+            LOG.trace("Throwing error for frontend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "] (as requested by caller)");
+            throw (new QException("Failing process at step " + step.getName() + " (as requested, to fail on frontend steps)"));
+         }
+         default -> throw new IllegalStateException("Unexpected value: " + runProcessInput.getFrontendStepBehavior());
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void runStateMachineStep(String lastStepName, QProcessMetaData process, ProcessState processState, UUIDAndTypeStateKey stateKey, RunProcessInput runProcessInput, RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput, int stackDepth) throws Exception
+   {
+      //////////////////////////////
+      // check for stack-overflow //
+      //////////////////////////////
+      Integer maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth = Objects.requireNonNullElse(runProcessInput.getValueInteger("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth"), 20);
+      if(stackDepth > maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth)
+      {
+         throw (new QException("StateMachine process recurred too many times (exceeded maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth of " + maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth + ")"));
+      }
+
+      //////////////////////////////////
+      // figure out what step to run: //
+      //////////////////////////////////
+      QStepMetaData step = null;
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(lastStepName))
+      {
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // if no lastStepName is given, start at the process's first step //
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(process.getStepList()))
+         {
+            throw (new QException("Process [" + process.getName() + "] does not have a step list defined."));
+         }
+         step = process.getStepList().get(0);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         /////////////////////////////////////
+         // else run the given lastStepName //
+         /////////////////////////////////////
+         processState.clearNextStepName();
+         step = process.getStep(lastStepName);
+         if(step == null)
+         {
+            throw (new QException("Could not find step by name [" + lastStepName + "]"));
+         }
+      }
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // for the flow of:                                                    //
+      // we were on a frontend step (as a sub-step of a state machine step), //
+      // and now we're here to run that state-step's backend step -          //
+      // find the state-machine step containing this frontend step.          //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      String skipSubStepsUntil = null;
+      if(step instanceof QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStepMetaData)
+      {
+         QStateMachineStep stateMachineStep = getStateMachineStepContainingSubStep(process, frontendStepMetaData.getName());
+         if(stateMachineStep == null)
+         {
+            throw (new QException("Could not find stateMachineStep that contains last-frontend step: " + frontendStepMetaData.getName()));
+         }
+         step = stateMachineStep;
+
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // set this flag, to know to skip this frontend step in the sub-step loop below //
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         skipSubStepsUntil = frontendStepMetaData.getName();
+      }
+
+      if(!(step instanceof QStateMachineStep stateMachineStep))
+      {
+         throw (new QException("Have a non-stateMachineStep in a process using stateMachine flow... " + step.getClass().getName()));
+      }
+
+      ///////////////////////
+      // run the sub-steps //
+      ///////////////////////
+      boolean ranAnySubSteps = false;
+      for(QStepMetaData subStep : stateMachineStep.getSubSteps())
+      {
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // ok, well, skip them if this flag is set (and clear the flag once we've hit this sub-step) //
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         if(skipSubStepsUntil != null)
+         {
+            if(skipSubStepsUntil.equals(subStep.getName()))
+            {
+               skipSubStepsUntil = null;
+            }
+            continue;
+         }
+
+         ranAnySubSteps = true;
+         if(subStep instanceof QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStep)
+         {
+            LoopTodo loopTodo = prepareForFrontendStep(runProcessInput, process, frontendStep, processState);
+            if(loopTodo == LoopTodo.BREAK)
+            {
+               return;
+            }
+         }
+         else if(subStep instanceof QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
+         {
+            RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput = runBackendStep(process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput, backendStepMetaData, step);
+            Optional<String>     nextStepName         = runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName();
+
+            if(nextStepName.isEmpty() && StringUtils.hasContent(stateMachineStep.getDefaultNextStepName()))
+            {
+               nextStepName = Optional.of(stateMachineStep.getDefaultNextStepName());
+            }
+
+            if(nextStepName.isPresent())
+            {
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // if we've been given a next-step-name, go to that step now.                                       //
+               // it might be a backend-only stateMachineStep, in which case, we should run that backend step now. //
+               // or it might be a frontend-then-backend step, in which case, we want to go to that frontend step. //
+               // if we weren't given a next-step-name, then we should stay in the same state - either to finish   //
+               // its sub-steps, or, to fall out of the loop and end the process.                                  //
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               processState.clearNextStepName();
+               runStateMachineStep(nextStepName.get(), process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput, stackDepth + 1);
+               return;
+            }
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // in case we have a different step type, throw //
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            throw (new QException("Unsure how to run a step of type: " + step.getClass().getName()));
+         }
+      }
+
+      if(!ranAnySubSteps)
+      {
+         if(StringUtils.hasContent(stateMachineStep.getDefaultNextStepName()))
+         {
+            runStateMachineStep(stateMachineStep.getDefaultNextStepName(), process, processState, stateKey, runProcessInput, runProcessOutput, stackDepth + 1);
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QStateMachineStep getStateMachineStepContainingSubStep(QProcessMetaData process, String stepName)
+   {
+      for(QStepMetaData step : process.getAllSteps().values())
+      {
+         if(step instanceof QStateMachineStep stateMachineStep)
+         {
+            for(QStepMetaData subStep : stateMachineStep.getSubSteps())
+            {
+               if(subStep.getName().equals(stepName))
+               {
+                  return (stateMachineStep);
+               }
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      return (null);
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -336,12 +523,12 @@ public class RunProcessAction
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
          runProcessInput.seedFromProcessState(optionalProcessState.get());
 
-         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         // if we're restoring an old state, we can discard a previously stored updatedFrontendStepList - //
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // if we're restoring an old state, we can discard a previously stored processMetaDataAdjustment - //
          // it is only needed on the transitional edge from a backend-step to a frontend step, but not      //
          // in the other directly                                                                           //
-         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         optionalProcessState.get().setUpdatedFrontendStepList(null);
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         optionalProcessState.get().setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(null);
 
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // if there were values from the caller, put those (back) in the request //
@@ -356,16 +543,40 @@ public class RunProcessAction
       }
 
       ProcessState processState = optionalProcessState.get();
-      processState.clearNextStepName();
       return processState;
    }
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStep(QProcessMetaData process, ProcessState processState, UUIDAndTypeStateKey stateKey, RunProcessInput runProcessInput, RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput, QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData, QStepMetaData step) throws Exception
+   {
+      ///////////////////////
+      // Run backend steps //
+      ///////////////////////
+      LOG.debug("Running backend step [" + step.getName() + "] in process [" + process.getName() + "]");
+      RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput = runBackendStep(runProcessInput, process, runProcessOutput, stateKey, backendStepMetaData, process, processState);
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // similarly, if the step produced a processMetaDataAdjustment, propagate that data outward //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      if(runBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
+      {
+         LOG.debug("Process step [" + step.getName() + "] generated a ProcessMetaDataAdjustment [" + runBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() + "]!");
+         runProcessOutput.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(runBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
+      }
+
+      return runBackendStepOutput;
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Run a single backend step.
     *******************************************************************************/
-   protected RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStep(RunProcessInput runProcessInput, QProcessMetaData process, RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput, UUIDAndTypeStateKey stateKey, QBackendStepMetaData backendStep, QProcessMetaData qProcessMetaData, ProcessState processState) throws Exception
+   RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStep(RunProcessInput runProcessInput, QProcessMetaData process, RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput, UUIDAndTypeStateKey stateKey, QBackendStepMetaData backendStep, QProcessMetaData qProcessMetaData, ProcessState processState) throws Exception
    {
       RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput = new RunBackendStepInput(processState);
       runBackendStepInput.setProcessName(process.getName());

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplication.java

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerHelper;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Version of AbstractQQQApplication that assumes all meta-data is produced
+ ** by MetaDataProducers in a single package.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public abstract class AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplication extends AbstractQQQApplication
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public abstract String getMetaDataPackageName();
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public QInstance defineQInstance() throws QException
+   {
+      QInstance qInstance = new QInstance();
+      MetaDataProducerHelper.processAllMetaDataProducersInPackage(qInstance, getMetaDataPackageName());
+      return (qInstance);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/AbstractQQQApplication.java

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QInstanceValidationException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.validation.plugins.QInstanceValidatorPluginInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Base class to provide the definition of a QQQ-based application.
+ **
+ ** Essentially, just how to define its meta-data - in the form of a QInstance.
+ **
+ ** Also provides means to define the instance validation plugins to be used.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public abstract class AbstractQQQApplication
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public abstract QInstance defineQInstance() throws QException;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public QInstance defineValidatedQInstance() throws QException, QInstanceValidationException
+   {
+      QInstance qInstance = defineQInstance();
+
+      QInstanceValidator.removeAllValidatorPlugins();
+      for(QInstanceValidatorPluginInterface<?> validatorPlugin : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(getValidatorPlugins()))
+      {
+         QInstanceValidator.addValidatorPlugin(validatorPlugin);
+      }
+
+      QInstanceValidator qInstanceValidator = new QInstanceValidator();
+      qInstanceValidator.validate(qInstance);
+      return (qInstance);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   protected List<QInstanceValidatorPluginInterface<?>> getValidatorPlugins()
+   {
+      return new ArrayList<>();
+   }
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceEnricher.java

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QComponentType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendComponentMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStateMachineStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QSupplementalProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportDataSource;
@@ -410,11 +411,28 @@ public class QInstanceEnricher
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
    private void enrichStep(QStepMetaData step)
+   {
+      enrichStep(step, false);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void enrichStep(QStepMetaData step, boolean isSubStep)
    {
       if(!StringUtils.hasContent(step.getLabel()))
+      {
+         if(isSubStep && (step.getName().endsWith(".backend") || step.getName().endsWith(".frontend")))
+         {
+            step.setLabel(nameToLabel(step.getName().replaceFirst("\\.(backend|frontend)", "")));
+         }
+         else
          {
             step.setLabel(nameToLabel(step.getName()));
          }
+      }
 
       step.getInputFields().forEach(this::enrichField);
       step.getOutputFields().forEach(this::enrichField);
@@ -434,6 +452,13 @@ public class QInstanceEnricher
             frontendStepMetaData.getRecordListFields().forEach(this::enrichField);
          }
       }
+      else if(step instanceof QStateMachineStep stateMachineStep)
+      {
+         for(QStepMetaData subStep : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(stateMachineStep.getSubSteps()))
+         {
+            enrichStep(subStep, true);
+         }
+      }
    }
 
 

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.automation.RecordAutomationHandler
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.TableCustomizers;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.dashboard.widgets.AbstractWidgetRenderer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.metadata.JoinGraph;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.metadata.MetaDataFilterInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.reporting.customizers.ReportCustomRecordSourceInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.scripts.TestScriptActionInterface;
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppChildMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppSection;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSourceType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStepMetaData;
@@ -185,6 +187,7 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       try
       {
+         validateInstanceAttributes(qInstance);
          validateBackends(qInstance);
          validateAuthentication(qInstance);
          validateAutomationProviders(qInstance);
@@ -225,6 +228,19 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void validateInstanceAttributes(QInstance qInstance)
+   {
+      if(qInstance.getMetaDataFilter() != null)
+      {
+         validateSimpleCodeReference("Instance metaDataFilter ", qInstance.getMetaDataFilter(), MetaDataFilterInterface.class);
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -928,13 +944,8 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
       assertCondition(Objects.equals(fieldName, field.getName()),
          "Inconsistent naming in table " + tableName + " for field " + fieldName + "/" + field.getName() + ".");
 
-      if(field.getPossibleValueSourceName() != null)
-      {
-         assertCondition(qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(field.getPossibleValueSourceName()) != null,
-            "Unrecognized possibleValueSourceName " + field.getPossibleValueSourceName() + " in table " + tableName + " for field " + fieldName + ".");
-      }
-
       String prefix = "Field " + fieldName + " in table " + tableName + " ";
+      validateFieldPossibleValueSourceAttributes(qInstance, field, prefix);
 
       ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // validate things we know about field behaviors //
@@ -1039,6 +1050,31 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void validateFieldPossibleValueSourceAttributes(QInstance qInstance, QFieldMetaData field, String prefix)
+   {
+      if(field.getPossibleValueSourceName() != null)
+      {
+         assertCondition(qInstance.getPossibleValueSource(field.getPossibleValueSourceName()) != null,
+            prefix + "has an unrecognized possibleValueSourceName " + field.getPossibleValueSourceName());
+
+         assertCondition(field.getInlinePossibleValueSource() == null, prefix.trim() + " has both a possibleValueSourceName and an inlinePossibleValueSource, which is not allowed.");
+      }
+
+      if(field.getInlinePossibleValueSource() != null)
+      {
+         String name = "inlinePossibleValueSource for " + prefix.trim();
+         if(assertCondition(QPossibleValueSourceType.ENUM.equals(field.getInlinePossibleValueSource().getType()), name + " must have a type of ENUM."))
+         {
+            validatePossibleValueSource(qInstance, name, field.getInlinePossibleValueSource());
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -1546,6 +1582,16 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
                }
             }
 
+            for(QFieldMetaData field : process.getInputFields())
+            {
+               validateFieldPossibleValueSourceAttributes(qInstance, field, "Process " + processName + ", input field " + field.getName());
+            }
+
+            for(QFieldMetaData field : process.getOutputFields())
+            {
+               validateFieldPossibleValueSourceAttributes(qInstance, field, "Process " + processName + ", output field " + field.getName());
+            }
+
             if(process.getCancelStep() != null)
             {
                if(assertCondition(process.getCancelStep().getCode() != null, "Cancel step is missing a code reference, in process " + processName))
@@ -1948,7 +1994,19 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
          qInstance.getPossibleValueSources().forEach((pvsName, possibleValueSource) ->
          {
             assertCondition(Objects.equals(pvsName, possibleValueSource.getName()), "Inconsistent naming for possibleValueSource: " + pvsName + "/" + possibleValueSource.getName() + ".");
-            if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getType() != null, "Missing type for possibleValueSource: " + pvsName))
+            validatePossibleValueSource(qInstance, pvsName, possibleValueSource);
+         });
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void validatePossibleValueSource(QInstance qInstance, String name, QPossibleValueSource possibleValueSource)
+   {
+      if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getType() != null, "Missing type for possibleValueSource: " + name))
       {
          ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // assert about fields that should and should not be set, based on possible value source type //
@@ -1958,38 +2016,38 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
          {
             case ENUM ->
             {
-                     assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a tableName.");
-                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have searchFields.");
-                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have orderByFields.");
-                     assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
+               assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have a tableName.");
+               assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have searchFields.");
+               assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have orderByFields.");
+               assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "enum-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
 
-                     assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing enum values");
+               assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing enum values");
             }
             case TABLE ->
             {
-                     assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have enum values.");
-                     assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
+               assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have enum values.");
+               assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() == null, "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have a customCodeReference.");
 
                QTableMetaData tableMetaData = null;
-                     if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a tableName."))
+               if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing a tableName."))
                {
                   tableMetaData = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
-                        assertCondition(tableMetaData != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + pvsName + ".");
+                  assertCondition(tableMetaData != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + name + ".");
                }
 
-                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing searchFields."))
+               if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing searchFields."))
                {
                   if(tableMetaData != null)
                   {
                      QTableMetaData finalTableMetaData = tableMetaData;
                      for(String searchField : possibleValueSource.getSearchFields())
                      {
-                              assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(searchField), "possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " has an unrecognized searchField: " + searchField);
+                        assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(searchField), "possibleValueSource " + name + " has an unrecognized searchField: " + searchField);
                      }
                   }
                }
 
-                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing orderByFields."))
+               if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing orderByFields."))
                {
                   if(tableMetaData != null)
                   {
@@ -1997,21 +2055,21 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
 
                      for(QFilterOrderBy orderByField : possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields())
                      {
-                              assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(orderByField.getFieldName()), "possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " has an unrecognized orderByField: " + orderByField.getFieldName());
+                        assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(orderByField.getFieldName()), "possibleValueSource " + name + " has an unrecognized orderByField: " + orderByField.getFieldName());
                      }
                   }
                }
             }
             case CUSTOM ->
             {
-                     assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have enum values.");
-                     assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have a tableName.");
-                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have searchFields.");
-                     assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " should not have orderByFields.");
+               assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have enum values.");
+               assertCondition(!StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have a tableName.");
+               assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have searchFields.");
+               assertCondition(!CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "custom-type possibleValueSource " + name + " should not have orderByFields.");
 
-                     if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() != null, "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a customCodeReference."))
+               if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() != null, "custom-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing a customCodeReference."))
                {
-                        validateSimpleCodeReference("PossibleValueSource " + pvsName + " custom code reference: ", possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference(), QCustomPossibleValueProvider.class);
+                  validateSimpleCodeReference("PossibleValueSource " + name + " custom code reference: ", possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference(), QCustomPossibleValueProvider.class);
                }
             }
             default -> errors.add("Unexpected possibleValueSource type: " + possibleValueSource.getType());
@@ -2019,8 +2077,6 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
 
          runPlugins(QPossibleValueSource.class, possibleValueSource, qInstance);
       }
-         });
-      }
    }
 
 

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/metadata/MetaDataInput.java

@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionInput;
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class MetaDataInput extends AbstractActionInput
 {
+   private String frontendName;
+   private String frontendVersion;
+
+   private String middlewareName;
+   private String middlewareVersion;
+
+   private String applicationName;
+   private String applicationVersion;
+
+
 
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
@@ -39,4 +49,190 @@ public class MetaDataInput extends AbstractActionInput
    {
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for frontendName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getFrontendName()
+   {
+      return (this.frontendName);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for frontendName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFrontendName(String frontendName)
+   {
+      this.frontendName = frontendName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for frontendName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withFrontendName(String frontendName)
+   {
+      this.frontendName = frontendName;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for frontendVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getFrontendVersion()
+   {
+      return (this.frontendVersion);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for frontendVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFrontendVersion(String frontendVersion)
+   {
+      this.frontendVersion = frontendVersion;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for frontendVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withFrontendVersion(String frontendVersion)
+   {
+      this.frontendVersion = frontendVersion;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for middlewareName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getMiddlewareName()
+   {
+      return (this.middlewareName);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for middlewareName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setMiddlewareName(String middlewareName)
+   {
+      this.middlewareName = middlewareName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for middlewareName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withMiddlewareName(String middlewareName)
+   {
+      this.middlewareName = middlewareName;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for middlewareVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getMiddlewareVersion()
+   {
+      return (this.middlewareVersion);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for middlewareVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setMiddlewareVersion(String middlewareVersion)
+   {
+      this.middlewareVersion = middlewareVersion;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for middlewareVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withMiddlewareVersion(String middlewareVersion)
+   {
+      this.middlewareVersion = middlewareVersion;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for applicationName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getApplicationName()
+   {
+      return (this.applicationName);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for applicationName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setApplicationName(String applicationName)
+   {
+      this.applicationName = applicationName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for applicationName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withApplicationName(String applicationName)
+   {
+      this.applicationName = applicationName;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for applicationVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getApplicationVersion()
+   {
+      return (this.applicationVersion);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for applicationVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setApplicationVersion(String applicationVersion)
+   {
+      this.applicationVersion = applicationVersion;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for applicationVersion
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public MetaDataInput withApplicationVersion(String applicationVersion)
+   {
+      this.applicationVersion = applicationVersion;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/processes/ProcessMetaDataAdjustment.java

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes;
+
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+import static com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.LogUtils.logPair;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Object that stores adjustments that a process wants to make, at run-time,
+ ** to its meta-data.
+ **
+ ** e.g., changing the steps; updating fields (e.g., changing an inline PVS,
+ ** or an isRequired attribute)
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ProcessMetaDataAdjustment
+{
+   private static final QLogger LOG = QLogger.getLogger(ProcessMetaDataAdjustment.class);
+
+   private List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList = null;
+   private Map<String, QFieldMetaData> updatedFields           = null;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment withUpdatedField(QFieldMetaData field)
+   {
+      if(updatedFields == null)
+      {
+         updatedFields = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+      }
+
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(field.getName()))
+      {
+         LOG.warn("Missing name on field in withUpdatedField - no update will happen.");
+      }
+      else
+      {
+         if(updatedFields.containsKey(field.getName()))
+         {
+            LOG.info("UpdatedFields map already contained a field with this name - overwriting it.", logPair("fieldName", field.getName()));
+         }
+
+         updatedFields.put(field.getName(), field);
+      }
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<QFrontendStepMetaData> getUpdatedFrontendStepList()
+   {
+      return (this.updatedFrontendStepList);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
+   {
+      this.updatedFrontendStepList = updatedFrontendStepList;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment withUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
+   {
+      this.updatedFrontendStepList = updatedFrontendStepList;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for updatedFields
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Map<String, QFieldMetaData> getUpdatedFields()
+   {
+      return (this.updatedFields);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for updatedFields
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setUpdatedFields(Map<String, QFieldMetaData> updatedFields)
+   {
+      this.updatedFields = updatedFields;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for updatedFields
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment withUpdatedFields(Map<String, QFieldMetaData> updatedFields)
+   {
+      this.updatedFields = updatedFields;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/processes/ProcessState.java

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
@@ -42,10 +41,7 @@ public class ProcessState implements Serializable
    private List<String>              stepList     = new ArrayList<>();
    private Optional<String>          nextStepName = Optional.empty();
 
-   /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-   // maybe, remove this altogether - just let the frontend compute & send if needed... but how does it know last version...? //
-   /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-   private List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList = null;
+   private ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment = null;
 
 
 
@@ -148,33 +144,36 @@ public class ProcessState implements Serializable
 
 
 
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Getter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    ** Getter for processMetaDataAdjustment
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public List<QFrontendStepMetaData> getUpdatedFrontendStepList()
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment getProcessMetaDataAdjustment()
    {
-      return (this.updatedFrontendStepList);
+      return (this.processMetaDataAdjustment);
    }
 
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Setter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    ** Setter for processMetaDataAdjustment
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public void setUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
+   public void setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment)
    {
-      this.updatedFrontendStepList = updatedFrontendStepList;
+      this.processMetaDataAdjustment = processMetaDataAdjustment;
    }
 
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Fluent setter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    ** Fluent setter for processMetaDataAdjustment
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public ProcessState withUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
+   public ProcessState withProcessMetaDataAdjustment(ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment)
    {
-      this.updatedFrontendStepList = updatedFrontendStepList;
+      this.processMetaDataAdjustment = processMetaDataAdjustment;
       return (this);
    }
 
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/processes/RunBackendStepOutput.java

@@ -374,7 +374,13 @@ public class RunBackendStepOutput extends AbstractActionOutput implements Serial
          .map(step -> (QFrontendStepMetaData) step)
          .toList());
 
-      setUpdatedFrontendStepList(updatedFrontendStepList);
+      ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment = getProcessMetaDataAdjustment();
+      if(processMetaDataAdjustment == null)
+      {
+         processMetaDataAdjustment = new ProcessMetaDataAdjustment();
+      }
+      processMetaDataAdjustment.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(updatedFrontendStepList);
+      setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(processMetaDataAdjustment);
    }
 
 
@@ -411,21 +417,21 @@ public class RunBackendStepOutput extends AbstractActionOutput implements Serial
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Getter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    ** Getter for ProcessMetaDataAdjustment (pass-through to processState)
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public List<QFrontendStepMetaData> getUpdatedFrontendStepList()
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment getProcessMetaDataAdjustment()
    {
-      return (this.processState.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+      return (this.processState.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
    }
 
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Setter for updatedFrontendStepList
+    ** Setter for updatedFrontendStepList (pass-through to processState)
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public void setUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
+   public void setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment)
    {
-      this.processState.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(updatedFrontendStepList);
+      this.processState.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(processMetaDataAdjustment);
    }
 
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/processes/RunProcessOutput.java

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import java.util.Optional;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ObjectUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
 
 
@@ -336,7 +337,12 @@ public class RunProcessOutput extends AbstractActionOutput implements Serializab
     *******************************************************************************/
    public void setUpdatedFrontendStepList(List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList)
    {
-      this.processState.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(updatedFrontendStepList);
+      if(this.processState.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() == null)
+      {
+         this.processState.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(new ProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
+      }
+
+      this.processState.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment().setUpdatedFrontendStepList(updatedFrontendStepList);
    }
 
 
@@ -346,7 +352,27 @@ public class RunProcessOutput extends AbstractActionOutput implements Serializab
     *******************************************************************************/
    public List<QFrontendStepMetaData> getUpdatedFrontendStepList()
    {
-      return this.processState.getUpdatedFrontendStepList();
+      return ObjectUtils.tryElse(() -> this.processState.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment().getUpdatedFrontendStepList(), null);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for processMetaDataAdjustment
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ProcessMetaDataAdjustment getProcessMetaDataAdjustment()
+   {
+      return (this.processState.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for processMetaDataAdjustment
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(ProcessMetaDataAdjustment processMetaDataAdjustment)
+   {
+      this.processState.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(processMetaDataAdjustment);
    }
 
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/CompositeWidgetData.java

@@ -40,6 +40,20 @@ public class CompositeWidgetData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<CompositeWidget
 {
    private List<AbstractBlockWidgetData<?, ?, ?, ?>> blocks = new ArrayList<>();
 
+   private ModalMode modalMode;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum ModalMode
+   {
+      MODAL
+   }
+
+
+
    private Layout                    layout;
    private Map<String, Serializable> styleOverrides        = new HashMap<>();
    private String                    overlayHtml;
@@ -52,12 +66,14 @@ public class CompositeWidgetData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<CompositeWidget
     *******************************************************************************/
    public enum Layout
    {
-      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      // note, these are used in QQQ FMD CompositeWidgetData.tsx //
-      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // note, these are used in QQQ FMD CompositeWidget.tsx //
+      // and qqq-android CompositeWidgetBlock.kt             //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       FLEX_COLUMN,
       FLEX_ROW_WRAPPED,
       FLEX_ROW_SPACE_BETWEEN,
+      FLEX_ROW_CENTER,
       TABLE_SUB_ROW_DETAILS,
       BADGES_WRAPPER
    }
@@ -306,4 +322,35 @@ public class CompositeWidgetData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<CompositeWidget
       this.overlayStyleOverrides.put(key, value);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for modalMode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ModalMode getModalMode()
+   {
+      return (this.modalMode);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for modalMode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setModalMode(ModalMode modalMode)
+   {
+      this.modalMode = modalMode;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for modalMode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public CompositeWidgetData withModalMode(ModalMode modalMode)
+   {
+      this.modalMode = modalMode;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/AbstractBlockWidgetData.java

@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ public abstract class AbstractBlockWidgetData<
    private V  values;
    private SX styles;
 
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   // optional field name to act as a 'guard' for the block - e.g., only include it //
+   // if the value for this field is true                                           //
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   private String conditional;
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -443,4 +448,35 @@ public abstract class AbstractBlockWidgetData<
       return (T) this;
    }
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for conditional
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getConditional()
+   {
+      return (this.conditional);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for conditional
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setConditional(String conditional)
+   {
+      this.conditional = conditional;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for conditional
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public AbstractBlockWidgetData withConditional(String conditional)
+   {
+      this.conditional = conditional;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/audio/AudioBlockData.java

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.audio;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.AbstractBlockWidgetData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseSlots;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseStyles;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** block that plays an audio file
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class AudioBlockData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<AudioBlockData, AudioValues, BaseSlots, BaseStyles>
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public String getBlockTypeName()
+   {
+      return "AUDIO";
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/audio/AudioValues.java

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.audio;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class AudioValues implements BlockValuesInterface
+{
+   private String  path;
+   private boolean showControls = false;
+   private boolean autoPlay     = true;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getPath()
+   {
+      return (this.path);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setPath(String path)
+   {
+      this.path = path;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public AudioValues withPath(String path)
+   {
+      this.path = path;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for showControls
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public boolean getShowControls()
+   {
+      return (this.showControls);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for showControls
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setShowControls(boolean showControls)
+   {
+      this.showControls = showControls;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for showControls
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public AudioValues withShowControls(boolean showControls)
+   {
+      this.showControls = showControls;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for autoPlay
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public boolean getAutoPlay()
+   {
+      return (this.autoPlay);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for autoPlay
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setAutoPlay(boolean autoPlay)
+   {
+      this.autoPlay = autoPlay;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for autoPlay
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public AudioValues withAutoPlay(boolean autoPlay)
+   {
+      this.autoPlay = autoPlay;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/base/BaseStyles.java

@@ -30,4 +30,335 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockStyles
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class BaseStyles implements BlockStylesInterface
 {
+   private Directional<String> padding;
+
+   private String backgroundColor;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static class Directional<T>
+   {
+      private T top;
+      private T bottom;
+      private T left;
+      private T right;
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Constructor
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional()
+      {
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Constructor
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional(T top, T right, T bottom, T left)
+      {
+         this.top = top;
+         this.right = right;
+         this.bottom = bottom;
+         this.left = left;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> of(T top, T right, T bottom, T left)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(top, right, bottom, left));
+      }
+
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> of(T value)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(value, value, value, value));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofTop(T top)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(top, null, null, null));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofRight(T right)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(null, right, null, null));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofBottom(T bottom)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(null, null, bottom, null));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofLeft(T left)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(null, null, null, left));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofX(T x)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(null, x, null, x));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofY(T y)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(y, null, y, null));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      public static <T> Directional<T> ofXY(T x, T y)
+      {
+         return (new Directional<>(y, x, y, x));
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Getter for top
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public T getTop()
+      {
+         return top;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Setter for top
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public void setTop(T top)
+      {
+         this.top = top;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Fluent setter for top
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional<T> withTop(T top)
+      {
+         this.top = top;
+         return (this);
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Getter for bottom
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public T getBottom()
+      {
+         return bottom;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Setter for bottom
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public void setBottom(T bottom)
+      {
+         this.bottom = bottom;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Fluent setter for bottom
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional<T> withBottom(T bottom)
+      {
+         this.bottom = bottom;
+         return (this);
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Getter for left
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public T getLeft()
+      {
+         return left;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Setter for left
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public void setLeft(T left)
+      {
+         this.left = left;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Fluent setter for left
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional<T> withLeft(T left)
+      {
+         this.left = left;
+         return (this);
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Getter for right
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public T getRight()
+      {
+         return right;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Setter for right
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public void setRight(T right)
+      {
+         this.right = right;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Fluent setter for right
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public Directional<T> withRight(T right)
+      {
+         this.right = right;
+         return (this);
+      }
+
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for padding
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Directional<String> getPadding()
+   {
+      return (this.padding);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for padding
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setPadding(Directional<String> padding)
+   {
+      this.padding = padding;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for padding
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public BaseStyles withPadding(Directional<String> padding)
+   {
+      this.padding = padding;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for backgroundColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getBackgroundColor()
+   {
+      return (this.backgroundColor);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for backgroundColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setBackgroundColor(String backgroundColor)
+   {
+      this.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for backgroundColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public BaseStyles withBackgroundColor(String backgroundColor)
+   {
+      this.backgroundColor = backgroundColor;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/button/ButtonBlockData.java

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.button;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.AbstractBlockWidgetData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseSlots;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** a button (for a process - not sure yet what this could do in a standalone
+ ** widget?) to submit the process screen to run a specific action (e.g., not just
+ ** 'next'), or do other control-ish things
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ButtonBlockData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<ButtonBlockData, ButtonValues, BaseSlots, ButtonStyles>
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public String getBlockTypeName()
+   {
+      return "BUTTON";
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/button/ButtonStyles.java

@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.button;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockStylesInterface;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ButtonStyles implements BlockStylesInterface
+{
+   private String color;
+   private String format;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardColor
+   {
+      SUCCESS,
+      WARNING,
+      ERROR,
+      INFO,
+      MUTED
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardFormat
+   {
+      OUTLINED,
+      FILLED,
+      TEXT
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getColor()
+   {
+      return (this.color);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setColor(String color)
+   {
+      this.color = color;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonStyles withColor(String color)
+   {
+      this.color = color;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getFormat()
+   {
+      return (this.format);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonStyles withFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFormat(StandardFormat format)
+   {
+      this.format = (format == null ? null : format.name().toLowerCase());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonStyles withFormat(StandardFormat format)
+   {
+      setFormat(format);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/button/ButtonValues.java

@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.button;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ButtonValues implements BlockValuesInterface
+{
+   private String label;
+   private String actionCode;
+   private String controlCode;
+
+   private QIcon startIcon;
+   private QIcon endIcon;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues(String label, String actionCode)
+   {
+      setLabel(label);
+      setActionCode(actionCode);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for label
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getLabel()
+   {
+      return (this.label);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for label
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setLabel(String label)
+   {
+      this.label = label;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for label
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues withLabel(String label)
+   {
+      this.label = label;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for actionCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getActionCode()
+   {
+      return (this.actionCode);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for actionCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setActionCode(String actionCode)
+   {
+      this.actionCode = actionCode;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for actionCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues withActionCode(String actionCode)
+   {
+      this.actionCode = actionCode;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getStartIcon()
+   {
+      return (this.startIcon);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setStartIcon(QIcon startIcon)
+   {
+      this.startIcon = startIcon;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues withStartIcon(QIcon startIcon)
+   {
+      this.startIcon = startIcon;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getEndIcon()
+   {
+      return (this.endIcon);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setEndIcon(QIcon endIcon)
+   {
+      this.endIcon = endIcon;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues withEndIcon(QIcon endIcon)
+   {
+      this.endIcon = endIcon;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for controlCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getControlCode()
+   {
+      return (this.controlCode);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for controlCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setControlCode(String controlCode)
+   {
+      this.controlCode = controlCode;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for controlCode
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ButtonValues withControlCode(String controlCode)
+   {
+      this.controlCode = controlCode;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/image/ImageBlockData.java

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.image;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.AbstractBlockWidgetData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseSlots;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** block to display an image
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ImageBlockData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<ImageBlockData, ImageValues, BaseSlots, ImageStyles>
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public String getBlockTypeName()
+   {
+      return "IMAGE";
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/image/ImageStyles.java

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.image;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseStyles;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ImageStyles extends BaseStyles
+{
+   private String width;
+   private String height;
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for padding
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public ImageStyles withPadding(Directional<String> padding)
+   {
+      super.setPadding(padding);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for width
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getWidth()
+   {
+      return (this.width);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for width
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setWidth(String width)
+   {
+      this.width = width;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for width
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ImageStyles withWidth(String width)
+   {
+      this.width = width;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for height
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getHeight()
+   {
+      return (this.height);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for height
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setHeight(String height)
+   {
+      this.height = height;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for height
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ImageStyles withHeight(String height)
+   {
+      this.height = height;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/image/ImageValues.java

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.image;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ImageValues implements BlockValuesInterface
+{
+   private String path;
+   private String alt;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getPath()
+   {
+      return (this.path);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setPath(String path)
+   {
+      this.path = path;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for path
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ImageValues withPath(String path)
+   {
+      this.path = path;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for alt
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getAlt()
+   {
+      return (this.alt);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for alt
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setAlt(String alt)
+   {
+      this.alt = alt;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for alt
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ImageValues withAlt(String alt)
+   {
+      this.alt = alt;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/inputfield/InputFieldBlockData.java

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.inputfield;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.AbstractBlockWidgetData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseSlots;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.base.BaseStyles;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** block to display an input field - initially targeted at widgets-in-processes
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class InputFieldBlockData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<InputFieldBlockData, InputFieldValues, BaseSlots, BaseStyles>
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public String getBlockTypeName()
+   {
+      return "INPUT_FIELD";
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/inputfield/InputFieldValues.java

@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.inputfield;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class InputFieldValues implements BlockValuesInterface
+{
+   private QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData;
+
+   private Boolean autoFocus;
+   private Boolean submitOnEnter;
+   private Boolean hideSoftKeyboard;
+   private String  placeholder;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues(QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData)
+   {
+      setFieldMetaData(fieldMetaData);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for fieldMetaData
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QFieldMetaData getFieldMetaData()
+   {
+      return (this.fieldMetaData);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for fieldMetaData
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFieldMetaData(QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData)
+   {
+      this.fieldMetaData = fieldMetaData;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for fieldMetaData
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues withFieldMetaData(QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData)
+   {
+      this.fieldMetaData = fieldMetaData;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for autoFocus
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Boolean getAutoFocus()
+   {
+      return (this.autoFocus);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for autoFocus
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setAutoFocus(Boolean autoFocus)
+   {
+      this.autoFocus = autoFocus;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for autoFocus
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues withAutoFocus(Boolean autoFocus)
+   {
+      this.autoFocus = autoFocus;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for submitOnEnter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Boolean getSubmitOnEnter()
+   {
+      return (this.submitOnEnter);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for submitOnEnter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSubmitOnEnter(Boolean submitOnEnter)
+   {
+      this.submitOnEnter = submitOnEnter;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for submitOnEnter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues withSubmitOnEnter(Boolean submitOnEnter)
+   {
+      this.submitOnEnter = submitOnEnter;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for placeholder
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getPlaceholder()
+   {
+      return (this.placeholder);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for placeholder
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setPlaceholder(String placeholder)
+   {
+      this.placeholder = placeholder;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for placeholder
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues withPlaceholder(String placeholder)
+   {
+      this.placeholder = placeholder;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for hideSoftKeyboard
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Boolean getHideSoftKeyboard()
+   {
+      return (this.hideSoftKeyboard);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for hideSoftKeyboard
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setHideSoftKeyboard(Boolean hideSoftKeyboard)
+   {
+      this.hideSoftKeyboard = hideSoftKeyboard;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for hideSoftKeyboard
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InputFieldValues withHideSoftKeyboard(Boolean hideSoftKeyboard)
+   {
+      this.hideSoftKeyboard = hideSoftKeyboard;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/text/TextStyles.java

@@ -30,4 +30,325 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockStyles
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class TextStyles implements BlockStylesInterface
 {
+   private String color;
+   private String format;
+   private String weight;
+   private String size;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardColor
+   {
+      SUCCESS,
+      WARNING,
+      ERROR,
+      INFO,
+      MUTED
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardFormat
+   {
+      DEFAULT,
+      ALERT,
+      BANNER
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardSize
+   {
+      LARGEST,
+      HEADLINE,
+      TITLE,
+      BODY,
+      SMALLEST
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardWeight
+   {
+      EXTRA_LIGHT("extralight"),
+      THIN("thin"),
+      MEDIUM("medium"),
+      SEMI_BOLD("semibold"),
+      BLACK("black"),
+      BOLD("bold"),
+      EXTRA_BOLD("extrabold"),
+      W100("100"),
+      W200("200"),
+      W300("300"),
+      W400("400"),
+      W500("500"),
+      W600("600"),
+      W700("700"),
+      W800("800"),
+      W900("900");
+
+      private final String value;
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Constructor
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      StandardWeight(String value)
+      {
+         this.value = value;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /*******************************************************************************
+       ** Getter for value
+       **
+       *******************************************************************************/
+      public String getValue()
+      {
+         return value;
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles(StandardColor standardColor)
+   {
+      setColor(standardColor);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getFormat()
+   {
+      return (this.format);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFormat(StandardFormat format)
+   {
+      this.format = format == null ? null : format.name().toLowerCase();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withFormat(StandardFormat format)
+   {
+      this.setFormat(format);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for weight
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getWeight()
+   {
+      return (this.weight);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for weight
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setWeight(String weight)
+   {
+      this.weight = weight;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for weight
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withWeight(String weight)
+   {
+      this.weight = weight;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for weight
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setWeight(StandardWeight weight)
+   {
+      setWeight(weight == null ? null : weight.getValue());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for weight
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withWeight(StandardWeight weight)
+   {
+      setWeight(weight);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for size
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getSize()
+   {
+      return (this.size);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for size
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSize(String size)
+   {
+      this.size = size;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for size
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withSize(String size)
+   {
+      this.size = size;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for size
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setSize(StandardSize size)
+   {
+      this.size = (size == null ? null : size.name().toLowerCase());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for size
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withSize(StandardSize size)
+   {
+      setSize(size);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getColor()
+   {
+      return (this.color);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setColor(String color)
+   {
+      this.color = color;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withColor(String color)
+   {
+      this.color = color;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setColor(StandardColor color)
+   {
+      this.color = color == null ? null : color.name();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for color
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withColor(StandardColor color)
+   {
+      setColor(color);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/dashboard/widgets/blocks/text/TextValues.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.text;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ public class TextValues implements BlockValuesInterface
 {
    private String text;
 
+   private QIcon startIcon;
+   private QIcon endIcon;
+
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -84,4 +88,66 @@ public class TextValues implements BlockValuesInterface
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getStartIcon()
+   {
+      return (this.startIcon);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setStartIcon(QIcon startIcon)
+   {
+      this.startIcon = startIcon;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for startIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextValues withStartIcon(QIcon startIcon)
+   {
+      this.startIcon = startIcon;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getEndIcon()
+   {
+      return (this.endIcon);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setEndIcon(QIcon endIcon)
+   {
+      this.endIcon = endIcon;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for endIcon
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextValues withEndIcon(QIcon endIcon)
+   {
+      this.endIcon = endIcon;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/MetaDataProducer.java

@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@
 package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata;
 
 
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
-
-
 /*******************************************************************************
  ** Abstract class that knows how to produce meta data objects.  Useful with
  ** MetaDataProducerHelper, to put point at a package full of these, and populate

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/MetaDataProducerHelper.java

@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata;
 
 
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
 import java.lang.reflect.Modifier;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -30,14 +29,12 @@ import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
-import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
-import com.google.common.reflect.ClassPath;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.joins.QJoinMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ClassPathUtils;
 import static com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.LogUtils.logPair;
 
 
@@ -51,8 +48,6 @@ public class MetaDataProducerHelper
    private static Map<Class<?>, Integer> comparatorValuesByType = new HashMap<>();
    private static Integer                defaultComparatorValue;
 
-   private static ImmutableSet<ClassPath.ClassInfo> topLevelClasses;
-
    static
    {
       ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -87,7 +82,7 @@ public class MetaDataProducerHelper
          ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // find all the meta data producer classes in (and under) the package //
          ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         classesInPackage = getClassesInPackage(packageName);
+         classesInPackage = ClassPathUtils.getClassesInPackage(packageName);
       }
       catch(Exception e)
       {
@@ -176,51 +171,4 @@ public class MetaDataProducerHelper
 
    }
 
-
-
-   /*******************************************************************************
-    ** from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/520328/can-you-find-all-classes-in-a-package-using-reflection
-    ** (since the original, from ChatGPT, didn't work in jars, despite GPT hallucinating that it would)
-    *******************************************************************************/
-   private static List<Class<?>> getClassesInPackage(String packageName) throws IOException
-   {
-      List<Class<?>> classes = new ArrayList<>();
-      ClassLoader    loader  = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
-
-      for(ClassPath.ClassInfo info : getTopLevelClasses(loader))
-      {
-         if(info.getName().startsWith(packageName))
-         {
-            classes.add(info.load());
-         }
-      }
-
-      return (classes);
-   }
-
-
-
-   /*******************************************************************************
-    **
-    *******************************************************************************/
-   private static ImmutableSet<ClassPath.ClassInfo> getTopLevelClasses(ClassLoader loader) throws IOException
-   {
-      if(topLevelClasses == null)
-      {
-         topLevelClasses = ClassPath.from(loader).getTopLevelClasses();
-      }
-
-      return (topLevelClasses);
-   }
-
-
-
-   /*******************************************************************************
-    **
-    *******************************************************************************/
-   public static void clearTopLevelClassCache()
-   {
-      topLevelClasses = null;
-   }
-
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/MetaDataProducerInterface.java

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
- * Copyright (C) 2021-2023.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
  * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
  * contact@kingsrook.com
  * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
@@ -19,12 +19,10 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model;
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerOutput;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/QInstance.java

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.audits.QAuditRules;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.authentication.QAuthenticationMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.automation.QAutomationProviderMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.branding.QBrandingMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaDataInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.AppTreeNode;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.AppTreeNodeType;
@@ -113,6 +114,8 @@ public class QInstance
    private QPermissionRules defaultPermissionRules = QPermissionRules.defaultInstance();
    private QAuditRules      defaultAuditRules      = QAuditRules.defaultInstanceLevelNone();
 
+   private QCodeReference metaDataFilter = null;
+
    //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    // todo - lock down the object (no more changes allowed) after it's been validated? //
    //  if doing so, may need to copy all of the collections into read-only versions... //
@@ -1485,4 +1488,35 @@ public class QInstance
       QInstanceHelpContentManager.removeHelpContentByRoleSetFromList(roles, listForSlot);
    }
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for metaDataFilter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QCodeReference getMetaDataFilter()
+   {
+      return (this.metaDataFilter);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for metaDataFilter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setMetaDataFilter(QCodeReference metaDataFilter)
+   {
+      this.metaDataFilter = metaDataFilter;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for metaDataFilter
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QInstance withMetaDataFilter(QCodeReference metaDataFilter)
+   {
+      this.metaDataFilter = metaDataFilter;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/authentication/QAuthenticationMetaData.java

@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public class QAuthenticationMetaData implements TopLevelMetaDataInterface
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public QAuthenticationMetaData withVales(Map<String, String> values)
+   public QAuthenticationMetaData withValues(Map<String, String> values)
    {
       this.values = values;
       return (this);

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/code/QCodeReferenceLambda.java

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Specialized type of QCodeReference that takes a lambda function object.
+ **
+ ** Originally intended for more concise setup of backend steps in tests - but,
+ ** may be generally useful.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class QCodeReferenceLambda<T> extends QCodeReference
+{
+   private final T lambda;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public QCodeReferenceLambda(T lambda)
+   {
+      this.lambda = lambda;
+      this.setCodeType(QCodeType.JAVA);
+      this.setName("[Lambda:" + lambda.toString() + "]");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for lambda
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public T getLambda()
+   {
+      return lambda;
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/fields/QFieldMetaData.java

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecordEntity;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.HelpRole;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.security.FieldSecurityLock;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
@@ -75,8 +76,10 @@ public class QFieldMetaData implements Cloneable
 
    private String       displayFormat = "%s";
    private Serializable defaultValue;
+
    private String               possibleValueSourceName;
    private QQueryFilter         possibleValueSourceFilter;
+   private QPossibleValueSource inlinePossibleValueSource;
 
    private Integer               maxLength;
    private Set<FieldBehavior<?>> behaviors;
@@ -1058,4 +1061,35 @@ public class QFieldMetaData implements Cloneable
       QInstanceHelpContentManager.removeHelpContentByRoleSetFromList(roles, this.helpContents);
    }
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for inlinePossibleValueSource
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource getInlinePossibleValueSource()
+   {
+      return (this.inlinePossibleValueSource);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for inlinePossibleValueSource
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setInlinePossibleValueSource(QPossibleValueSource inlinePossibleValueSource)
+   {
+      this.inlinePossibleValueSource = inlinePossibleValueSource;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for inlinePossibleValueSource
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QFieldMetaData withInlinePossibleValueSource(QPossibleValueSource inlinePossibleValueSource)
+   {
+      this.inlinePossibleValueSource = inlinePossibleValueSource;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/frontend/AppTreeNode.java

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppChildMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ public class AppTreeNode
    private String            label;
    private List<AppTreeNode> children;
 
-   private String iconName;
+   private QIcon icon;
 
 
 
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ public class AppTreeNode
       if(appChildMetaData.getIcon() != null)
       {
          // todo - propagate icons from parents, if they aren't set here...
-         this.iconName = appChildMetaData.getIcon().getName();
+         this.icon = appChildMetaData.getIcon();
       }
    }
 
@@ -138,7 +139,18 @@ public class AppTreeNode
     *******************************************************************************/
    public String getIconName()
    {
-      return iconName;
+      return (icon == null ? null : icon.getName());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for icon
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getIcon()
+   {
+      return icon;
    }
 
 

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/frontend/QFrontendAppMetaData.java

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonInclude.Include;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppSection;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QSupplementalAppMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
 {
    private String name;
    private String label;
-   private String iconName;
+   private QIcon  icon;
 
    private List<String>             widgets  = new ArrayList<>();
    private List<AppTreeNode>        children = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
    private Map<String, QSupplementalAppMetaData> supplementalAppMetaData;
 
 
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -63,11 +65,7 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
    {
       this.name = appMetaData.getName();
       this.label = appMetaData.getLabel();
-
-      if(appMetaData.getIcon() != null)
-      {
-         this.iconName = appMetaData.getIcon().getName();
-      }
+      this.icon = appMetaData.getIcon();
 
       List<String> filteredWidgets = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(appMetaData.getWidgets()).stream().filter(n -> metaDataOutput.getWidgets().containsKey(n)).toList();
       if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(filteredWidgets))
@@ -81,6 +79,10 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
          List<String> filteredTables    = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(section.getTables()).stream().filter(n -> metaDataOutput.getTables().containsKey(n)).toList();
          List<String> filteredProcesses = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(section.getProcesses()).stream().filter(n -> metaDataOutput.getProcesses().containsKey(n)).toList();
          List<String> filteredReports   = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(section.getReports()).stream().filter(n -> metaDataOutput.getReports().containsKey(n)).toList();
+
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // only include the section if it has some contents //
+         //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          if(!filteredTables.isEmpty() || !filteredProcesses.isEmpty() || !filteredReports.isEmpty())
          {
             QAppSection clonedSection = section.clone();
@@ -174,18 +176,7 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
     *******************************************************************************/
    public String getIconName()
    {
-      return iconName;
-   }
-
-
-
-   /*******************************************************************************
-    ** Setter for iconName
-    **
-    *******************************************************************************/
-   public void setIconName(String iconName)
-   {
-      this.iconName = iconName;
+      return (icon == null ? null : icon.getName());
    }
 
 
@@ -235,4 +226,15 @@ public class QFrontendAppMetaData
    {
       return supplementalAppMetaData;
    }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for icon
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getIcon()
+   {
+      return icon;
+   }
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/frontend/QFrontendFieldMetaData.java

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.FieldBehaviorForFron
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ public class QFrontendFieldMetaData
 
    private List<FieldAdornment> adornments;
    private List<QHelpContent>   helpContents;
+   private QPossibleValueSource inlinePossibleValueSource;
 
    private List<FieldBehaviorForFrontend> behaviors;
 
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ public class QFrontendFieldMetaData
       this.adornments = fieldMetaData.getAdornments();
       this.defaultValue = fieldMetaData.getDefaultValue();
       this.helpContents = fieldMetaData.getHelpContents();
+      this.inlinePossibleValueSource = fieldMetaData.getInlinePossibleValueSource();
 
       for(FieldBehavior<?> behavior : CollectionUtils.nonNullCollection(fieldMetaData.getBehaviors()))
       {
@@ -218,6 +221,17 @@ public class QFrontendFieldMetaData
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for inlinePossibleValueSource
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QPossibleValueSource getInlinePossibleValueSource()
+   {
+      return inlinePossibleValueSource;
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Getter for fieldBehaviors
     **

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/frontend/QFrontendProcessMetaData.java

@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonInclude;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonInclude.Include;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.permissions.PermissionsHelper;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStateMachineStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 
 
@@ -47,9 +49,10 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
    private String  tableName;
    private boolean isHidden;
 
-   private String iconName;
+   private QIcon icon;
 
    private List<QFrontendStepMetaData> frontendSteps;
+   private String                      stepFlow;
 
    private boolean hasPermission;
 
@@ -68,15 +71,27 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
       this.label = processMetaData.getLabel();
       this.tableName = processMetaData.getTableName();
       this.isHidden = processMetaData.getIsHidden();
+      this.stepFlow = processMetaData.getStepFlow().toString();
 
       if(includeSteps)
       {
          if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(processMetaData.getStepList()))
          {
-            this.frontendSteps = processMetaData.getStepList().stream()
+            this.frontendSteps = switch(processMetaData.getStepFlow())
+            {
+               case LINEAR -> processMetaData.getStepList().stream()
                   .filter(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::isInstance)
                   .map(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::cast)
                   .collect(Collectors.toList());
+
+               case STATE_MACHINE -> processMetaData.getAllSteps().values().stream()
+                  .filter(QStateMachineStep.class::isInstance)
+                  .map(QStateMachineStep.class::cast)
+                  .flatMap(step -> step.getSubSteps().stream())
+                  .filter(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::isInstance)
+                  .map(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::cast)
+                  .collect(Collectors.toList());
+            };
          }
          else
          {
@@ -84,10 +99,7 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
          }
       }
 
-      if(processMetaData.getIcon() != null)
-      {
-         this.iconName = processMetaData.getIcon().getName();
-      }
+      this.icon = processMetaData.getIcon();
 
       hasPermission = PermissionsHelper.hasProcessPermission(actionInput, name);
    }
@@ -166,7 +178,7 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
     *******************************************************************************/
    public String getIconName()
    {
-      return iconName;
+      return icon == null ? null : icon.getName();
    }
 
 
@@ -180,4 +192,25 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
       return hasPermission;
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for stepFlow
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getStepFlow()
+   {
+      return stepFlow;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for icon
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getIcon()
+   {
+      return icon;
+   }
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/frontend/QFrontendTableMetaData.java

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashMap;
-import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QBackendMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QIcon;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.sharing.ShareableTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Capability;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.ExposedJoin;
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ public class QFrontendTableMetaData
    private String  label;
    private boolean isHidden;
    private String  primaryKeyField;
-   private String  iconName;
+   private QIcon   icon;
 
    private Map<String, QFrontendFieldMetaData>     fields;
    private List<QFieldSection>                     sections;
@@ -156,10 +157,7 @@ public class QFrontendTableMetaData
          }
       }
 
-      if(tableMetaData.getIcon() != null)
-      {
-         this.iconName = tableMetaData.getIcon().getName();
-      }
+      this.icon = tableMetaData.getIcon();
 
       setCapabilities(backendForTable, tableMetaData);
 
@@ -185,7 +183,7 @@ public class QFrontendTableMetaData
     *******************************************************************************/
    private void setCapabilities(QBackendMetaData backend, QTableMetaData table)
    {
-      Set<Capability> enabledCapabilities = new HashSet<>();
+      Set<Capability> enabledCapabilities = new LinkedHashSet<>();
       for(Capability capability : Capability.values())
       {
          if(table.isCapabilityEnabled(backend, capability))
@@ -275,7 +273,7 @@ public class QFrontendTableMetaData
     *******************************************************************************/
    public String getIconName()
    {
-      return iconName;
+      return (icon == null ? null : icon.getName());
    }
 
 
@@ -397,4 +395,16 @@ public class QFrontendTableMetaData
    {
       return helpContents;
    }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for icon
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QIcon getIcon()
+   {
+      return icon;
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/processes/ProcessStepFlow.java

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Possible ways the steps of a process can flow.
+ **
+ ** LINEAR - (the default) - the list of steps in the process are executed in-order
+ **
+ ** STATE_MACHINE - concept of "states", each which has a backend & frontend step;
+ ** a backend step can (must?) set the field "stepState" (or "nextStepName") to
+ ** say what the next (frontend) step is.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public enum ProcessStepFlow
+{
+   LINEAR,
+   STATE_MACHINE
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/processes/QFrontendStepMetaData.java

@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ public class QFrontendStepMetaData extends QStepMetaData
    private List<QFieldMetaData>             recordListFields;
    private Map<String, QFieldMetaData>      formFieldMap;
 
+   private String format;
+
    private List<QHelpContent> helpContents;
 
 
@@ -403,4 +405,35 @@ public class QFrontendStepMetaData extends QStepMetaData
       QInstanceHelpContentManager.removeHelpContentByRoleSetFromList(roles, this.helpContents);
    }
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getFormat()
+   {
+      return (this.format);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for format
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QFrontendStepMetaData withFormat(String format)
+   {
+      this.format = format;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/processes/QProcessMetaData.java

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
    private Integer minInputRecords = null;
    private Integer maxInputRecords = null;
 
+   private ProcessStepFlow            stepFlow = ProcessStepFlow.LINEAR;
    private List<QStepMetaData>        stepList; // these are the steps that are ran, by-default, in the order they are ran in
    private Map<String, QStepMetaData> steps; // this is the full map of possible steps
 
@@ -213,11 +214,10 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
 
 
 
-   /*******************************************************************************
-    ** add a step to the stepList and map
+   /***************************************************************************
     **
-    *******************************************************************************/
-   public QProcessMetaData addStep(QStepMetaData step)
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public QProcessMetaData withStep(QStepMetaData step)
    {
       int index = 0;
       if(this.stepList != null)
@@ -231,11 +231,23 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** add a step to the stepList and map
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Deprecated(since = "withStep was added")
+   public QProcessMetaData addStep(QStepMetaData step)
+   {
+      return (withStep(step));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** add a step to the stepList (at the specified index) and the step map
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public QProcessMetaData addStep(int index, QStepMetaData step)
+   public QProcessMetaData withStep(int index, QStepMetaData step)
    {
       if(this.stepList == null)
       {
@@ -260,11 +272,23 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** add a step to the stepList (at the specified index) and the step map
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Deprecated(since = "withStep was added")
+   public QProcessMetaData addStep(int index, QStepMetaData step)
+   {
+      return (withStep(index, step));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** add a step ONLY to the step map - NOT the list w/ default execution order.
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
-   public QProcessMetaData addOptionalStep(QStepMetaData step)
+   public QProcessMetaData withOptionalStep(QStepMetaData step)
    {
       if(this.steps == null)
       {
@@ -283,6 +307,18 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** add a step ONLY to the step map - NOT the list w/ default execution order.
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Deprecated(since = "withOptionalStep was added")
+   public QProcessMetaData addOptionalStep(QStepMetaData step)
+   {
+      return (withOptionalStep(step));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Setter for stepList
     **
@@ -299,7 +335,26 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
     *******************************************************************************/
    public QStepMetaData getStep(String stepName)
    {
-      return (steps.get(stepName));
+      if(steps.containsKey(stepName))
+      {
+         return steps.get(stepName);
+      }
+
+      for(QStepMetaData step : steps.values())
+      {
+         if(step instanceof QStateMachineStep stateMachineStep)
+         {
+            for(QStepMetaData subStep : stateMachineStep.getSubSteps())
+            {
+               if(subStep.getName().equals(stepName))
+               {
+                  return (subStep);
+               }
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      return (null);
    }
 
 
@@ -780,4 +835,35 @@ public class QProcessMetaData implements QAppChildMetaData, MetaDataWithPermissi
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for stepFlow
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ProcessStepFlow getStepFlow()
+   {
+      return (this.stepFlow);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for stepFlow
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow stepFlow)
+   {
+      this.stepFlow = stepFlow;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for stepFlow
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QProcessMetaData withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow stepFlow)
+   {
+      this.stepFlow = stepFlow;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/processes/QStateMachineStep.java

@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonIgnore;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** A step for a state-machine flow based Process.
+ **
+ ** Consists of 1 or 2 sub-steps, which are frontend and/or backend.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class QStateMachineStep extends QStepMetaData
+{
+   private List<QStepMetaData> subSteps = new ArrayList<>();
+
+   private String defaultNextStepName;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private QStateMachineStep(List<QStepMetaData> subSteps)
+   {
+      setStepType("stateMachine");
+      this.subSteps.addAll(subSteps);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static QStateMachineStep frontendOnly(String name, QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStepMetaData)
+   {
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(frontendStepMetaData.getName()))
+      {
+         frontendStepMetaData.setName(name + ".frontend");
+      }
+
+      return (new QStateMachineStep(List.of(frontendStepMetaData)).withName(name));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static QStateMachineStep backendOnly(String name, QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
+   {
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(backendStepMetaData.getName()))
+      {
+         backendStepMetaData.setName(name + ".backend");
+      }
+
+      return (new QStateMachineStep(List.of(backendStepMetaData)).withName(name));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static QStateMachineStep frontendThenBackend(String name, QFrontendStepMetaData frontendStepMetaData, QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
+   {
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(frontendStepMetaData.getName()))
+      {
+         frontendStepMetaData.setName(name + ".frontend");
+      }
+
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(backendStepMetaData.getName()))
+      {
+         backendStepMetaData.setName(name + ".backend");
+      }
+
+      return (new QStateMachineStep(List.of(frontendStepMetaData, backendStepMetaData)).withName(name));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public QStateMachineStep withName(String name)
+   {
+      super.withName(name);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public QStateMachineStep withLabel(String label)
+   {
+      super.withLabel(label);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for subSteps
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public List<QStepMetaData> getSubSteps()
+   {
+      return subSteps;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for defaultNextStepName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getDefaultNextStepName()
+   {
+      return (this.defaultNextStepName);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for defaultNextStepName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setDefaultNextStepName(String defaultNextStepName)
+   {
+      this.defaultNextStepName = defaultNextStepName;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for defaultNextStepName
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QStateMachineStep withDefaultNextStepName(String defaultNextStepName)
+   {
+      this.defaultNextStepName = defaultNextStepName;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Get a list of all of the input fields used by this step (all of its sub-steps)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @JsonIgnore
+   @Override
+   public List<QFieldMetaData> getInputFields()
+   {
+      List<QFieldMetaData> rs = new ArrayList<>();
+      for(QStepMetaData subStep : subSteps)
+      {
+         rs.addAll(subStep.getInputFields());
+      }
+      return (rs);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/sharing/ShareScopePossibleValueMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.sharing;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.sharing.ShareScope;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/savedreports/ScheduledReportSyncToScheduledJobProcess.java

@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.reporting.ReportFormatPossibleValueEnum;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/automation/HealBadRecordAutomationStatusesProcessStep.java

@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.UpdateAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
@@ -47,6 +46,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.expressions.NowWithOffset;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update.UpdateInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.HtmlWrapper;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/automation/RunTableAutomationsProcessStep.java

@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.automation.polling.PollingAutomati
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.automation.QAutomationProviderMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/StreamedETLExecuteStep.java

@@ -176,9 +176,9 @@ public class StreamedETLExecuteStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Backe
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         if(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+         if(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
          {
-            runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+            runBackendStepOutput.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
          }
 
          /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -281,10 +281,10 @@ public class StreamedETLExecuteStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Backe
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+         if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
          {
             runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().getStepList());
-            runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+            runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
          }
 
          ////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@ public class StreamedETLExecuteStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Backe
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+         if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
          {
             runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().getStepList());
-            runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+            runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
          }
 
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/StreamedETLPreviewStep.java

@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ public class StreamedETLPreviewStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Backe
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      if(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+      if(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
       {
-         runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+         runBackendStepOutput.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
       }
    }
 
@@ -219,10 +219,9 @@ public class StreamedETLPreviewStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Backe
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+      if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
       {
-         runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().getStepList());
-         runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+         runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
       }
 
       ////////////////////////////////////////////////////

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/StreamedETLValidateStep.java

@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ public class StreamedETLValidateStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Back
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      if(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+      if(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
       {
-         runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(postRunOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+         runBackendStepOutput.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(postRunOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
       }
    }
 
@@ -183,10 +183,9 @@ public class StreamedETLValidateStep extends BaseStreamedETLStep implements Back
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // propagate data from inner-step state to process-level step state //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList() != null)
+      if(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
       {
-         runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().getStepList());
-         runBackendStepOutput.setUpdatedFrontendStepList(streamedBackendStepOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList());
+         runBackendStepOutput.setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(streamedBackendStepOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
       }
 
       ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/savedreports/RenderSavedReportMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.savedreports;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.reporting.ReportFormatPossibleValueEnum;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/savedreports/RunScheduledReportMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.savedreports;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/sharing/DeleteSharedRecordProcess.java

@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ import java.util.Objects;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.DeleteAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.delete.DeleteInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.delete.DeleteOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/sharing/EditSharedRecordProcess.java

@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.UpdateAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update.UpdateInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update.UpdateOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/sharing/GetSharedRecordsProcess.java

@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.QueryAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
@@ -47,6 +46,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QueryOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/sharing/InsertSharedRecordProcess.java

@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.InsertAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QUserFacingException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.get.GetInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.insert.InsertInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.insert.InsertOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/locks/ProcessLockMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.locks;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerMultiOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.joins.JoinOn;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/processes/RescheduleAllJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/processes/ScheduleAllNewJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/processes/UnscheduleAllJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/quartz/processes/PauseAllQuartzJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.quartz.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/quartz/processes/PauseQuartzJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.quartz.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.function.BiFunction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerMultiOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/quartz/processes/ResumeAllQuartzJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.quartz.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.nocode.WidgetHtmlLine;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/scheduler/quartz/processes/ResumeQuartzJobsProcess.java

@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.scheduler.quartz.processes;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.function.BiFunction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerMultiOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;

qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/ClassPathUtils.java

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils;
+
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+import com.google.common.reflect.ClassPath;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Utilities for reading classes - e.g., finding all in a package
+ *******************************************************************************/
+@SuppressWarnings("ALL") // the api we're using here, from google, is marked Beta
+public class ClassPathUtils
+{
+   private static ImmutableSet<ClassPath.ClassInfo> topLevelClasses;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/520328/can-you-find-all-classes-in-a-package-using-reflection
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public static List<Class<?>> getClassesInPackage(String packageName) throws IOException
+   {
+      List<Class<?>> classes = new ArrayList<>();
+      ClassLoader    loader  = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+
+      for(ClassPath.ClassInfo info : getTopLevelClasses(loader))
+      {
+         if(info.getName().startsWith(packageName))
+         {
+            classes.add(info.load());
+         }
+      }
+
+      return (classes);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private static ImmutableSet<ClassPath.ClassInfo> getTopLevelClasses(ClassLoader loader) throws IOException
+   {
+      if(topLevelClasses == null)
+      {
+         topLevelClasses = ClassPath.from(loader).getTopLevelClasses();
+      }
+
+      return (topLevelClasses);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public static void clearTopLevelClassCache()
+   {
+      topLevelClasses = null;
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataActionTest.java

@@ -31,9 +31,13 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QCollectingLogger;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.metadata.MetaDataOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.dashboard.QWidgetMetaDataInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.AppTreeNode;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.AppTreeNodeType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendAppMetaData;
@@ -41,9 +45,13 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendProcessMe
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendReportMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendWidgetMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.layout.QAppMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.DenyBehavior;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.PermissionLevel;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.QPermissionRules;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.session.QSession;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
@@ -350,4 +358,118 @@ class MetaDataActionTest extends BaseTest
       assertTrue(personMemoryTable.getDeletePermission());
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testFilter() throws QException
+   {
+      QCollectingLogger collectingLogger = QLogger.activateCollectingLoggerForClass(MetaDataAction.class);
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // run default version, and assert tables are found //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      MetaDataOutput result = new MetaDataAction().execute(new MetaDataInput());
+      assertFalse(result.getTables().isEmpty(), "should be some tables");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // run again (with the same instance as before) to assert about memoization of the filter based on the QInstance //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      new MetaDataAction().execute(new MetaDataInput());
+      assertThat(collectingLogger.getCollectedMessages()).filteredOn(clm -> clm.getMessage().contains("Using new default")).hasSize(1);
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // set up new instance to use a custom filter, to deny all //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      QInstance instance = TestUtils.defineInstance();
+      instance.setMetaDataFilter(new QCodeReference(DenyAllFilter.class));
+      reInitInstanceInContext(instance);
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // re-run, and assert all tables are filtered away //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      result = new MetaDataAction().execute(new MetaDataInput());
+      assertTrue(result.getTables().isEmpty(), "should be no tables");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // run again (with the same instance as before) to assert about memoization of the filter based on the QInstance //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      new MetaDataAction().execute(new MetaDataInput());
+      assertThat(collectingLogger.getCollectedMessages()).filteredOn(clm -> clm.getMessage().contains("filter of type: DenyAllFilter")).hasSize(1);
+
+      QLogger.deactivateCollectingLoggerForClass(MetaDataAction.class);
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // run now with the AllowAllFilter, confirm we get tables //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      instance = TestUtils.defineInstance();
+      instance.setMetaDataFilter(new QCodeReference(AllowAllMetaDataFilter.class));
+      reInitInstanceInContext(instance);
+      result = new MetaDataAction().execute(new MetaDataInput());
+      assertFalse(result.getTables().isEmpty(), "should be some tables");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static class DenyAllFilter implements MetaDataFilterInterface
+   {
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public boolean allowTable(MetaDataInput input, QTableMetaData table)
+      {
+         return false;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public boolean allowProcess(MetaDataInput input, QProcessMetaData process)
+      {
+         return false;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public boolean allowReport(MetaDataInput input, QReportMetaData report)
+      {
+         return false;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public boolean allowApp(MetaDataInput input, QAppMetaData app)
+      {
+         return false;
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public boolean allowWidget(MetaDataInput input, QWidgetMetaDataInterface widget)
+      {
+         return false;
+      }
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/processes/RunProcessActionTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,327 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReferenceLambda;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.ProcessStepFlow;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFrontendStepMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStateMachineStep;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for RunProcessAction 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class RunProcessActionTest extends BaseTest
+{
+   private static List<String> log = new ArrayList<>();
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @BeforeEach
+   void beforeEach()
+   {
+      log.clear();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStateMachineTwoBackendSteps() throws QException
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = new QProcessMetaData().withName("test")
+
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // two-steps - a, points at b; b has no next-step, so it exits //
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.backendOnly("a", new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("aBackend")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+            {
+               log.add("in StepA");
+               runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("b");
+            }))))
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.backendOnly("b", new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("bBackend")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+            {
+               log.add("in StepB");
+            }))))
+
+         .withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow.STATE_MACHINE);
+
+      QContext.getQInstance().addProcess(process);
+
+      RunProcessInput input = new RunProcessInput();
+      input.setProcessName("test");
+      input.setFrontendStepBehavior(RunProcessInput.FrontendStepBehavior.BREAK);
+
+      RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertEquals(List.of("in StepA", "in StepB"), log);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName()).isEmpty();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStateMachineTwoFrontendOnlySteps() throws QException
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = new QProcessMetaData().withName("test")
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendOnly("a", new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("aFrontend")).withDefaultNextStepName("b"))
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendOnly("b", new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("bFrontend")))
+
+         .withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow.STATE_MACHINE);
+
+      QContext.getQInstance().addProcess(process);
+
+      RunProcessInput input = new RunProcessInput();
+      input.setProcessName("test");
+      input.setFrontendStepBehavior(RunProcessInput.FrontendStepBehavior.BREAK);
+
+      RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("aFrontend");
+
+      /////////////////////////////
+      // resume after a, go to b //
+      /////////////////////////////
+      input.setStartAfterStep("aFrontend");
+      runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("bFrontend");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStateMachineOneBackendStepReferencingItselfDoesNotInfiniteLoop() throws QException
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = new QProcessMetaData().withName("test")
+
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // set up step that always points back at itself.            //
+         // since it never goes to the frontend, it'll stack overflow //
+         // (though we'll catch it ourselves before JVM does)         //
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.backendOnly("a", new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("aBackend")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+            {
+               log.add("in StepA");
+               runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("a");
+            }))))
+
+         .withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow.STATE_MACHINE);
+
+      QContext.getQInstance().addProcess(process);
+
+      RunProcessInput input = new RunProcessInput();
+      input.setProcessName("test");
+      input.setFrontendStepBehavior(RunProcessInput.FrontendStepBehavior.BREAK);
+
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new RunProcessAction().execute(input))
+         .isInstanceOf(QException.class)
+         .hasMessageContaining("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth of 20");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // make sure we can set a custom max-stack-depth //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.addValue("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth", 5);
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new RunProcessAction().execute(input))
+         .isInstanceOf(QException.class)
+         .hasMessageContaining("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth of 5");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStateMachineTwoBackendStepsReferencingEachOtherDoesNotInfiniteLoop() throws QException
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = new QProcessMetaData().withName("test")
+
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // set up two steps that always points back at each other.   //
+         // since it never goes to the frontend, it'll stack overflow //
+         // (though we'll catch it ourselves before JVM does)         //
+         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.backendOnly("a", new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("aBackend")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+            {
+               log.add("in StepA");
+               runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("b");
+            }))))
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.backendOnly("b", new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("bBackend")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+            {
+               log.add("in StepB");
+               runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("a");
+            }))))
+
+         .withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow.STATE_MACHINE);
+
+      QContext.getQInstance().addProcess(process);
+
+      RunProcessInput input = new RunProcessInput();
+      input.setProcessName("test");
+      input.setFrontendStepBehavior(RunProcessInput.FrontendStepBehavior.BREAK);
+
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new RunProcessAction().execute(input))
+         .isInstanceOf(QException.class)
+         .hasMessageContaining("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth of 20");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // make sure we can set a custom max-stack-depth //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.addValue("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth", 5);
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new RunProcessAction().execute(input))
+         .isInstanceOf(QException.class)
+         .hasMessageContaining("maxStateMachineProcessStepFlowStackDepth of 5");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStateSequenceOfFrontendAndBackendSteps() throws QException
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = new QProcessMetaData().withName("test")
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendThenBackend("a",
+            new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("aFrontend"),
+            new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("aBackend")
+               .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+               {
+                  log.add("in StepA");
+                  runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("b");
+               }))))
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendThenBackend("b",
+            new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("bFrontend"),
+            new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("bBackend")
+               .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+               {
+                  log.add("in StepB");
+                  runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("c");
+               }))))
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendThenBackend("c",
+            new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("cFrontend"),
+            new QBackendStepMetaData().withName("cBackend")
+               .withCode(new QCodeReferenceLambda<BackendStep>((runBackendStepInput, runBackendStepOutput) ->
+               {
+                  log.add("in StepC");
+                  runBackendStepOutput.getProcessState().setNextStepName("d");
+               }))))
+
+         .addStep(QStateMachineStep.frontendOnly("d",
+            new QFrontendStepMetaData().withName("dFrontend")))
+
+         .withStepFlow(ProcessStepFlow.STATE_MACHINE);
+
+      QContext.getQInstance().addProcess(process);
+
+      RunProcessInput input = new RunProcessInput();
+      input.setProcessName("test");
+      input.setFrontendStepBehavior(RunProcessInput.FrontendStepBehavior.BREAK);
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // start the process - we should be sent to aFrontend //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      RunProcessOutput runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("aFrontend");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // resume after aFrontend - we should run StepA (backend), and then be sent to bFrontend //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.setStartAfterStep("aFrontend");
+      runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertEquals(List.of("in StepA"), log);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("bFrontend");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // resume after bFrontend - we should run StepB (backend), and then be sent to cFrontend //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.setStartAfterStep("bFrontend");
+      runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertEquals(List.of("in StepA", "in StepB"), log);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("cFrontend");
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // resume after cFrontend - we should run StepC (backend), and then be sent to dFrontend //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.setStartAfterStep("cFrontend");
+      runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertEquals(List.of("in StepA", "in StepB", "in StepC"), log);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName())
+         .isPresent().get()
+         .isEqualTo("dFrontend");
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // if we resume again here, we'll be past the end of the process, so no next-step //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      input.setStartAfterStep("dFrontend");
+      runProcessOutput = new RunProcessAction().execute(input);
+      assertEquals(List.of("in StepA", "in StepB", "in StepC"), log);
+      assertThat(runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName()).isEmpty();
+
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/DistinctFilteringRecordPipeTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.reporting;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.UniqueKey;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for DistinctFilteringRecordPipe 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class DistinctFilteringRecordPipeTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSingleFieldKey() throws QException
+   {
+      DistinctFilteringRecordPipe pipe = new DistinctFilteringRecordPipe(new UniqueKey("id"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("id", 1));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("id", 1));
+      assertEquals(1, pipe.consumeAvailableRecords().size());
+
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("id", 1));
+      assertEquals(0, pipe.consumeAvailableRecords().size());
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testMultiFieldKey() throws QException
+   {
+      DistinctFilteringRecordPipe pipe = new DistinctFilteringRecordPipe(new UniqueKey("type", "name"));
+
+      ////////////////////////////
+      // add 3 distinct records //
+      ////////////////////////////
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 1).withValue("name", "A"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 1).withValue("name", "B"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 2).withValue("name", "B"));
+      assertEquals(3, pipe.consumeAvailableRecords().size());
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // now re-add those 3 (should all be discarded) plus one new one //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 1).withValue("name", "A"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 1).withValue("name", "B"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 2).withValue("name", "B"));
+      pipe.addRecord(new QRecord().withValue("type", 2).withValue("name", "A"));
+      assertEquals(1, pipe.consumeAvailableRecords().size());
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/GenerateReportActionTest.java

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
 import java.time.LocalDate;
 import java.time.Month;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ import org.junit.jupiter.api.AfterEach;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
 
 
@@ -340,6 +342,16 @@ public class GenerateReportActionTest extends BaseTest
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
    private String runToString(ReportFormat reportFormat, String reportName) throws Exception
+   {
+      return (runToString(reportFormat, reportName, Map.of("startDate", LocalDate.of(1970, Month.MAY, 15), "endDate", LocalDate.now())));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private String runToString(ReportFormat reportFormat, String reportName, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues) throws Exception
    {
       String name = "/tmp/report." + reportFormat.getExtension();
       try(FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(name))
@@ -347,7 +359,7 @@ public class GenerateReportActionTest extends BaseTest
          ReportInput reportInput = new ReportInput();
          reportInput.setReportName(reportName);
          reportInput.setReportDestination(new ReportDestination().withReportFormat(reportFormat).withReportOutputStream(fileOutputStream));
-         reportInput.setInputValues(Map.of("startDate", LocalDate.of(1970, Month.MAY, 15), "endDate", LocalDate.now()));
+         reportInput.setInputValues(inputValues);
          new GenerateReportAction().execute(reportInput);
          System.out.println("Wrote File: " + name);
          return (FileUtils.readFileToString(new File(name), StandardCharsets.UTF_8));
@@ -976,4 +988,55 @@ public class GenerateReportActionTest extends BaseTest
       assertThat(row.get("Home State Name")).isEqualTo("IL");
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testFilterMissingValue() throws Exception
+   {
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // define a report in the instance, with an input field - then we'll run it w/o supplying the value //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      QReportMetaData report = new QReportMetaData()
+         .withName(REPORT_NAME)
+         .withDataSources(List.of(
+            new QReportDataSource()
+               .withName("persons")
+               .withSourceTable(TestUtils.TABLE_NAME_PERSON_MEMORY)
+               .withQueryFilter(new QQueryFilter()
+                  .withCriteria(new QFilterCriteria("birthDate", QCriteriaOperator.GREATER_THAN, List.of("${input.startDate}"))))))
+         .withViews(List.of(
+            new QReportView()
+               .withName("table1")
+               .withLabel("Table 1")
+               .withDataSourceName("persons")
+               .withType(ReportType.TABLE)
+               .withColumns(List.of(new QReportField().withName("id")))
+         ));
+
+      QInstance qInstance = QContext.getQInstance();
+      qInstance.addReport(report);
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // the report should run, but with the filter removed, so it should find all (6) person records //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      insertPersonRecords(qInstance);
+      String json = runToString(ReportFormat.JSON, report.getName(), Collections.emptyMap());
+      JSONArray reportJsonArray = new JSONArray(json);
+      assertEquals(6, reportJsonArray.length());
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // re-run now, pretending to be a report that wasn't defined in meta-data, but instead was //
+      // ah-hoc-style, in which case, a missing input is defined as, should throw exception.     //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      ReportInput reportInput = new ReportInput();
+      report.setName(null);
+      reportInput.setReportMetaData(report);
+      reportInput.setReportDestination(new ReportDestination().withReportFormat(ReportFormat.JSON).withReportOutputStream(new ByteArrayOutputStream()));
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new GenerateReportAction().execute(reportInput))
+         .hasMessageContaining("Missing value for criteria on field: birthDate");
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/reporting/excel/fastexcel/BoldHeaderAndFooterFastExcelStylerTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.reporting.excel.fastexcel;
+
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import org.dhatim.fastexcel.StyleSetter;
+import org.dhatim.fastexcel.Workbook;
+import org.dhatim.fastexcel.Worksheet;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for BoldHeaderAndFooterFastExcelStyler 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class BoldHeaderAndFooterFastExcelStylerTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** ... kinda just here to add test coverage to the class.  I suppose, it
+    ** makes sure there's not an NPE inside that method at least...?
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test()
+   {
+      Workbook    workbook    = new Workbook(new ByteArrayOutputStream(), "Test", null);
+      Worksheet   worksheet   = workbook.newWorksheet("Sheet 1");
+      StyleSetter headerStyle = worksheet.range(0, 0, 1, 1).style();
+      new BoldHeaderAndFooterFastExcelStyler().styleHeaderRow(headerStyle);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/scripts/QCodeExecutorTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.scripts;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QCodeException;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertSame;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for QCodeExecutor 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class QCodeExecutorTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testConvertJavaObject() throws QCodeException
+   {
+      Object input = new Object();
+      Object converted = ((QCodeExecutor) (codeReference, inputContext, executionLogger) -> null).convertJavaObject(input, null);
+      assertSame(input, converted);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testConvertObjectToJava() throws QCodeException
+   {
+      Object input = new Object();
+      Object converted = ((QCodeExecutor) (codeReference, inputContext, executionLogger) -> null).convertObjectToJava(input);
+      assertSame(input, converted);
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplicationTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplication 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplicationTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test() throws QException
+   {
+      QInstance qInstance = new TestApplication().defineQInstance();
+      assertEquals(1, qInstance.getTables().size());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static class TestApplication extends AbstractMetaDataProducerBasedQQQApplication
+   {
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public String getMetaDataPackageName()
+      {
+         return getClass().getPackage().getName() + ".producers";
+      }
+   }
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/AbstractQQQApplicationTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for AbstractQQQApplication 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class AbstractQQQApplicationTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test() throws QException
+   {
+      TestApplication testApplication = new TestApplication();
+      QInstance       qInstance       = testApplication.defineQInstance();
+      assertEquals(1, qInstance.getTables().size());
+      assertTrue(qInstance.getTables().containsKey("testTable"));
+
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> testApplication.defineValidatedQInstance())
+         .hasMessageContaining("validation");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static class TestApplication extends AbstractQQQApplication
+   {
+      /***************************************************************************
+       **
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public QInstance defineQInstance() throws QException
+      {
+         QInstance qInstance = new QInstance();
+         qInstance.addTable(new QTableMetaData().withName("testTable"));
+         return (qInstance);
+      }
+   }
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.TableCustomizers;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.dashboard.PersonsByCreateDateBarChart;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.dashboard.widgets.AbstractWidgetRenderer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.dashboard.widgets.ParentWidgetRenderer;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.metadata.AllowAllMetaDataFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.CancelProcessActionTest;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.reporting.RecordPipe;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.reporting.customizers.ReportCustomRecordSourceInterface;
@@ -139,6 +140,21 @@ public class QInstanceValidatorTest extends BaseTest
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testMetaDataFilter()
+   {
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.setMetaDataFilter(new QCodeReference(QInstanceValidator.class)),
+         "Instance metaDataFilter CodeReference is not of the expected type");
+
+      assertValidationSuccess((qInstance) -> qInstance.setMetaDataFilter(new QCodeReference(AllowAllMetaDataFilter.class)));
+      assertValidationSuccess((qInstance) -> qInstance.setMetaDataFilter(null));
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Test an instance with null backends - should throw.
     **
@@ -265,6 +281,38 @@ public class QInstanceValidatorTest extends BaseTest
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testTableFieldInlinePossibleValueSource()
+   {
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // make sure can't have both named and inline PVS //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertValidationFailureReasonsAllowingExtraReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").getField("homeStateId")
+            .withInlinePossibleValueSource(new QPossibleValueSource().withType(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE).withTableName("person")),
+         "both a possibleValueSourceName and an inlinePossibleValueSource");
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // make require inline PVS to be enum type //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertValidationFailureReasonsAllowingExtraReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").getField("homeStateId")
+            .withPossibleValueSourceName(null)
+            .withInlinePossibleValueSource(new QPossibleValueSource().withType(QPossibleValueSourceType.TABLE)),
+         "must have a type of ENUM");
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // make sure validation on the inline PVS happens //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertValidationFailureReasonsAllowingExtraReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").getField("homeStateId")
+            .withPossibleValueSourceName(null)
+            .withInlinePossibleValueSource(new QPossibleValueSource().withType(QPossibleValueSourceType.ENUM)),
+         "missing enum values");
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Test that if a process specifies a table that doesn't exist, that it fails.
     **
@@ -717,8 +765,8 @@ public class QInstanceValidatorTest extends BaseTest
    @Test
    public void test_validateFieldWithMissingPossibleValueSource()
    {
-      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").getField("homeStateId").setPossibleValueSourceName("not a real possible value source"),
-         "Unrecognized possibleValueSourceName");
+      assertValidationFailureReasonsAllowingExtraReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").getField("homeStateId").setPossibleValueSourceName("not a real possible value source"),
+         "unrecognized possibleValueSourceName");
    }
 
 

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/producers/TestMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.producers;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class TestMetaDataProducer implements MetaDataProducerInterface<QTableMetaData>
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public QTableMetaData produce(QInstance qInstance) throws QException
+   {
+      return new QTableMetaData().withName("fromProducer");
+   }
+
+}

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/messaging/email/EmailMessagingProviderTest.java

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.condition.DisabledOnOs;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.condition.OS;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
@@ -64,4 +65,19 @@ class EmailMessagingProviderTest extends BaseTest
       );
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testMissingInputs()
+   {
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new SendMessageAction().execute(new SendMessageInput()))
+         .hasMessageContaining("provider name was not given");
+
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new SendMessageAction().execute(new SendMessageInput().withMessagingProviderName("notFound")))
+         .hasMessageContaining("was not found");
+   }
+
 }

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/producers/TestDisabledMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.producers;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/producers/TestImplementsMetaDataProducer.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.producers;
 
 
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 

qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/savedreports/RenderSavedReportProcessTest.java

@@ -163,7 +163,17 @@ class RenderSavedReportProcessTest extends BaseTest
    {
       String              storageTableName    = runProcessOutput.getValueString("storageTableName");
       String              storageReference    = runProcessOutput.getValueString("storageReference");
-      InputStream inputStream      = new MemoryStorageAction().getInputStream(new StorageInput(storageTableName).withReference(storageReference));
+
+      MemoryStorageAction memoryStorageAction = new MemoryStorageAction();
+      StorageInput        storageInput        = new StorageInput(storageTableName).withReference(storageReference);
+      InputStream         inputStream         = memoryStorageAction.getInputStream(storageInput);
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // to help add a little bit of class-level code coverage, for the QStorageInterface, call a method //
+      // that has a defualt implementation in there                                                      //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      memoryStorageAction.getDownloadURL(storageInput);
+
       return inputStream;
    }
 

qqq-bom/pom.xml

@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@
             <artifactId>qqq-middleware-api</artifactId>
             <version>${revision}</version>
          </dependency>
+         <dependency>
+            <groupId>com.kingsrook.qqq</groupId>
+            <artifactId>qqq-openapi</artifactId>
+            <version>${revision}</version>
+         </dependency>
          <dependency>
             <groupId>com.kingsrook.qqq</groupId>
             <artifactId>qqq-middleware-picocli</artifactId>

qqq-middleware-api/pom.xml

@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@
          <artifactId>qqq-middleware-javalin</artifactId>
          <version>${revision}</version>
       </dependency>
+      <dependency>
+         <groupId>com.kingsrook.qqq</groupId>
+         <artifactId>qqq-openapi</artifactId>
+         <version>${revision}</version>
+      </dependency>
 
       <!-- 3rd party deps specifically for this module -->
-      <dependency>
-         <groupId>io.javalin</groupId>
-         <artifactId>javalin</artifactId>
-         <version>5.1.4</version>
-      </dependency>
       <dependency>
          <groupId>com.konghq</groupId>
          <artifactId>unirest-java</artifactId>

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/actions/GenerateOpenApiSpecAction.java

@@ -51,22 +51,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiAssociationMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Components;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Contact;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Content;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Example;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithListValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithSingleValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Info;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Method;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.OpenAPI;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Parameter;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Path;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.RequestBody;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Response;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Schema;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.SecurityScheme;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Tag;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.AbstractQActionFunction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.permissions.PermissionsHelper;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.permissions.TablePermissionSubType;
@@ -93,6 +77,22 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.YamlUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.ListBuilder;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Components;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Contact;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Content;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Example;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithListValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithSingleValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Info;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Method;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.OpenAPI;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Parameter;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Path;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.RequestBody;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Response;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Schema;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.SecurityScheme;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Tag;
 import io.javalin.http.ContentType;
 import io.javalin.http.HttpStatus;
 import org.apache.commons.lang.BooleanUtils;

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/implementations/savedreports/RenderSavedReportProcessApiMetaDataEnricher.java

@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessInputFieldsContainer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithListValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithSingleValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.HttpMethod;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.reporting.ReportFormatPossibleValueEnum;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithListValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithSingleValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.HttpMethod;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/implementations/savedreports/RenderSavedReportProcessApiProcessOutput.java

@@ -27,15 +27,15 @@ import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.actions.HttpApiResponse;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessOutputInterface;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Content;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Response;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Schema;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.StorageAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.reporting.ReportFormat;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.storage.StorageInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Content;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Response;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Schema;
 import org.eclipse.jetty.http.HttpStatus;
 
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/javalin/QJavalinApiHandler.java

@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessMetaDataContaine
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.HttpMethod;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.GetAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.InsertAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
@@ -87,6 +86,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.javalin.QJavalinAccessLogger;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.javalin.QJavalinImplementation;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.HttpMethod;
 import io.javalin.apibuilder.ApiBuilder;
 import io.javalin.apibuilder.EndpointGroup;
 import io.javalin.http.ContentType;
@@ -135,8 +135,17 @@ public class QJavalinApiHandler
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////
          // static endpoints to support rapidoc pages //
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////
-         ApiBuilder.get("/api/docs/js/rapidoc.min.js", (context) -> QJavalinApiHandler.serveResource(context, "rapidoc/rapidoc-9.3.4.min.js", MapBuilder.of("Content-Type", ContentType.JAVASCRIPT)));
+         try
+         {
+            ApiBuilder.get("/api/docs/js/rapidoc.min.js", (context) -> QJavalinApiHandler.serveResource(context, "rapidoc/rapidoc-9.3.8.min.js", MapBuilder.of("Content-Type", ContentType.JAVASCRIPT)));
             ApiBuilder.get("/api/docs/css/qqq-api-styles.css", (context) -> QJavalinApiHandler.serveResource(context, "rapidoc/rapidoc-overrides.css", MapBuilder.of("Content-Type", ContentType.CSS)));
+         }
+         catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
+         {
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // assume a different module already registered these paths //
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         }
 
          ApiBuilder.get("/apis.json", QJavalinApiHandler::doGetApisJson);
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/actions/GenerateOpenApiSpecOutput.java

@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 package com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.actions;
 
 
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.OpenAPI;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractActionOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.OpenAPI;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/ApiInstanceMetaData.java

@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.APIVersion;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.SecurityScheme;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Server;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.QInstanceValidator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.SecurityScheme;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Server;
 import org.apache.commons.lang.BooleanUtils;
 
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/fields/ApiFieldMetaData.java

@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.fields;
 
 
 import java.util.Map;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Example;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Example;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/processes/ApiProcessMetaData.java

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.ApiSupplementType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.APIVersionRange;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.fields.ApiFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.fields.ApiFieldMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.HttpMethod;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.QInstanceEnricher;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.QInstanceValidator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
@@ -39,6 +38,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.ListBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.HttpMethod;
 import org.apache.commons.lang.BooleanUtils;
 
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/processes/ApiProcessObjectOutput.java

@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ import java.util.Objects;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.actions.GenerateOpenApiSpecAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.fields.ApiFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.fields.ApiFieldMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Content;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithListValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.ExampleWithSingleValue;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Response;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Schema;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
@@ -43,6 +38,11 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ObjectUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Content;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithListValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.ExampleWithSingleValue;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Response;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Schema;
 import io.javalin.http.ContentType;
 import org.eclipse.jetty.http.HttpStatus;
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/processes/ApiProcessOutputInterface.java

@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.Map;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.actions.HttpApiResponse;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Response;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Response;
 import org.eclipse.jetty.http.HttpStatus;
 
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/model/metadata/processes/ApiProcessSummaryListOutput.java

@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Content;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Response;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.Schema;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.ProcessSummaryFilterLink;
@@ -42,6 +39,9 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunProcessOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.ListBuilder;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Content;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Response;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.Schema;
 import io.javalin.http.ContentType;
 import org.apache.commons.lang.NotImplementedException;
 import org.eclipse.jetty.http.HttpStatus;

qqq-middleware-api/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/TestUtils.java

@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessObjectOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.processes.ApiProcessSummaryListOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.metadata.tables.ApiTableMetaDataContainer;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.api.model.openapi.HttpMethod;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.AbstractPreDeleteCustomizer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.AbstractPreInsertCustomizer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.AbstractPreUpdateCustomizer;
@@ -86,6 +85,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwith
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend.StreamedETLWithFrontendProcess;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.savedreports.RenderSavedReportMetaDataProducer;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.openapi.model.HttpMethod;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************

qqq-middleware-api/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/javalin/QJavalinApiHandlerPermissionsTest.java

@@ -78,9 +78,10 @@ class QJavalinApiHandlerPermissionsTest extends BaseTest
       }
 
       qJavalinImplementation = new QJavalinImplementation(qInstance);
-      qJavalinImplementation.startJavalinServer(PORT);
+      qJavalinImplementation.clearJavalinRoutes();
       EndpointGroup routes = new QJavalinApiHandler(qInstance).getRoutes();
-      qJavalinImplementation.getJavalinService().routes(routes);
+      qJavalinImplementation.addJavalinRoutes(routes);
+      qJavalinImplementation.startJavalinServer(PORT);
    }
 
 

qqq-middleware-api/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/api/javalin/QJavalinApiHandlerTest.java

@@ -112,9 +112,10 @@ class QJavalinApiHandlerTest extends BaseTest
             .withInitialVersion(TestUtils.V2022_Q4))));
 
       qJavalinImplementation = new QJavalinImplementation(qInstance);
-      qJavalinImplementation.startJavalinServer(PORT);
+      qJavalinImplementation.clearJavalinRoutes();
       EndpointGroup routes = new QJavalinApiHandler(qInstance).getRoutes();
-      qJavalinImplementation.getJavalinService().routes(routes);
+      qJavalinImplementation.addJavalinRoutes(routes);
+      qJavalinImplementation.startJavalinServer(PORT);
    }