diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
index ed206b5e..262b6a42 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
 
 
 import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
+import java.lang.reflect.Modifier;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -30,17 +31,21 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
+import java.util.stream.Stream;
 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.processes.BackendStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values.QCustomPossibleValueProvider;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QInstanceValidationException;
 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.code.QCodeType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeUsage;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 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.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QStepMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QFieldSection;
@@ -461,18 +466,48 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
-   private Object getInstanceOfCodeReference(String prefix, Class<?> customizerClass)
+   private Object getInstanceOfCodeReference(String prefix, Class<?> clazz)
    {
-      Object customizerInstance = null;
+      Object instance = null;
       try
       {
-         customizerInstance = customizerClass.getConstructor().newInstance();
+         instance = clazz.getConstructor().newInstance();
       }
       catch(InvocationTargetException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | NoSuchMethodException e)
       {
-         errors.add(prefix + "Instance of CodeReference could not be created: " + e);
+         prefix += "Instance of " + clazz.getSimpleName() + " could not be created";
+         if(Modifier.isAbstract(clazz.getModifiers()))
+         {
+            errors.add(prefix + " because it is abstract");
+         }
+         else if(Modifier.isInterface(clazz.getModifiers()))
+         {
+            errors.add(prefix + " because it is an interface");
+         }
+         else if(!Modifier.isPublic(clazz.getModifiers()))
+         {
+            errors.add(prefix + " because it is not public");
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            //////////////////////////////////
+            // check for no-arg constructor //
+            //////////////////////////////////
+            boolean hasNoArgConstructor = Stream.of(clazz.getConstructors()).anyMatch(c -> c.getParameterCount() == 0);
+            if(!hasNoArgConstructor)
+            {
+               errors.add(prefix + " because it does not have a parameterless constructor");
+            }
+            else
+            {
+               //////////////////////////////////////////
+               // otherwise, just append the exception //
+               //////////////////////////////////////////
+               errors.add(prefix + ": " + e);
+            }
+         }
       }
-      return customizerInstance;
+      return instance;
    }
 
 
@@ -579,6 +614,23 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
                {
                   assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(step.getName()), "Missing name for a step at index " + index + " in process " + processName);
                   index++;
+
+                  ////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  // validate instantiation of step classes //
+                  ////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  if(step instanceof QBackendStepMetaData backendStepMetaData)
+                  {
+                     if(backendStepMetaData.getInputMetaData() != null && CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(backendStepMetaData.getInputMetaData().getFieldList()))
+                     {
+                        for(QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData : backendStepMetaData.getInputMetaData().getFieldList())
+                        {
+                           if(fieldMetaData.getDefaultValue() != null && fieldMetaData.getDefaultValue() instanceof QCodeReference codeReference)
+                           {
+                              validateSimpleCodeReference("Process " + processName + " backend step code reference: ", codeReference, BackendStep.class);
+                           }
+                        }
+                     }
+                  }
                }
             }
          });
@@ -715,20 +767,20 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
          ///////////////////////////////////////
          // make sure the class can be loaded //
          ///////////////////////////////////////
-         Class<?> customizerClass = getClassForCodeReference(codeReference, prefix);
-         if(customizerClass != null)
+         Class<?> clazz = getClassForCodeReference(codeReference, prefix);
+         if(clazz != null)
          {
             //////////////////////////////////////////////////
             // make sure the customizer can be instantiated //
             //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-            Object customizerInstance = getInstanceOfCodeReference(prefix, customizerClass);
+            Object classInstance = getInstanceOfCodeReference(prefix, clazz);
 
             ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
             // make sure the customizer instance can be cast to the expected type //
             ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-            if(customizerInstance != null)
+            if(classInstance != null)
             {
-               getCastedObject(prefix, expectedClass, customizerInstance);
+               getCastedObject(prefix, expectedClass, classInstance);
             }
          }
       }
@@ -741,16 +793,16 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
     *******************************************************************************/
    private Class<?> getClassForCodeReference(QCodeReference codeReference, String prefix)
    {
-      Class<?> customizerClass = null;
+      Class<?> clazz = null;
       try
       {
-         customizerClass = Class.forName(codeReference.getName());
+         clazz = Class.forName(codeReference.getName());
       }
       catch(ClassNotFoundException e)
       {
-         errors.add(prefix + "Class for CodeReference could not be found.");
+         errors.add(prefix + "Class for " + codeReference.getName() + " could not be found.");
       }
-      return customizerClass;
+      return clazz;
    }
 
 
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/NoopTransformStep.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/NoopTransformStep.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eebacd18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/processes/implementations/etl/streamedwithfrontend/NoopTransformStep.java
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022.  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.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.ProcessSummaryLine;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.ProcessSummaryLineInterface;
+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.processes.Status;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Implementation of a TransformStep - it does nothing other than take input records
+ ** and sets them in the output
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class NoopTransformStep extends AbstractTransformStep
+{
+   private final String             okSummarySuffix = " successfully processed.";
+   private final ProcessSummaryLine okSummary       = new ProcessSummaryLine(Status.OK)
+      .withSingularFutureMessage("can be" + okSummarySuffix)
+      .withPluralFutureMessage("can be" + okSummarySuffix)
+      .withSingularPastMessage("has been" + okSummarySuffix)
+      .withPluralPastMessage("have been" + okSummarySuffix);
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** getProcessSummary
+    *
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public ArrayList<ProcessSummaryLineInterface> getProcessSummary(RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput, boolean isForResultScreen)
+   {
+      ArrayList<ProcessSummaryLineInterface> rs = new ArrayList<>();
+      okSummary.addSelfToListIfAnyCount(rs);
+      return (rs);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** run
+    *
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public void run(RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput, RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput) throws QException
+   {
+      ////////////////////////////////
+      // return if no input records //
+      ////////////////////////////////
+      if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(runBackendStepInput.getRecords()))
+      {
+         return;
+      }
+
+      for(QRecord qRecord : runBackendStepInput.getRecords())
+      {
+         okSummary.incrementCountAndAddPrimaryKey(qRecord.getValue(runBackendStepInput.getTable().getPrimaryKeyField()));
+         runBackendStepOutput.getRecords().add(qRecord);
+      }
+   }
+
+}
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
index 44d4700c..35567ae4 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java
@@ -29,7 +29,12 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.TableCustomizers;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QInstanceValidationException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.ProcessSummaryLineInterface;
+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;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
@@ -45,10 +50,15 @@ 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.possiblevalues.QPossibleValue;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.possiblevalues.QPossibleValueSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QFieldSection;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Tier;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.automation.TableAutomationAction;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend.AbstractTransformStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend.ExtractViaQueryStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend.LoadViaDeleteStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.processes.implementations.etl.streamedwithfrontend.StreamedETLWithFrontendProcess;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
@@ -230,6 +240,75 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Test that a process with a step that is a private class fails
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   public void test_validateProcessWithPrivateStep()
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = StreamedETLWithFrontendProcess.defineProcessMetaData(
+         ExtractViaQueryStep.class,
+         TestPrivateClass.class,
+         LoadViaDeleteStep.class,
+         new HashMap<>()
+      );
+      process.setName("testProcess");
+      process.setLabel("Test Process");
+      process.setTableName(TestUtils.defineTablePerson().getName());
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.addProcess(process),
+         "is not public");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Test that a process with a step that does not have a no-args constructor fails
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   public void test_validateProcessWithNoArgsConstructorStep()
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = StreamedETLWithFrontendProcess.defineProcessMetaData(
+         ExtractViaQueryStep.class,
+         TestNoArgsConstructorClass.class,
+         LoadViaDeleteStep.class,
+         new HashMap<>()
+      );
+      process.setName("testProcess");
+      process.setLabel("Test Process");
+      process.setTableName(TestUtils.defineTablePerson().getName());
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.addProcess(process),
+         "parameterless constructor");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Test that a process with a step that is an abstract class fails
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   public void test_validateProcessWithAbstractStep()
+   {
+      QProcessMetaData process = StreamedETLWithFrontendProcess.defineProcessMetaData(
+         ExtractViaQueryStep.class,
+         TestAbstractClass.class,
+         LoadViaDeleteStep.class,
+         new HashMap<>()
+      );
+      process.setName("testProcess");
+      process.setLabel("Test Process");
+      process.setTableName(TestUtils.defineTablePerson().getName());
+
+      assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.addProcess(process),
+         "because it is abstract");
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Test that a process with no steps fails
     **
@@ -297,10 +376,10 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
          "missing a code type");
 
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").withCustomizer(TableCustomizers.POST_QUERY_RECORD.getRole(), new QCodeReference("Test", QCodeType.JAVA, QCodeUsage.CUSTOMIZER)),
-         "Class for CodeReference could not be found");
+         "Class for Test could not be found");
 
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").withCustomizer(TableCustomizers.POST_QUERY_RECORD.getRole(), new QCodeReference(CustomizerWithNoVoidConstructor.class, QCodeUsage.CUSTOMIZER)),
-         "Instance of CodeReference could not be created");
+         "Instance of " + CustomizerWithNoVoidConstructor.class.getSimpleName() + " could not be created");
 
       assertValidationFailureReasons((qInstance) -> qInstance.getTable("person").withCustomizer(TableCustomizers.POST_QUERY_RECORD.getRole(), new QCodeReference(CustomizerThatIsNotAFunction.class, QCodeUsage.CUSTOMIZER)),
          "CodeReference is not of the expected type");
@@ -1066,4 +1145,64 @@ class QInstanceValidatorTest
          .withFailMessage("Expected any of:\n%s\nTo match: [%s]", e.getReasons(), reason)
          .anyMatch(s -> s.contains(reason));
    }
+
+
+
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   // test classes for validating process steps //
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   public abstract class TestAbstractClass extends AbstractTransformStep implements BackendStep
+   {
+      public void run(RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput, RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput) throws QException
+      {
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   //                                           //
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   private class TestPrivateClass extends AbstractTransformStep implements BackendStep
+   {
+      public void run(RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput, RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput) throws QException
+      {
+      }
+
+
+
+      @Override
+      public ArrayList<ProcessSummaryLineInterface> getProcessSummary(RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput, boolean isForResultScreen)
+      {
+         return null;
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   //                                           //
+   ///////////////////////////////////////////////
+   public class TestNoArgsConstructorClass extends AbstractTransformStep implements BackendStep
+   {
+      public TestNoArgsConstructorClass(int i)
+      {
+
+      }
+
+
+
+      public void run(RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput, RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput) throws QException
+      {
+      }
+
+
+
+      @Override
+      public ArrayList<ProcessSummaryLineInterface> getProcessSummary(RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput, boolean isForResultScreen)
+      {
+         return null;
+      }
+   }
 }
+