CE-1727 - Add standardColor and isAlert

Tag release

pom.xml

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
    </modules>
 
    <properties>
-      <revision>0.22.1</revision>
+      <revision>0.23.0-SNAPSHOT</revision>
 
       <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
       <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>

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);
 
-         Class<?> codeClass  = Class.forName(code.getName());
-         Object   codeObject = codeClass.getConstructor().newInstance();
+         Object codeObject;
+         if(code instanceof QCodeReferenceLambda<?> qCodeReferenceLambda)
+         {
+            codeObject = qCodeReferenceLambda.getLambda();
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            Class<?> codeClass = Class.forName(code.getName());
+            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;
@@ -133,90 +135,11 @@ 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()));
          }
 
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -258,6 +181,270 @@ 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);
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -335,12 +522,12 @@ public class RunProcessAction
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////
          runProcessInput.seedFromProcessState(optionalProcessState.get());
 
-         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         // if we're restoring an old state, we can discard a previously stored updatedFrontendStepList - //
-         // 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);
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // 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().setProcessMetaDataAdjustment(null);
 
          ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // if there were values from the caller, put those (back) in the request //
@@ -355,16 +542,40 @@ 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/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;
@@ -410,10 +411,27 @@ public class QInstanceEnricher
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
    private void enrichStep(QStepMetaData step)
+   {
+      enrichStep(step, false);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void enrichStep(QStepMetaData step, boolean isSubStep)
    {
       if(!StringUtils.hasContent(step.getLabel()))
       {
-         step.setLabel(nameToLabel(step.getName()));
+         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);
@@ -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

@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ 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;
@@ -928,13 +929,8 @@ 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 +1035,31 @@ 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 +1567,16 @@ 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))
@@ -1948,78 +1979,88 @@ 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 //
+         // do additional type-specific validations as well                                            //
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         switch(possibleValueSource.getType())
+         {
+            case ENUM ->
             {
-               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               // assert about fields that should and should not be set, based on possible value source type //
-               // do additional type-specific validations as well                                            //
-               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-               switch(possibleValueSource.getType())
+               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 " + name + " is missing enum values");
+            }
+            case TABLE ->
+            {
+               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 " + name + " is missing a tableName."))
                {
-                  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(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getEnumValues()), "enum-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " 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.");
-
-                     QTableMetaData tableMetaData = null;
-                     if(assertCondition(StringUtils.hasContent(possibleValueSource.getTableName()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a tableName."))
-                     {
-                        tableMetaData = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
-                        assertCondition(tableMetaData != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + pvsName + ".");
-                     }
-
-                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getSearchFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " 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);
-                           }
-                        }
-                     }
-
-                     if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing orderByFields."))
-                     {
-                        if(tableMetaData != null)
-                        {
-                           QTableMetaData finalTableMetaData = tableMetaData;
-
-                           for(QFilterOrderBy orderByField : possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields())
-                           {
-                              assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(orderByField.getFieldName()), "possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " 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.");
-
-                     if(assertCondition(possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference() != null, "custom-type possibleValueSource " + pvsName + " is missing a customCodeReference."))
-                     {
-                        validateSimpleCodeReference("PossibleValueSource " + pvsName + " custom code reference: ", possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference(), QCustomPossibleValueProvider.class);
-                     }
-                  }
-                  default -> errors.add("Unexpected possibleValueSource type: " + possibleValueSource.getType());
+                  tableMetaData = qInstance.getTable(possibleValueSource.getTableName());
+                  assertCondition(tableMetaData != null, "Unrecognized table " + possibleValueSource.getTableName() + " for possibleValueSource " + name + ".");
                }
 
-               runPlugins(QPossibleValueSource.class, possibleValueSource, qInstance);
+               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 " + name + " has an unrecognized searchField: " + searchField);
+                     }
+                  }
+               }
+
+               if(assertCondition(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields()), "table-type possibleValueSource " + name + " is missing orderByFields."))
+               {
+                  if(tableMetaData != null)
+                  {
+                     QTableMetaData finalTableMetaData = tableMetaData;
+
+                     for(QFilterOrderBy orderByField : possibleValueSource.getOrderByFields())
+                     {
+                        assertNoException(() -> finalTableMetaData.getField(orderByField.getFieldName()), "possibleValueSource " + name + " has an unrecognized orderByField: " + orderByField.getFieldName());
+                     }
+                  }
+               }
             }
-         });
+            case CUSTOM ->
+            {
+               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 " + name + " is missing a customCodeReference."))
+               {
+                  validateSimpleCodeReference("PossibleValueSource " + name + " custom code reference: ", possibleValueSource.getCustomCodeReference(), QCustomPossibleValueProvider.class);
+               }
+            }
+            default -> errors.add("Unexpected possibleValueSource type: " + possibleValueSource.getType());
+         }
+
+         runPlugins(QPossibleValueSource.class, possibleValueSource, qInstance);
       }
    }
 

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/audits/AuditsMetaDataProvider.java

@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ public class AuditsMetaDataProvider
          .withRecordLabelFields("label")
          .withPrimaryKeyField("id")
          .withUniqueKey(new UniqueKey("name"))
-         .withField(new QFieldMetaData("id", QFieldType.LONG))
+         .withField(new QFieldMetaData("id", QFieldType.INTEGER))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("name", QFieldType.STRING))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("label", QFieldType.STRING))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("createDate", QFieldType.DATE_TIME))
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ public class AuditsMetaDataProvider
          .withRecordLabelFields("name")
          .withPrimaryKeyField("id")
          .withUniqueKey(new UniqueKey("name"))
-         .withField(new QFieldMetaData("id", QFieldType.LONG))
+         .withField(new QFieldMetaData("id", QFieldType.INTEGER))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("name", QFieldType.STRING))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("createDate", QFieldType.DATE_TIME))
          .withField(new QFieldMetaData("modifyDate", QFieldType.DATE_TIME))

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

@@ -52,12 +52,13 @@ 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 //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       FLEX_COLUMN,
       FLEX_ROW_WRAPPED,
       FLEX_ROW_SPACE_BETWEEN,
+      FLEX_ROW_CENTER,
       TABLE_SUB_ROW_DETAILS,
       BADGES_WRAPPER
    }

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

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
  ** Base class for the data returned by rendering a Widget.
  **
  *******************************************************************************/
-public abstract class QWidgetData
+public abstract class QWidgetData implements Serializable
 {
    private String       label;
    private String       sublabel;

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/actionbutton/ActionButtonBlockData.java

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * 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.actionbutton;
+
+
+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;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** 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')
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ActionButtonBlockData extends AbstractBlockWidgetData<ActionButtonBlockData, ActionButtonValues, BaseSlots, BaseStyles>
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public String getBlockTypeName()
+   {
+      return "ACTION_BUTTON";
+   }
+
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/*
+ * 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.actionbutton;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockValuesInterface;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ActionButtonValues implements BlockValuesInterface
+{
+   private String label;
+   private String actionCode;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ActionButtonValues()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ActionButtonValues(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 ActionButtonValues 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 ActionButtonValues withActionCode(String actionCode)
+   {
+      this.actionCode = actionCode;
+      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/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 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * 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.image;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockStylesInterface;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ **
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class ImageStyles implements BlockStylesInterface
+{
+   private String  width;
+   private String  height;
+   private boolean bordered = false;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for bordered
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public boolean getBordered()
+   {
+      return (this.bordered);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for bordered
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setBordered(boolean bordered)
+   {
+      this.bordered = bordered;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for bordered
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ImageStyles withBordered(boolean bordered)
+   {
+      this.bordered = bordered;
+      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 +1,152 @@
+/*
+ * 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;
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** 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);
+   }
+
+}

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

@@ -30,4 +30,104 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.dashboard.widgets.blocks.BlockStyles
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class TextStyles implements BlockStylesInterface
 {
+   private StandardColor standardColor;
+
+   private boolean isAlert;
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public enum StandardColor
+   {
+      SUCCESS,
+      WARNING,
+      ERROR,
+      INFO,
+      MUTED
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles()
+   {
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles(StandardColor standardColor)
+   {
+      setStandardColor(standardColor);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for standardColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public StandardColor getStandardColor()
+   {
+      return (this.standardColor);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for standardColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setStandardColor(StandardColor standardColor)
+   {
+      this.standardColor = standardColor;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for standardColor
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withStandardColor(StandardColor standardColor)
+   {
+      this.standardColor = standardColor;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for isAlert
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public boolean getIsAlert()
+   {
+      return (this.isAlert);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for isAlert
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setIsAlert(boolean isAlert)
+   {
+      this.isAlert = isAlert;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for isAlert
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public TextStyles withIsAlert(boolean isAlert)
+   {
+      this.isAlert = isAlert;
+      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;
@@ -73,10 +74,12 @@ public class QFieldMetaData implements Cloneable
    // propose doing that in a secondary field, e.g., "onlyEditableOn=insert|update" //
    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-   private String displayFormat = "%s";
+   private String       displayFormat = "%s";
    private Serializable defaultValue;
-   private String       possibleValueSourceName;
-   private QQueryFilter possibleValueSourceFilter;
+
+   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/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

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ 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.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;
 
 
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
    private String iconName;
 
    private List<QFrontendStepMetaData> frontendSteps;
+   private String                      stepFlow;
 
    private boolean hasPermission;
 
@@ -68,15 +70,27 @@ 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()
-               .filter(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::isInstance)
-               .map(QFrontendStepMetaData.class::cast)
-               .collect(Collectors.toList());
+            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
          {
@@ -180,4 +194,14 @@ public class QFrontendProcessMetaData
       return hasPermission;
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for stepFlow
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public String getStepFlow()
+   {
+      return stepFlow;
+   }
 }

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/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/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/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/instances/QInstanceValidatorTest.java

@@ -265,6 +265,38 @@ 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 +749,8 @@ 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-middleware-javalin/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/javalin/QJavalinProcessHandler.java

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.UUID;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonInclude;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.async.AsyncJobManager;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.async.AsyncJobState;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.async.AsyncJobStatus;
@@ -432,7 +433,18 @@ public class QJavalinProcessHandler
          QJavalinAccessLogger.logEndSuccess();
       }
 
-      context.result(JsonUtils.toJson(resultForCaller));
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // Note:  originally we did not have this serializationInclusion:ALWAYS here -   //
+      // which meant that null and empty values from backend would not go to frontend, //
+      // which made things like clearing out a value in a field not happen.            //
+      // So, this is added to get that beneficial effect.  Unclear if there are any    //
+      // negative side-effects - but be aware.                                         //
+      // One could imagine that we'd need this to be configurable in the future?       //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      context.result(JsonUtils.toJson(resultForCaller, mapper ->
+      {
+         mapper.setSerializationInclusion(JsonInclude.Include.ALWAYS);
+      }));
    }
 
 
@@ -453,11 +465,19 @@ public class QJavalinProcessHandler
       resultForCaller.put("values", runProcessOutput.getValues());
       runProcessOutput.getProcessState().getNextStepName().ifPresent(nextStep -> resultForCaller.put("nextStep", nextStep));
 
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // todo - delete after all frontends look for processMetaDataAdjustment instead of updatedFrontendStepList //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       List<QFrontendStepMetaData> updatedFrontendStepList = runProcessOutput.getUpdatedFrontendStepList();
       if(updatedFrontendStepList != null)
       {
          resultForCaller.put("updatedFrontendStepList", updatedFrontendStepList);
       }
+
+      if(runProcessOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment() != null)
+      {
+         resultForCaller.put("processMetaDataAdjustment", runProcessOutput.getProcessMetaDataAdjustment());
+      }
    }