Step Functions Alternative - Python

Step Functions gives you workflow orchestration on AWS. But you pay with JSON state machine definitions, AWS lock-in, and Lambda coupling. Need to add a human approval step? Build a custom callback pattern. Need agents from different services? Build cross-account IAM. AXME replaces the JSON state machine with a simple Python API and works anywhere.

Alpha - Built with AXME (AXP Intent Protocol). cloud.axme.ai - hello@axme.ai

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The Problem

You need to orchestrate a multi-step workflow. Your options:

AWS Step Functions (JSON state machine + Lambda functions)

{
  "Comment": "Order fulfillment workflow",
  "StartAt": "ValidatePayment",
  "States": {
    "ValidatePayment": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456:function:validate-payment",
      "Next": "ReserveInventory",
      "Retry": [{"ErrorEquals": ["States.ALL"], "MaxAttempts": 3}]
    },
    "ReserveInventory": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456:function:reserve-inventory",
      "Next": "ScheduleShipping"
    },
    "ScheduleShipping": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456:function:schedule-shipping",
      "Next": "SendConfirmation"
    },
    "SendConfirmation": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456:function:send-confirmation",
      "End": true
    }
  }
}

Plus: 4 Lambda functions, IAM roles, CloudFormation/SAM/CDK templates, AWS account, CloudWatch for monitoring. Want human approval? Add a callback pattern with SQS + API Gateway + DynamoDB.

AXME (4 lines, managed service)

intent_id = client.send_intent({
    "intent_type": "intent.workflow.process.v1",
    "to_agent": "agent://myorg/production/workflow-processor",
    "payload": {"workflow_type": "order_fulfillment", "order_id": "ORD-2026-99821"},
})
result = client.wait_for(intent_id)

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Quick Start

Python

pip install axme
export AXME_API_KEY="your-key"   # Get one: axme login

from axme import AxmeClient, AxmeClientConfig
import os

client = AxmeClient(AxmeClientConfig(api_key=os.environ["AXME_API_KEY"]))

intent_id = client.send_intent({
    "intent_type": "intent.workflow.process.v1",
    "to_agent": "agent://myorg/production/workflow-processor",
    "payload": {
        "workflow_id": "WF-2026-0073",
        "workflow_type": "order_fulfillment",
        "steps": ["validate_payment", "reserve_inventory", "schedule_shipping", "send_confirmation"],
        "order_id": "ORD-2026-99821",
    },
})

print(f"Submitted: {intent_id}")
result = client.wait_for(intent_id)
print(f"Done: {result['status']}")

TypeScript

npm install @axme/axme

import { AxmeClient } from "@axme/axme";

const client = new AxmeClient({ apiKey: process.env.AXME_API_KEY! });

const intentId = await client.sendIntent({
  intentType: "intent.workflow.process.v1",
  toAgent: "agent://myorg/production/workflow-processor",
  payload: {
    workflowId: "WF-2026-0073",
    workflowType: "order_fulfillment",
    steps: ["validate_payment", "reserve_inventory", "schedule_shipping", "send_confirmation"],
    orderId: "ORD-2026-99821",
  },
});

console.log(`Submitted: ${intentId}`);
const result = await client.waitFor(intentId);
console.log(`Done: ${result.status}`);

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More Languages

Language	Directory	Install
Python	python/	pip install axme
TypeScript	typescript/	npm install @axme/axme
Go	go/	go get github.com/AxmeAI/axme-sdk-go

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Step Functions vs AXME

	AWS Step Functions	AXME
Workflow definition	JSON state machine (Amazon States Language)	Simple Python/TS/Go API
Vendor lock-in	AWS only (Lambda, IAM, CloudFormation)	Cloud-agnostic, managed service
Human approval	Build it yourself (callback + SQS + API Gateway)	Built-in (8 task types)
Multi-agent	Cross-account IAM complexity	First-class (agents, services, humans)
Infrastructure	Lambda + IAM + CloudWatch + CloudFormation	SDK + API key
Setup time	Hours (IAM, Lambda deploy, state machine)	Minutes (SDK + API key)
Delivery modes	Push only (Lambda invoke)	5 modes (SSE, poll, push, inbox, internal)
Observability	CloudWatch + X-Ray	Real-time SSE lifecycle stream
Best for	AWS-native microservice orchestration	Agent-era workflows: services + agents + humans

Step Functions is tightly integrated with AWS. AXME is better when you want a simple API without cloud lock-in, or when your workflows involve human approvals and multi-agent coordination.

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How It Works

+-----------+  send_intent()   +----------------+   deliver    +-----------+
|           | ---------------> |                | -----------> |           |
|  Client   |                  |   AXME Cloud   |              | Workflow  |
|           | <- wait_for() -- |   (platform)   | <- resume()  | Processor |
|           |                  |                |  with result |  (agent)  |
+-----------+                  |   retries,     |              |           |
                               |   timeouts,    |              | 4 steps:  |
                               |   delivery     |              | pay/inv/  |
                               +----------------+              | ship/conf |
                                                               +-----------+

1. Client submits a workflow intent with steps and order details
2. Platform delivers it to the workflow processor agent
3. Agent executes each step (validate, reserve, ship, confirm) and resumes with result
4. Client observes lifecycle events in real time (SSE stream)
5. Platform handles retries, timeouts, and delivery guarantees

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Run the Full Example

Prerequisites

# Install CLI (one-time)
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AxmeAI/axme-cli/main/install.sh | sh
# Open a new terminal, or run the "source" command shown by the installer

# Log in
axme login

# Install Python SDK
pip install axme

Terminal 1 - submit the scenario

axme scenarios apply scenario.json
# Note the intent_id in the output

Terminal 2 - start the agent

Get the agent key after scenario apply:

# macOS
cat ~/Library/Application\ Support/axme/scenario-agents.json | grep -A2 stepfn-alt-processor-demo

# Linux
cat ~/.config/axme/scenario-agents.json | grep -A2 stepfn-alt-processor-demo

Run in your language of choice:

# Python
AXME_API_KEY=<agent-key> python agent.py

# TypeScript (requires Node 20+)
cd typescript && npm install
AXME_API_KEY=<agent-key> npx tsx agent.ts

# Go
cd go && go run ./cmd/agent/

Verify

axme intents get <intent_id>
# lifecycle_status: COMPLETED

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Related

• AXME - project overview
• AXP Spec - open Intent Protocol specification
• AXME Examples - 20+ runnable examples across 5 languages
• AXME CLI - manage intents, agents, scenarios from the terminal

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Built with AXME (AXP Intent Protocol).