‍Goto Considered Harmful (2026 version)

The text delves into the ongoing debate between using event-driven programming models and workflow architectures, particularly in the context of agentic AI applications that require coordination and error recovery due to their stateful and failure-prone nature. By presenting a hypothetical B2B e-commerce site as a case study, it contrasts the two paradigms: a workflow architecture orchestrates process steps sequentially, while an event-driven model uses independent event handlers interconnected by a message bus. The document employs a classification system to evaluate applications based on step dependency and the need for durability or atomicity, emphasizing that workflow architectures offer greater advantages in terms of understandability, error handling, and debugging. Inspired by Dijkstra’s critique of GOTO statements, the text argues that while event-driven architectures may suffice for independent, non-durable applications, workflow architectures are preferable for most multi-step applications, especially those requiring durability and atomicity, a view echoed by recent trends in AI framework design.

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