# This is why I love having an "On this day" feature - I forgot I had written this after last year's WWDC keynote:
We're probably looking at iOS 12 before the Workflow acquisition starts to bear any native fruit... Apple won't have acquired the app without having a plan for it or its developers, and some form of native automation seems almost inevitable, although most likely in the context of Siri and AI rather than in Workflow's current remit.
A year ago I was worried that once we had some form of native automation, that would likely be limited in comparison to the Workflow app, then Workflow would be removed from the App Store leaving a void. I'm not so worried anymore.
Siri Shortcuts and Workflow look similar and both serve to make regular, repeatable actions easier to perform but they are complementary rather than fighting for the same territory. Shortcuts looks like it will let you string together a number of discrete actions into a sequence whereas Workflow operates on the intra-app level allowing you to connect them to achieve an outcome.
Shortcuts seems to be more a case of do A, do B, do C while Workflow is most powerful when you go from A, through B, to C. It's a different use case and, because of that and even if they iterate and overlap, I think Workflow is safe.
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# Following up on Shortcuts and Workflow it appears that you can set up voice shortcuts for your workflows so the two will be working hand in hand. Interesting.
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# I'm honoured to be included in Frank's current 5 Favourite blogs but I certainly wouldn't call myself "One of the forerunners and bridge builders on the Indieweb." (According to Google Translate)
@colinwalker Glad to hear they are complementary! Will wait until public beta before upgrading, good to know there’s still room and need for Workflow, too.
@vasta I put iOS11 public beta on my iPad but it was too unstable for my primary device (phone) - iOS12 sounds like it’s more stable even in Dev beta 1 so hopefully the public beta should be usable.
@colinwalker just put iOS 12 on my iPad. It’s not my daily driver but the beta seems solid.
I doubt that it's safe even then. Apple could have a plan to get rid of Workflow as soon as iOS 12 GM drops. (just registering my disagreement)
Disagreement noted. That was definitely my original concern but seeing how the native automation has been framed gives me cause for optimism. I hope it’s well founded.
We’ll have to wait and see.