> Markdown twin of https://adna.network/reference/specification/14-content-as-code-pipelines/
> Index: https://adna.network/llms.txt · Full corpus: https://adna.network/llms-full.txt
> State is a build-time snapshot generated 2026-08-30 (UTC); nothing here is live.

# 14. Content-as-Code Pipelines — aDNA Specification

> **Scan**: Folder-based workflows where a file's directory location IS its processing state — pipeline structure, stage AGENTS.md, pipeline index.

*Decisions: D14*

## 14.1 Paradigm

Content-as-code is a universal paradigm for folder-based workflows: a file's directory location IS its processing state. Moving a file between stage directories advances it through the workflow.

This paradigm applies wherever content flows through defined stages — research ingestion, document review, approval workflows, deployment pipelines.

```mermaid
stateDiagram-v2
    direction LR
    [*] --> inbox: New content
    inbox --> processing: Agent picks up
    processing --> review: Processing complete
    review --> done: Approved
    review --> processing: Revision needed
    done --> [*]

    note right of inbox: AGENTS.md defines<br/>acceptance criteria
    note right of processing: AGENTS.md defines<br/>processing steps
    note right of review: AGENTS.md defines<br/>review checklist
```

## 14.2 Pipeline Structure

Pipelines live in `how/pipelines/{pipeline_name}/`:

```
how/pipelines/{pipeline_name}/
├── AGENTS.md           # Pipeline overview, stage transitions
├── inbox/              # Stage 1
│   └── AGENTS.md       # Processing instructions for this stage
├── processing/         # Stage 2
│   └── AGENTS.md
├── review/             # Stage 3
│   └── AGENTS.md
└── done/               # Stage 4
    └── AGENTS.md
```

Each stage folder MUST have an AGENTS.md with processing instructions specific to that stage.

Stage names and count are pipeline-specific. The file's location is its state — no separate status tracking is needed.

## 14.3 Pipeline Index

The `how/pipelines/` directory SHOULD have an AGENTS.md documenting all pipelines, their purposes, and their stage flows.

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