Trigger & Action Patterns: A Fresh Perspective Using Domino Chain Reactions
Think of a trigger & action pattern as a domino chain. You tip the first domino (the trigger), and a sequence of events unfolds (the actions) until the last domino falls. This simple, physical analogy strips away the buzzwords and reveals the core logic behind countless systems—from smart home routines to notification pipelines to workflow automation. This guide is for anyone who has heard terms like "event-driven architecture" or "if-this-then-that" and wants a clear, practical understanding. By the end, you'll know how to design, choose, and implement trigger-action patterns for your own projects, using the domino chain as your mental model. Why Domino Chains Make Trigger-Action Patterns Click When you set up a row of dominoes, each piece is both an action (falling) and a trigger (causing the next to fall).