---
title: "Create an active Automation"
method: POST
path: "/v1/automations"
tags: ["Automations"]
---

# Create an active Automation

`POST /v1/automations`

Den schedules Automations and keeps durable run history. Agent Automations run on the owner's connected desktop; saved Script Automations run in OpenWork Cloud. If no desktop runner is connected when a desktop occurrence is due, that occurrence is recorded as missed. Creation makes an Automation active immediately and uses the owner's current OpenWork Connect integrations. Deactivation stops future runs but does not cancel a run already in progress. There is no draft, review, or permission-grant step.

## Request body

- union
  - object
    - `name` string, required
    - `schedule` union, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'once', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `at` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'daily', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'weekly', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `daysOfWeek` integer[], required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
    - `action` union, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'agent', required
        - `instructions` string, required
        - `model` object, required
          - `providerId` string, required
          - `modelId` string, required
          - `variant` string, nullable
      - object
        - `kind` 'saved_script', required
        - `script` object, required
          - `pluginId` string, required
          - `configObjectId` string, required
          - `configObjectVersionId` string, required
        - `input` unknown
    - `executionTarget` 'desktop' | 'cloud', required
  - object
    - `name` string, required
    - `instructions` string, required
    - `schedule` union, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'once', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `at` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'daily', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'weekly', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `daysOfWeek` integer[], required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
    - `model` object, required
      - `providerId` string, required
      - `modelId` string, required
      - `variant` string, nullable

## Response `201`

Active Automation created.

- object
  - `automation` object, required
    - `id` string, required
    - `organizationId` string, required
    - `ownerMemberId` string, required
    - `name` string, required
    - `state` 'active' | 'inactive' | 'needs_attention' | 'archived', required
    - `currentRevisionId` string, required
    - `nextDueAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `latestRunAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `latestSuccessfulRunId` string, nullable
    - `latestSuccessfulResult` unknown
    - `needsAttentionReason` object, nullable, required
      - `code` 'owner_membership_lost' | 'model_access_lost' | 'provider_unavailable' | 'connect_access_unavailable' | 'execution_runtime_unavailable', required
      - `message` string, required
      - `occurredAt` integer, required
    - `createdAt` integer, required
    - `updatedAt` integer, required
    - `archivedAt` integer, nullable, required
  - `revision` object, required
    - `id` string, required
    - `automationId` string, required
    - `version` integer, required
    - `instructions` string, required
    - `schedule` union, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'once', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `at` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'daily', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
      - object
        - `kind` 'weekly', required
        - `timezone` string, required
        - `daysOfWeek` integer[], required
        - `hour` integer, required
        - `minute` integer, required
    - `model` object, required
      - `providerId` string, required
      - `modelId` string, required
      - `variant` string, nullable
    - `action` union
      - object
        - `kind` 'agent', required
        - `instructions` string, required
        - `model` object, required
          - `providerId` string, required
          - `modelId` string, required
          - `variant` string, nullable
      - object
        - `kind` 'saved_script', required
        - `script` object, required
          - `pluginId` string, required
          - `configObjectId` string, required
          - `configObjectVersionId` string, required
        - `input` unknown
    - `executionTarget` 'desktop' | 'cloud'
    - `maximumRuntimeMs` integer, required
    - `digest` string, required
    - `createdAt` integer, required
  - `latestRun` object, nullable, required
    - `id` string, required
    - `automationId` string, required
    - `revisionId` string, required
    - `trigger` 'scheduled' | 'recovery' | 'manual', required
    - `scheduledFor` integer, nullable, required
    - `idempotencyKey` string, required
    - `status` 'queued' | 'claimed' | 'running' | 'succeeded' | 'failed' | 'cancelled' | 'skipped', required
    - `leaseOwner` string, nullable, required
    - `leaseExpiresAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `heartbeatAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `attemptCount` integer, required
    - `executionTarget` 'desktop' | 'cloud', required
    - `executionThread` object, nullable, required
      - `id` string, required
      - `threadKind` 'automation', required
      - `executionLocation` 'desktop', required
      - `automationId` string, required
      - `automationRunId` string, required
      - `engineKind` string, required
    - `providerId` string, required
    - `modelId` string, required
    - `modelVariant` string, nullable
    - `startedAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `finishedAt` integer, nullable, required
    - `error` object, nullable, required
      - `code` 'owner_membership_lost' | 'model_access_lost' | 'provider_unavailable' | 'connect_access_unavailable' | 'execution_runtime_unavailable' | 'execution_failed' | 'execution_timed_out' | 'runner_unavailable' | 'cancelled' | 'lease_lost' | 'internal_error', required
      - `message` string, required
      - `retryable` boolean, required
    - `resultSummary` string, nullable, required
    - `codemodeReceiptId` string, nullable
    - `validatedResult` unknown
    - `usage` object, required
      - `inputTokens` integer, nullable, required
      - `outputTokens` integer, nullable, required
      - `costMicros` integer, nullable, required
    - `createdAt` integer, required
    - `updatedAt` integer, required

## Other responses

- `400` — Invalid request.
- `401` — Sign-in required.

## Changes

- **2026-08-11** `0d4ebf20cbde` — 4 breaking, 8 warning, 6 info
  - the request's body type/format changed from `object`/`` to ``/``
  - the response property `revision/executionTarget` became optional for the status `201`
  - the `executionTarget` response property const value `desktop` was removed for the status `201`
  - the `executionTarget` response property const value `desktop` was removed for the status `201`
  - …14 more
- **2026-08-05** `073bc652adfb` — 3 info
  - added the new optional request property `model/variant`
  - added the optional property `latestRun/anyOf[subschema #1]/modelVariant` to the response with the `201` status
  - added the optional property `revision/model/variant` to the response with the `201` status

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/openworklabs/apis/den-api/changes/v1/automations/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/openworklabs/apis/den-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/openworklabs/apis/den-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/openworklabs/den-api/revisions/0d4ebf20cbde/schema)