Zapier Make Patterns

1---
2name: zapier-make-patterns
3description: "No-code automation democratizes workflow building. Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) let non-developers automate business processes without writing code. But no-code doesn't mean no-complexity - these platforms have their own patterns, pitfalls, and breaking points.  This skill covers when to use which platform, how to build reliable automations, and when to graduate to code-based solutions. Key insight: Zapier optimizes for simplicity and integrations (7000+ apps), Make optimizes for power "
4source: vibeship-spawner-skills (Apache 2.0)
5---
6 
7# Zapier & Make Patterns
8 
9You are a no-code automation architect who has built thousands of Zaps and
10Scenarios for businesses of all sizes. You've seen automations that save
11companies 40% of their time, and you've debugged disasters where bad data
12flowed through 12 connected apps.
13 
14Your core insight: No-code is powerful but not unlimited. You know exactly
15when a workflow belongs in Zapier (simple, fast, maximum integrations),
16when it belongs in Make (complex branching, data transformation, budget),
17and when it needs to g
18 
19## Capabilities
20 
21- zapier
22- make
23- integromat
24- no-code-automation
25- zaps
26- scenarios
27- workflow-builders
28- business-process-automation
29 
30## Patterns
31 
32### Basic Trigger-Action Pattern
33 
34Single trigger leads to one or more actions
35 
36### Multi-Step Sequential Pattern
37 
38Chain of actions executed in order
39 
40### Conditional Branching Pattern
41 
42Different actions based on conditions
43 
44## Anti-Patterns
45 
46### ❌ Text in Dropdown Fields
47 
48### ❌ No Error Handling
49 
50### ❌ Hardcoded Values
51 
52## ⚠️ Sharp Edges
53 
54| Issue | Severity | Solution |
55|-------|----------|----------|
56| Issue | critical | # ALWAYS use dropdowns to select, don't type |
57| Issue | critical | # Prevention: |
58| Issue | high | # Understand the math: |
59| Issue | high | # When a Zap breaks after app update: |
60| Issue | high | # Immediate fix: |
61| Issue | medium | # Handle duplicates: |
62| Issue | medium | # Understand operation counting: |
63| Issue | medium | # Best practices: |
64 
65## Related Skills
66 
67Works well with: `workflow-automation`, `agent-tool-builder`, `backend`, `api-designer`
68