ALL FOR DX or maybe this could harm dx

src/wf_authoring/builder.py

@@ -237,12 +237,25 @@ class WorkflowBuilder:
         self.nodes.append(node)
         return node
 
-    def connect(self, from_: StepRef, outcome: str, to: StepRef) -> None:
+    def connect(
+        self,
+        from_: BranchRef,
+        outcome: str,
+        to: BranchRef,
+    ) -> tuple[StepRef, StepRef]:
+        """Connect one outcome, auto-using NodeSpec endpoints as fresh node uses."""
+        source = self.use(from_) if _is_node_spec(from_) else from_
+        target = self.use(to) if _is_node_spec(to) else to
         self.edges.append(
             Edge.model_validate(
-                {"from": _step_id(from_), "outcome": outcome, "to": _step_id(to)}
+                {
+                    "from": _step_id(cast(StepRef, source)),
+                    "outcome": outcome,
+                    "to": _step_id(cast(StepRef, target)),
+                }
             )
         )
+        return cast(StepRef, source), cast(StepRef, target)
 
     def branch(
         self,

tests/rewrite/test_this_shit_works.py

@@ -160,15 +160,6 @@ class State(
     # context: Context
 
 
-gacha = WorkflowBuilder(
-    name="im not hiding it no more",
-    input_schema=Input,
-    output_schema=Storage,  # could be State, since the OG doesnt care, ill probably dump out the list.
-    state_schema=State,
-    start="init",
-)
-
-
 class Nothing(BaseModel): ...  # variance shit IDC
 
 
@@ -410,25 +401,26 @@ def keep_rolling(state: Countdown) -> NodeReturn[Nothing]:
     return s("tick") if (state.countdown or 0) > 0 else s(END)
 
 
-# could be @graph.(something combining node and use)...
-
-gacha.use(init)
-gacha.use(tick, id="tick") # itd use main
+gacha = WorkflowBuilder(
+    name="im not hiding it no more",
+    input_schema=Input,
+    output_schema=Storage,  # could be State, since the OG doesnt care, ill probably dump out the list.
+    state_schema=State,
+)
+gacha.use(tick, id="tick")  # itd use main if we dont have id
 counter_up = gacha.use(CounterUp.c1, id="counter_up")  # 0 base to 1 base probably
 rate_up = gacha.use(RateChange.r65, id="rate_up")
 rate_same = gacha.use(RateChange.r0, id="rate_same")
 r_10 = gacha.use(RateChange.r10, id="r_g10")
 gacha.use(RateChange.r80, id="r_g80")
 gacha.use(RateChange.r240, id="r_gs")
-prepare_pool = gacha.use(prep)
-gacha.use(roll)
 c_80 = gacha.use(CounterUp.c80, id="c_80")
 gacha.use(CounterUp.c10, id="c_10")
 gacha.condition(  # condition dont ignore id; you can...
     id="keep_rolling", check=expr(state("countdown")) > 0
 )  # replaces keep_rolling
 # Outcome is currently hidden from the docs (there is none), outcome_map is insane, should we have it
-gacha.connect("init", "ok", "keep_rolling")
+init_ref, _ = gacha.connect(init, "ok", "keep_rolling")
 gacha.connect("keep_rolling", "true", "tick")
 gacha.connect("keep_rolling", "false", END)
 
@@ -448,11 +440,11 @@ preroll_routes = gacha.branch(
         "240": "r_gs",
         "80": "r_g80",
         "10": r_10,
-        "1": "prepare_pool",
+        "1": prep,
     },
 )
-print(preroll_routes)
-gacha.connect(prepare_pool, "ok", "roll")
+prepare_pool = preroll_routes["1"]
+_, roll_ref = gacha.connect(prepare_pool, "ok", roll)
 gacha.connect("r_gs", "ok", "prepare_pool")
 gacha.connect(preroll_routes["80"], "ok", prepare_pool)
 gacha.connect("r_g10", "ok", prepare_pool)
@@ -475,6 +467,7 @@ gacha.branch(
 
 gacha.connect(c_80, "ok", "keep_rolling")
 gacha.connect("c_10", "ok", "keep_rolling")
+gacha.set_entry_point(init_ref)
 
 # there is like no general uses for the nodes; idk tho
 
@@ -570,6 +563,7 @@ def execute(graph: WorkflowBuilder, input: Input):
 
 
 def test():
+    assert 240 - 135 + 20 >= 120, "my math!"
     d = execute(
         gacha,
         build_input(context)(

tests/test_authoring_schemas.py

@@ -303,3 +303,22 @@ def test_builder_can_auto_id_condition_foreach_and_interrupt() -> None:
     assert second_condition.id == "condition_2"
     assert foreach.id == "foreach_tag"
     assert interrupt.id == "interrupt_approval"
+
+
+def test_builder_connect_can_use_node_specs_and_returns_resolved_refs() -> None:
+    builder = WorkflowBuilder(
+        name="connect_specs_demo",
+        input_schema=AutoBindInput,
+        state_schema=AutoBindState,
+        output_schema=AutoBindOutput,
+    )
+
+    source, target = builder.connect(auto_bind_node, "ok", auto_bind_node)
+
+    assert not isinstance(source, str)
+    assert not isinstance(target, str)
+    assert source.id == "test_auto_bind"
+    assert target.id == "test_auto_bind_2"
+    assert builder.edges[0].from_ == "test_auto_bind"
+    assert builder.edges[0].outcome == "ok"
+    assert builder.edges[0].to == "test_auto_bind_2"