Getting Started with Astron RPA: Deploy and Build Your First Automation Workflow

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A server running Docker (any Linux distribution with Docker Engine 20+)
• At least 8 GB RAM and 4 CPU cores recommended
• A Windows 10/11 machine for the desktop client (optional but recommended)
• git installed on your server

Step 1: Deploy Astron RPA Server with Docker

The fastest way to get started is using Docker Compose. Clone the repository and follow these steps:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/iflytek/astron-rpa.git
cd astron-rpa/docker

# Copy the environment template
cp .env.example .env

# Configure your external endpoint (IMPORTANT)
# Edit .env and set:
# CASDOOR_EXTERNAL_ENDPOINT="http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8000"

# Start all services
docker compose up -d

This will start MySQL, the Atlas migration tool, and the Astron RPA server. You can check the status with:

docker compose ps

Step 2: Verify the Deployment

Once all services are running, test the deployment:

# Check the API health endpoint
curl http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:32742/api/rpa-auth/user/login-check

If you see {"code":"900001","data":null,"message":"unauthorized"}, the deployment is working correctly! Now open http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8000 in your browser — you should see the Casdoor login page.

Step 3: Install the Windows Client

For creating and running automation workflows, install the Astron RPA desktop client on a Windows machine:

• Binary installer: Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page
• Source build: Follow the BUILD_GUIDE.md in the repository

Step 4: Build Your First Automation Workflow

1. Log in to the Astron RPA client using the Casdoor credentials you set up
2. Create a new workflow using the visual designer — drag components from the palette onto the canvas
3. Configure triggers: Choose from direct execution, scheduled tasks, or API calls
4. Test and debug: Use the built-in debugger to step through your workflow
5. Deploy: Set the workflow to run on the server with your chosen trigger

Step 5: Connect AI Agents (Optional)

If you want AI-driven automation, set up Astron Agent alongside your RPA deployment. The two platforms communicate natively, allowing your AI agent to call RPA workflows and vice versa.

Troubleshooting