Workiva Scripting lets builders create custom Python logic that runs securely on the Workiva platform. Because that code is owned and maintained by you, success depends on having builders with the right skills before you start. This article outlines the Python knowledge, certifications, Workiva-specific training, and engineering practices that set builders up to deliver robust, reliable, and scalable Scripting implementations.
Whoever builds your implementation — your own technical team, a qualified partner, or Workiva's Data Management Practice — should meet the expectations below.
Python skills
Building Scripting implementations requires solid Python proficiency. The skills below are grouped by level.
Beginner (required)
- Understand Python's logic and structure
- Introduce literals and variables into code
- Choose operators and data types adequate to the problem
- Perform input/output console operations
- Understand control flow — conditional blocks and loops
- Understand data collections — tuples, dictionaries, lists, and strings
- Understand functions and exceptions
Intermediate (required)
- Understand modules and packages
- Understand strings
- Understand the object-oriented approach — properties, methods, and inheritance
- Understand list comprehensions, lambdas, closures, and I/O operations
Advanced (recommended)
- Advanced object-oriented programming
- Coding conventions, best practices, and standardization
- Understand and explain the basic concepts of network programming (APIs, REST, etc.)
Recommended Python certifications
You can validate Python proficiency with any of the following.
Intermediate
- PCAP (Python Institute)
- Python Essentials – Part 2 (OpenEDG / Python Institute)
- Python Essentials 2 (Cisco / Python Institute)
- Python 3 Programming Specialization (Coursera)
- CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python (Harvard)
- Python II: Prep for Associate in Python Programming Certification (Stanford)
Advanced
Workiva-specific knowledge
Python skills alone aren't enough — builders also need to understand Workiva Scripting itself, the platform their scripts run on, and the APIs they'll use to interact with Workiva data. We recommend builders complete:
- Customize Workiva with Scripting — how to build, run, and manage scripts and use Workiva's public APIs.
- Workiva Platform certification — the platform context, objects, permissions, and governance model that scripts operate within.
Building robust, reliable, and scalable scripts
Beyond writing working code, successful builders design implementations that hold up in production. Regardless of who builds the script, focus on these engineering practices from the start:
- Authentication — handle credentials and access securely.
- Modularity — structure code so it's reusable, readable, and easier to maintain.
- Logging — make script behavior observable and easier to troubleshoot.
- Error handling — anticipate failures and handle them gracefully.
Addressing these up front is far easier than retrofitting them after an implementation is live. For detailed guidance, see Workiva Scripting: Development Process Best Practices.
Ownership and maintenance
The builder is responsible for writing and testing the custom code. Once it's handed off, ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting is typically your responsibility, unless a standing maintenance agreement or follow-on SOW says otherwise — so make sure the team that owns the implementation has, or has access to, the skills above.
To protect against business-continuity risk, we recommend staffing at least two people in-house with this expertise. Relying on a single builder is risky — if that person becomes unavailable, no one is left to maintain or troubleshoot the implementation. Having at least two skilled people helps keep your implementation supportable over time.