From 13c8ab42375528b2578597276dc474d6b63e027b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: liamhuber <liamhuber@greyhavensolutions.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2023 11:59:37 -0700
Subject: [PATCH 1/3] Extract processing output

So it can be registered as a callback
---
 pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py | 12 ++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+)

diff --git a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
index e0d5cb99d..bd6b25265 100644
--- a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
+++ b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
@@ -485,6 +485,18 @@ def run(self) -> None:
             self.failed = True
             raise e
 
+        self.process_output(function_output)
+
+    def process_output(self, function_output):
+        """
+        Take the results of the node function, and use them to update the node.
+
+        By extracting this as a separate method, we allow the node to pass the actual
+        execution off to another entity and release the python process to do other
+        things. In such a case, this function should be registered as a callback
+        so that the node can finishing "running" and push its data forward when that
+        execution is finished.
+        """
         if len(self.outputs) == 1:
             function_output = (function_output,)
 

From 22d6c9f3c19abc2f94933fe0a21f961fb7dd6e35 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: liamhuber <liamhuber@greyhavensolutions.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2023 12:02:19 -0700
Subject: [PATCH 2/3] Pre-emptively add a server attribute

We can settle on a name and exact behaviour later
---
 pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)

diff --git a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
index bd6b25265..a494c91d0 100644
--- a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
+++ b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.running = False
         self.failed = False
+        self.server = None  # Or "task_manager" or "executor" -- we'll see what's best
         self.node_function = node_function
         self.label = label if label is not None else node_function.__name__
 

From 2543756af6f335460c11f8a71ce74e9cf4e9b386 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: liamhuber <liamhuber@greyhavensolutions.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2023 12:04:53 -0700
Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Wrap execution in a server check

---
 pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py | 22 ++++++++++++++--------
 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
index a494c91d0..e0fb93c54 100644
--- a/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
+++ b/pyiron_contrib/workflow/node.py
@@ -479,14 +479,20 @@ def run(self) -> None:
         self.running = True
         self.failed = False
 
-        try:
-            function_output = self.node_function(**self.inputs.to_value_dict())
-        except Exception as e:
-            self.running = False
-            self.failed = True
-            raise e
-
-        self.process_output(function_output)
+        if self.server is None:
+            try:
+                function_output = self.node_function(**self.inputs.to_value_dict())
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.running = False
+                self.failed = True
+                raise e
+            self.process_output(function_output)
+        else:
+            raise NotImplementedError(
+                "We currently only support executing the node functionality right on "
+                "the main python process that the node instance lives on. Come back "
+                "later for cool new features."
+            )
 
     def process_output(self, function_output):
         """