1. A method for providing integrated workflow visualization and editing, comprising: opening a workflow template in a visual graphic diagramming tool to provide shapes and intelligence used to build a visual representation of a workflow; creating at least one stage container in the visual graphic diagramming tool, the at least one stage container containing at least one action step, and wherein the at least one stage container is encoded in a declarative markup language file formatted for reading in the visual graphic diagramming tool and a web application platform tool, and wherein the declarative markup language is embedded into at least one of: a state decision shape, an action shape, a condition shape, a terminator shape, and a connector; setting parameters in the declarative markup language file and switching between the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool whereby manipulations and parameterization of the workflow can be performed in both the visual graphic diagramming tool and the web application platform tool; exporting the workflow to a web application platform from the visual graphic diagramming tool; validating the workflow for diagram correctness including: ensuring all action shapes and condition shapes are inside a stage except for state decision shapes, terminator shapes, and connectors; ensuring all action steps are inside stages; ensuring stage shapes are not overlapping in the diagram; and modifying the declarative markup language file for the workflow in the web application platform tool and creating an executable workflow.