aws/aws-cdk

cdk.aws_stepfunctions.StateMachine: timeout does not apply to .asl.json definition

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#37150 opened on Mar 3, 2026

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Description

Describe the issue

It seems that the timeout argument to new cdk.aws_stepfunctions.StateMachine is only applied when the definitionBody is a ChainDefinitionBody. The only reference I can find is here: https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/blob/ebfaf89e6a9018d19eb29dcb42f2a1ec93e81d57/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts#L486

This behavior is unclear from the documentation: https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/blob/ebfaf89e6a9018d19eb29dcb42f2a1ec93e81d57/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts#L127

For users that provide a .asl.json definitionBody, this can cause unexpected behavior.

Links

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/api/v2/docs/aws-cdk-lib.aws_stepfunctions.StateMachine.html#timeout

Contributor guide

Tech stack
typescriptaws
Domain
infrastructurecloud
Issue type
bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
AWS CDK basicsStateMachine constructTypeScript
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
60
Research direction
Examine the StateMachine constructor in packages/aws cdk lib/aws stepfunctions/lib/state machine.ts, specifically around line 486 where timeout is applied only for ChainDefinitionBody. Investigate the behavior for .asl.json definitionBody and check if timeout is missing. Look at existing tests for timeout to ensure compatibility. The fix likely involves extending timeout application to all definition body types.