diff --git a/minillmflow/__init__.py b/minillmflow/__init__.py
index dc1db63..79250b5 100644
--- a/minillmflow/__init__.py
+++ b/minillmflow/__init__.py
@@ -6,95 +6,99 @@ class BaseNode:
     def add_successor(self, node, cond="default"):
         if cond in self.successors: warnings.warn(f"Overwriting existing successor for '{cond}'")
         self.successors[cond] = node; return node
-    def preprocess(self, s): return None
-    def process(self, s, p): return None
-    def _process(self, s, p): return self.process(s, p)
-    def postprocess(self, s, pr, r): return "default"
-    def _run(self, s):
-        pr = self.preprocess(s)
-        r = self._process(s, pr)
-        return self.postprocess(s, pr, r)
-    def run(self, s):
-        if self.successors: warnings.warn("Has successors; use Flow.run() instead.")
-        return self._run(s)
+    def prep(self, shared): return None
+    def exec(self, shared, prep_res): return None
+    def _exec(self, shared, prep_res): return self.exec(shared, prep_res)
+    def post(self, shared, prep_res, exec_res): return "default"
+    def _run(self, shared):
+        prep_res = self.prep(shared)
+        exec_res = self._exec(shared, prep_res)
+        return self.post(shared, prep_res, exec_res)
+    def run(self, shared):
+        if self.successors:
+            warnings.warn("This node has successors. Create a parent Flow to run them or run that Flow instead.")
+        return self._run(shared)
     def __rshift__(self, other): return self.add_successor(other)
     def __sub__(self, cond):
         if isinstance(cond, str): return _ConditionalTransition(self, cond)
         raise TypeError("Condition must be a string")
 
 class _ConditionalTransition:
-    def __init__(self, src, c): self.src, self.c = src, c
-    def __rshift__(self, tgt): return self.src.add_successor(tgt, self.c)
+    def __init__(self, src, cond): self.src, self.cond = src, cond
+    def __rshift__(self, tgt): return self.src.add_successor(tgt, self.cond)
 
 class Node(BaseNode):
     def __init__(self, max_retries=1): super().__init__(); self.max_retries = max_retries
-    def process_after_fail(self, s, d, e): raise e
-    def _process(self, s, d):
+    def process_after_fail(self, shared, prep_res, exc): raise exc
+    def _exec(self, shared, prep_res):
         for i in range(self.max_retries):
-            try: return super()._process(s, d)
+            try: return super()._exec(shared, prep_res)
             except Exception as e:
-                if i == self.max_retries - 1: return self.process_after_fail(s, d, e)
+                if i == self.max_retries - 1: return self.process_after_fail(shared, prep_res, e)
 
 class BatchNode(Node):
-    def preprocess(self, s): return []
-    def process(self, s, item): return None
-    def _process(self, s, items): return [super(Node, self)._process(s, i) for i in items]
+    def prep(self, shared): return []
+    def exec(self, shared, item): return None
+    def _exec(self, shared, items): return [super(Node, self)._exec(shared, i) for i in items]
 
 class BaseFlow(BaseNode):
     def __init__(self, start_node): super().__init__(); self.start_node = start_node
-    def get_next_node(self, curr, c):
-        nxt = curr.successors.get(c)
-        if nxt is None and curr.successors: warnings.warn(f"Flow ends. '{c}' not found in {list(curr.successors.keys())}")
+    def get_next_node(self, curr, cond):
+        nxt = curr.successors.get(cond)
+        if nxt is None and curr.successors:
+            warnings.warn(f"Flow ends. '{cond}' not among {list(curr.successors.keys())}")
         return nxt
 
 class Flow(BaseFlow):
-    def _process(self, s, p=None):
-        curr, p = self.start_node, (p if p is not None else self.params.copy())
+    def _exec(self, shared, params=None):
+        curr = self.start_node
+        p = params if params else self.params.copy()
         while curr:
             curr.set_params(p)
-            c = curr._run(s)
+            c = curr._run(shared)
             curr = self.get_next_node(curr, c)
-    def process(self, s, pr): raise NotImplementedError("Use Flow._process(...) instead")
+    def exec(self, shared, prep_res): raise NotImplementedError("Flow exec not used directly")
 
 class BaseBatchFlow(BaseFlow):
-    def preprocess(self, s): return []
+    def prep(self, shared): return []
 
 class BatchFlow(BaseBatchFlow, Flow):
-    def _run(self, s):
-        pr = self.preprocess(s)
-        for d in pr:
+    def _run(self, shared):
+        prep_res = self.prep(shared)
+        for d in prep_res:
             mp = self.params.copy(); mp.update(d)
-            self._process(s, mp)
-        return self.postprocess(s, pr, None)
+            self._exec(shared, mp)
+        return self.post(shared, prep_res, None)
 
 class AsyncNode(Node):
-    def postprocess(self, s, pr, r): raise NotImplementedError("Use postprocess_async")
-    async def postprocess_async(self, s, pr, r): await asyncio.sleep(0); return "default"
-    async def run_async(self, s):
-        if self.successors: warnings.warn("Has successors; use AsyncFlow.run_async() instead.")
-        return await self._run_async(s)
-    async def _run_async(self, s):
-        pr = self.preprocess(s)
-        r = self._process(s, pr)
-        return await self.postprocess_async(s, pr, r)
-    def _run(self, s): raise RuntimeError("AsyncNode requires async execution")
+    def post(self, shared, prep_res, exec_res): raise NotImplementedError("Use post_async")
+    async def post_async(self, shared, prep_res, exec_res): await asyncio.sleep(0); return "default"
+    async def run_async(self, shared):
+        if self.successors:
+            warnings.warn("This node has successors. Create a parent AsyncFlow to run them or run that Flow instead.")
+        return await self._run_async(shared)
+    async def _run_async(self, shared):
+        prep_res = self.prep(shared)
+        exec_res = self._exec(shared, prep_res)
+        return await self.post_async(shared, prep_res, exec_res)
+    def _run(self, shared): raise RuntimeError("AsyncNode requires async execution")
 
 class AsyncFlow(BaseFlow, AsyncNode):
-    async def _process_async(self, s, p=None):
-        curr, p = self.start_node, (p if p else self.params.copy())
+    async def _exec_async(self, shared, params=None):
+        curr, p = self.start_node, (params if params else self.params.copy())
         while curr:
             curr.set_params(p)
-            c = await curr._run_async(s) if hasattr(curr, "run_async") else curr._run(s)
+            c = await curr._run_async(shared) if hasattr(curr, "run_async") else curr._run(shared)
             curr = self.get_next_node(curr, c)
-    async def _run_async(self, s):
-        pr = self.preprocess(s)
-        await self._process_async(s)
-        return await self.postprocess_async(s, pr, None)
+    async def _run_async(self, shared):
+        prep_res = self.prep(shared)
+        await self._exec_async(shared)
+        return await self.post_async(shared, prep_res, None)
 
 class BatchAsyncFlow(BaseBatchFlow, AsyncFlow):
-    async def _run_async(self, s):
-        pr = self.preprocess(s)
-        for d in pr:
+    async def _run_async(self, shared):
+        prep_res = self.prep(shared)
+        for d in prep_res:
             mp = self.params.copy(); mp.update(d)
-            await self._process_async(s, mp)
-        return await self.postprocess_async(s, pr, None)
\ No newline at end of file
+            await self._exec_async(shared, mp)
+        return await self.post_async(shared, prep_res, None)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_async_batch_flow.py b/tests/test_async_batch_flow.py
index 76ddfcf..e0e911e 100644
--- a/tests/test_async_batch_flow.py
+++ b/tests/test_async_batch_flow.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ sys.path.append(str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 from minillmflow import AsyncNode, BatchAsyncFlow
 
 class AsyncDataProcessNode(AsyncNode):
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         key = self.params.get('key')
         data = shared_storage['input_data'][key]
         if 'results' not in shared_storage:
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ class AsyncDataProcessNode(AsyncNode):
         shared_storage['results'][key] = data
         return data
 
-    async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+    async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         await asyncio.sleep(0.01)  # Simulate async work
         key = self.params.get('key')
         shared_storage['results'][key] = proc_result * 2  # Double the value
         return "processed"
 
 class AsyncErrorNode(AsyncNode):
-    async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+    async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         key = self.params.get('key')
         if key == 'error_key':
             raise ValueError(f"Async error processing key: {key}")
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_basic_async_batch_processing(self):
         """Test basic async batch processing with multiple keys"""
         class SimpleTestAsyncBatchFlow(BatchAsyncFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_empty_async_batch(self):
         """Test async batch processing with empty input"""
         class EmptyTestAsyncBatchFlow(BatchAsyncFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_async_error_handling(self):
         """Test error handling during async batch processing"""
         class ErrorTestAsyncBatchFlow(BatchAsyncFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_nested_async_flow(self):
         """Test async batch processing with nested flows"""
         class AsyncInnerNode(AsyncNode):
-            async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+            async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 if 'intermediate_results' not in shared_storage:
                     shared_storage['intermediate_results'] = {}
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
                 return "next"
 
         class AsyncOuterNode(AsyncNode):
-            async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+            async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 if 'results' not in shared_storage:
                     shared_storage['results'] = {}
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
                 return "done"
 
         class NestedAsyncBatchFlow(BatchAsyncFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         # Create inner flow
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_custom_async_parameters(self):
         """Test async batch processing with additional custom parameters"""
         class CustomParamAsyncNode(AsyncNode):
-            async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+            async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 multiplier = self.params.get('multiplier', 1)
                 await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class TestAsyncBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
                 return "done"
 
         class CustomParamAsyncBatchFlow(BatchAsyncFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{
                     'key': k,
                     'multiplier': i + 1
diff --git a/tests/test_async_flow.py b/tests/test_async_flow.py
index 7811b2e..bda8ec5 100644
--- a/tests/test_async_flow.py
+++ b/tests/test_async_flow.py
@@ -11,19 +11,19 @@ class AsyncNumberNode(AsyncNode):
     """
     Simple async node that sets 'current' to a given number.
     Demonstrates overriding .process() (sync) and using
-    postprocess_async() for the async portion.
+    post_async() for the async portion.
     """
     def __init__(self, number):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         # Synchronous work is allowed inside an AsyncNode,
-        # but final 'condition' is determined by postprocess_async().
+        # but final 'condition' is determined by post_async().
         shared_storage['current'] = self.number
         return "set_number"
 
-    async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+    async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         # Possibly do asynchronous tasks here
         await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
         # Return a condition for the flow
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ class AsyncIncrementNode(AsyncNode):
     """
     Demonstrates incrementing the 'current' value asynchronously.
     """
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         shared_storage['current'] = shared_storage.get('current', 0) + 1
         return "incremented"
 
-    async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+    async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         await asyncio.sleep(0.01)  # simulate async I/O
         return "done"
 
@@ -105,18 +105,18 @@ class TestAsyncFlow(unittest.TestCase):
         """
         Demonstrate a branching scenario where we return different
         conditions. For example, you could have an async node that
-        returns "go_left" or "go_right" in postprocess_async, but here
+        returns "go_left" or "go_right" in post_async, but here
         we'll keep it simpler for demonstration.
         """
 
         class BranchingAsyncNode(AsyncNode):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
                 value = shared_storage.get("value", 0)
                 shared_storage["value"] = value
                 # We'll decide branch based on whether 'value' is positive
                 return None
 
-            async def postprocess_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+            async def post_async(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
                 await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
                 if shared_storage["value"] >= 0:
                     return "positive_branch"
@@ -124,12 +124,12 @@ class TestAsyncFlow(unittest.TestCase):
                     return "negative_branch"
 
         class PositiveNode(Node):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
                 shared_storage["path"] = "positive"
                 return None
 
         class NegativeNode(Node):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
                 shared_storage["path"] = "negative"
                 return None
 
diff --git a/tests/test_batch_flow.py b/tests/test_batch_flow.py
index cacade0..cd2463b 100644
--- a/tests/test_batch_flow.py
+++ b/tests/test_batch_flow.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ sys.path.append(str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 from minillmflow import Node, BatchFlow, Flow
 
 class DataProcessNode(Node):
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         key = self.params.get('key')
         data = shared_storage['input_data'][key]
         if 'results' not in shared_storage:
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class DataProcessNode(Node):
         shared_storage['results'][key] = data * 2
 
 class ErrorProcessNode(Node):
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         key = self.params.get('key')
         if key == 'error_key':
             raise ValueError(f"Error processing key: {key}")
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_basic_batch_processing(self):
         """Test basic batch processing with multiple keys"""
         class SimpleTestBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_empty_input(self):
         """Test batch processing with empty input dictionary"""
         class EmptyTestBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_single_item(self):
         """Test batch processing with single item"""
         class SingleItemBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_error_handling(self):
         """Test error handling during batch processing"""
         class ErrorTestBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         shared_storage = {
@@ -107,21 +107,21 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_nested_flow(self):
         """Test batch processing with nested flows"""
         class InnerNode(Node):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 if 'intermediate_results' not in shared_storage:
                     shared_storage['intermediate_results'] = {}
                 shared_storage['intermediate_results'][key] = shared_storage['input_data'][key] + 1
 
         class OuterNode(Node):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 if 'results' not in shared_storage:
                     shared_storage['results'] = {}
                 shared_storage['results'][key] = shared_storage['intermediate_results'][key] * 2
 
         class NestedBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{'key': k} for k in shared_storage['input_data'].keys()]
 
         # Create inner flow
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_custom_parameters(self):
         """Test batch processing with additional custom parameters"""
         class CustomParamNode(Node):
-            def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+            def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
                 key = self.params.get('key')
                 multiplier = self.params.get('multiplier', 1)
                 if 'results' not in shared_storage:
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class TestBatchFlow(unittest.TestCase):
                 shared_storage['results'][key] = shared_storage['input_data'][key] * multiplier
 
         class CustomParamBatchFlow(BatchFlow):
-            def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+            def prep(self, shared_storage):
                 return [{
                     'key': k,
                     'multiplier': i + 1
diff --git a/tests/test_batch_node.py b/tests/test_batch_node.py
index 1c861cd..8f3a145 100644
--- a/tests/test_batch_node.py
+++ b/tests/test_batch_node.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class ArrayChunkNode(BatchNode):
         super().__init__()
         self.chunk_size = chunk_size
     
-    def preprocess(self, shared_storage):
+    def prep(self, shared_storage):
         # Get array from shared storage and split into chunks
         array = shared_storage.get('input_array', [])
         chunks = []
@@ -19,20 +19,20 @@ class ArrayChunkNode(BatchNode):
             chunks.append((i, end))
         return chunks
     
-    def process(self, shared_storage, chunk_indices):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, chunk_indices):
         start, end = chunk_indices
         array = shared_storage['input_array']
         # Process the chunk and return its sum
         chunk_sum = sum(array[start:end])
         return chunk_sum
         
-    def postprocess(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+    def post(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         # Store chunk results in shared storage
         shared_storage['chunk_results'] = proc_result
         return "default"
 
 class SumReduceNode(Node):
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         # Get chunk results from shared storage and sum them
         chunk_results = shared_storage.get('chunk_results', [])
         total = sum(chunk_results)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class TestBatchNode(unittest.TestCase):
         }
         
         chunk_node = ArrayChunkNode(chunk_size=10)
-        chunks = chunk_node.preprocess(shared_storage)
+        chunks = chunk_node.prep(shared_storage)
         
         self.assertEqual(chunks, [(0, 10), (10, 20), (20, 25)])
         
diff --git a/tests/test_flow_basic.py b/tests/test_flow_basic.py
index f852613..3f59744 100644
--- a/tests/test_flow_basic.py
+++ b/tests/test_flow_basic.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class NumberNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         shared_storage['current'] = self.number
 
 class AddNode(Node):
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class AddNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         shared_storage['current'] += self.number
 
 class MultiplyNode(Node):
@@ -26,18 +26,18 @@ class MultiplyNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         shared_storage['current'] *= self.number
 
 class CheckPositiveNode(Node):
-   def postprocess(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
+   def post(self, shared_storage, prep_result, proc_result):
         if shared_storage['current'] >= 0:
             return 'positive'
         else:
             return 'negative'
 
 class NoOpNode(Node):
-    def process(self, shared_storage, data):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, data):
         # Do nothing, just pass
         pass
     
diff --git a/tests/test_flow_composition.py b/tests/test_flow_composition.py
index 0555723..bac8fa0 100644
--- a/tests/test_flow_composition.py
+++ b/tests/test_flow_composition.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class NumberNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         shared_storage['current'] = self.number
 
 class AddNode(Node):
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class AddNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         shared_storage['current'] += self.number
 
 class MultiplyNode(Node):
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class MultiplyNode(Node):
         super().__init__()
         self.number = number
 
-    def process(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
+    def exec(self, shared_storage, prep_result):
         shared_storage['current'] *= self.number
 
 class TestFlowComposition(unittest.TestCase):