diff --git a/src/cdf/core/component/__init__.py b/src/cdf/core/component/__init__.py
index 9c9140c..308b450 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/component/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/component/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import typing as t
 
 from .base import Component, Entrypoint, ServiceLevelAgreement
-from .operation import Operation
-from .pipeline import DataPipeline
-from .publisher import DataPublisher
-from .service import Service
+from .operation import Operation, OperationProto
+from .pipeline import DataPipeline, DataPipelineProto
+from .publisher import DataPublisher, DataPublisherProto
+from .service import Service, ServiceProto
 
 __all__ = [
     "DataPipeline",
@@ -20,10 +20,26 @@
     "ServiceLevelAgreement",
 ]
 
-ServiceDef = t.Union[Service, t.Dict[str, t.Any]]
-DataPipelineDef = t.Union[DataPipeline, t.Dict[str, t.Any]]
-DataPublisherDef = t.Union[DataPublisher, t.Dict[str, t.Any]]
-OperationDef = t.Union[Operation, t.Dict[str, t.Any]]
+ServiceDef = t.Union[
+    Service,
+    t.Callable[..., ServiceProto],
+    t.Dict[str, t.Any],
+]
+DataPipelineDef = t.Union[
+    DataPipeline,
+    t.Callable[..., DataPipelineProto],
+    t.Dict[str, t.Any],
+]
+DataPublisherDef = t.Union[
+    DataPublisher,
+    t.Callable[..., DataPublisherProto],
+    t.Dict[str, t.Any],
+]
+OperationDef = t.Union[
+    Operation,
+    t.Callable[..., OperationProto],
+    t.Dict[str, t.Any],
+]
 
 TComponent = t.TypeVar("TComponent", bound=t.Union[Component, Entrypoint])
 TComponentDef = t.TypeVar(
diff --git a/src/cdf/core/component/operation.py b/src/cdf/core/component/operation.py
index d5324f6..2feb527 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/component/operation.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/component/operation.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from .base import Entrypoint
 
+OperationProto = int
 
-class Operation(Entrypoint[int], frozen=True):
+
+class Operation(Entrypoint[OperationProto], frozen=True):
     """A generic callable that returns an exit code."""
diff --git a/src/cdf/core/component/pipeline.py b/src/cdf/core/component/pipeline.py
index c9ac985..d90f411 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/component/pipeline.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/component/pipeline.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 import inspect
 import typing as t
 
-import pydantic
-
-from .base import Entrypoint, _get_bind_func, _unwrap_entrypoint
+from .base import Entrypoint
 
 if t.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from dlt.common.destination import Destination as DltDestination
@@ -11,17 +9,18 @@
     from dlt.pipeline.pipeline import Pipeline as DltPipeline
 
 
+DataPipelineProto = t.Tuple[
+    "DltPipeline",
+    t.Union[
+        t.Callable[..., "LoadInfo"],
+        t.Callable[..., t.Iterator["LoadInfo"]],
+    ],  # run
+    t.List[t.Callable[..., None]],  # tests
+]
+
+
 class DataPipeline(
-    Entrypoint[
-        t.Tuple[
-            "DltPipeline",
-            t.Union[
-                t.Callable[..., "LoadInfo"],
-                t.Callable[..., t.Iterator["LoadInfo"]],
-            ],
-            t.List[t.Callable[..., None]],
-        ]
-    ],
+    Entrypoint[DataPipelineProto],
     frozen=True,
 ):
     """A data pipeline which loads data from a source to a destination."""
diff --git a/src/cdf/core/component/publisher.py b/src/cdf/core/component/publisher.py
index e810ded..6a8af17 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/component/publisher.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/component/publisher.py
@@ -2,21 +2,16 @@
 
 from .base import Entrypoint
 
-
-def _ping() -> bool:
-    """A default preflight check which always returns True."""
-    return bool("pong")
+DataPublisherProto = t.Tuple[
+    t.Callable[..., None],  # run
+    t.Callable[..., bool],  # preflight
+    t.Optional[t.Callable[..., None]],  # success hook
+    t.Optional[t.Callable[..., None]],  # failure hook
+]
 
 
 class DataPublisher(
-    Entrypoint[
-        t.Tuple[
-            t.Callable[..., None],  # run
-            t.Callable[..., bool],  # preflight
-            t.Optional[t.Callable[..., None]],  # success hook
-            t.Optional[t.Callable[..., None]],  # failure hook
-        ]
-    ],
+    Entrypoint[DataPublisherProto],
     frozen=True,
 ):
     """A data publisher which pushes data to an operational system."""
diff --git a/src/cdf/core/component/service.py b/src/cdf/core/component/service.py
index 5f8449d..e33331b 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/component/service.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/component/service.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 from .base import Component
 
+ServiceProto = t.Any
 
-class Service(Component[t.Any], frozen=True):
+
+class Service(Component[ServiceProto], frozen=True):
     """A service that the workspace provides. IE an API, database, requests client, etc."""
diff --git a/src/cdf/core/workspace.py b/src/cdf/core/workspace.py
index a8c4851..60425ea 100644
--- a/src/cdf/core/workspace.py
+++ b/src/cdf/core/workspace.py
@@ -448,7 +448,8 @@ def run():
                 name="exchangerate_pipeline",
                 owner="Alex",
                 description="A test pipeline",
-            )
+            ),
+            test_pipeline,  # we can use the proto directly with assumptions
         ],
     )