Explanation

AWS Step Functions is the correct service for this requirement because:

• Low-code, visual workflow service: Step Functions provides a visual workflow designer that allows developers to build applications by arranging workflow steps graphically, reducing the need for extensive coding

• Build distributed applications: Step Functions coordinates multiple AWS services into serverless workflows, making it ideal for building distributed applications

• Comparison with other options:

  • AWS Config: A service for assessing, auditing, and evaluating configurations of AWS resources (not for building workflows)
  • AWS Lambda: A serverless compute service for running code without provisioning servers (not a visual workflow service)
  • Amazon CloudWatch: A monitoring and observability service (not for building applications)

Step Functions enables developers to design and run workflows that integrate various AWS services, manage state, handle errors, and provide visual monitoring of workflow execution - all characteristics that match the described requirements perfectly.