code: public static int getRequestStep(final Request request) {
  		String val = request.getParameter(Environment.STEP_VARIABLE);
  
  		if (val == null) {
  			return 0;
  		}
  		try {
  			return Integer.parseInt(val);
  		} catch (NumberFormatException ex) {
  			return -1;
  		}
  	}
docs: Retrieves the value of the step variable from the given request.
  
  @param request the request being responded to.
  @return the request step present in the request, or -1 on error.