Architype

Architype lets you quickly visualize directed graphs. It is designed for realtime use during system and process design discussions.

Try it live at architype.io

Interface

Architype is designed to be used on devices with keyboards (hence the "type") and optionally mice/touchscreens. It can be used completely without the latter.

The screen is divided into two panels:

The editor, on the left, where you interactively define the components of your graph.
The visualization, on the right, where the results are displayed.

Object types

A node is the fundamental unit in Architype, usually representing a server, service, or process step.
A link is connects nodes together. All links in Architype are directional, i.e. they have an arrow at exactly one end.
A group is a collection of nodes that are physically together.
A label is an optional description of another object, e.g. a link or a group.

Keys

Generally lowercase and uppercase versions of a key have related but opposite functions, for some meaning of "opposite". For example, lowercase n creates a new node line below the current line, while uppercase N (shift + n) creates a new node line above the current line.

Limited vi key mappings are supported. Keys behavior is expected to match user expectation across contexts in the UI.

↓ j Move down the current list
↑ k Move up the current list
→ l ⏎ Enter (edit) the current list or item
← h ␛ Exit the current list or item

New objects

n Create new node below the current line
shift + n Create new node above the current line
g Create new group below the current line
shift + g Create new group above the current line
i Create new link below the current line
shift + i Create new link above the current line
a Create new label below the current line
shift + a Create new label above the current line

Deletion & modification

d Delete the current line
shift + d Delete the current line and all lines after it
␣ (space) Toggle highlighting of the current line
f [link only] Flip the directional of the current link

Misc

u browser back Undo the last action
U browser forward Redo the last undone action (if nothing else has been done since then)
m Select the next theme (light/dark)
M Select the previous theme (light/dark)

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