Explorer
Auto-layout read-only canvas showing your full architecture at a glance
The Explorer
Discover architectural patterns and relationships
The Explorer provides an automatically-laid-out, read-only canvas that shows your entire architecture at a glance. It's the fastest way to see how all your systems and connections fit together without manually positioning anything.
Accessing the Explorer
From the project navigation bar, click Explorer to open the exploration canvas.
How It Works
The Explorer automatically:
- Loads all systems and connections in the current project version
- Applies an automatic layout algorithm (powered by Elkjs) to arrange everything
- Renders the result as a read-only React Flow canvas
- Color-codes systems by type for quick visual identification
Unlike the diagram editor where you manually place systems, the Explorer handles all positioning automatically. This makes it ideal for getting a quick overview without any setup.
Features
Auto-Layout
Systems are arranged using graph layout algorithms that minimize edge crossings and optimize readability. The layout considers:
- System hierarchy (parents group with children)
- Connection patterns (connected systems are placed closer together)
- Visual balance across the canvas
Read-Only Mode
The Explorer canvas is read-only --- you can zoom, pan, and inspect elements, but can't move or edit them. This prevents accidental changes when you're just exploring.
Depth Control
Configure how many levels of the system hierarchy to display. Show just top-level systems for a high-level overview, or expand to full depth for a detailed view.
Static Export
The Explorer canvas can also be rendered as a static image for use in presentations or external documentation.
Explorer in Diagram Views
The Explorer is also used for Overview diagrams --- a special diagram type that renders the exploration canvas within the diagram view tabs. This lets you include an auto-layout overview alongside your manually-arranged diagrams.
Use Cases
Quick Orientation
Open the Explorer at the start of a session to remind yourself of the full architecture before diving into specific areas.
Stakeholder Presentations
Use the auto-layout view for quick presentations where you need to show the full architecture without spending time on manual layout.
Architecture Reviews
During reviews, the Explorer gives everyone the same comprehensive view of the system landscape.
Onboarding
Share the Explorer view with new team members for an instant overview of the entire architecture.