Product guides

Read your architecture map

Follow entities and relationships into their evidence, confidence, and coverage in the workspace.

The map is a view of a selected review's architectural model. Begin with one question, such as “What can reach this API?” or “Which application reads this database?”

Select the review you mean

Open Architecture → Map and choose a completed review. Read the source label and date before comparing its result with another system or environment. The review selector may offer partial results; their collection limits remain relevant even if the diagram looks complete.

Map and Truth links keep the selected review in the URL, so a teammate with workspace access can open the same context. The illustration on the public homepage is separate from workspace evidence.

Follow a relationship

  1. Select an entity in the map. Use search or the layer filter when the system is large.
  2. Read the entity's type and source information in the inspector.
  3. Open a connection under How this entity connects. The direction matters: “API reads database” makes a different claim from “database reaches API.”
  4. Read the relationship's recorded confidence and evidence references.
  5. Select Open evidence & confidence to continue into Truth.

You can explore 3D depth with the camera controls, drag the background in Rotate view mode, or use 2D. When Rotate view is focused, arrow keys adjust the camera and Home resets it. Pause diagram animation stops automatic movement. Reduced-motion preferences disable automatic camera movement.

The D2 export represents the current graph. Layout and animation do not add evidence or indicate live network traffic.

A small system, five ways to understand it

Follow the relationship.

Fictional example
Gateway to application to databaseThe gateway calls the API. The API reads the database. A public route reaches the API directly.InternetCALLSREADSNEW PUBLIC ROUTEAPI gatewayAuthentication boundaryObservedApplication APIApplication serviceObservedApplication dataPrivate databaseObserved3 SYSTEM ENTITIES · CLOUD EVIDENCE PRESENT

A public route reaches the API directly.

Entities are the things. Relationships explain the system.

Select an entity to read what connects to it. An arrow has a direction and a meaning; it is more than a line between two boxes.

Application API → reads from → Application data

The service handles application requests and reads from the database. Authentication is delegated to the gateway by a human decision.

Evidence
server/database.py:24 · database client
Recorded confidence
96% · code reference and connection configuration agree

Illustrative records and dates only. These controls do not connect sources or change a workspace.

Read the map guide

Inspect the five parts of a claim

RecordPlain-language meaningExample
EntityA thing in the system.An application API or database.
RelationshipA directed statement connecting things.The API reads from the database.
EvidenceThe observation supporting that statement.A database client reference in a particular file.
ConfidenceThe recorded strength of the claim.A score accompanied by source observations and any contradictions.
CoverageThe boundary of what the review could observe.Code was collected; cloud configuration was not.

Confidence in one relationship does not establish complete system coverage. A well-supported code relationship can coexist with missing cloud evidence.

Treat disagreement as information

If two sources disagree, inspect both observations and their dates. Configuration may have changed, collection may be partial, or the sources may describe different environments. A contradiction requires review; it should not disappear behind a smooth diagram.

Move from context to intent

The map can establish that an API delegates authentication. It cannot establish why a person accepted that design. Use Intent to capture the decision and its guardrails, then Drift to inspect later changes.