CTXMap helps you build architecture and context maps that are easy for humans to understand and useful for AI/LLMs. The workflow is simple: Add things → Connect them → Explain what happens → Export context.
1) The layout
- Left panel (Tools): add nodes/containers, switch between Select/Connect, navigate scopes.
- Board (center): the canvas where you arrange nodes and connections.
- Right panel (Details): edit the selected node/connection.
- Top bar: undo/delete, theme, help, save, export.
2) Core concepts
Nodes
A node is a “thing” in your map: people, systems, components, data, processes, events, controls, places, concepts, etc.
Type answers only: “What kind of thing is this?” Use Role to describe what it does in this map.
Connections
A connection describes what happens between two nodes like a sentence: [Source] [Action] [Target].
- Action: the verb phrase (Reads from, Triggers, Owns, Controls, Sends to...).
- Category: broad family used for filtering/AI (Flow, Data, Control, Trigger, etc.).
- Direction: one-way, two-way, or undirected.
- Mechanism: how it happens (HTTPS, AMQP, Manual handoff, Policy rule...).
- Boundary/Context: where/under what context it happens (Public internet, Private subnet, Business workflow...).
3) Node types (how to choose)
- Actor: person, team, role, organisation, external party.
- System: whole application/platform/product/capability.
- Component: part inside a system (API, worker, EC2 instance, gateway, module).
- Data: database/file/document/log/dataset/information asset.
- Process: workflow/activity/sequence of work.
- Event: trigger/signal/incident/message/state change.
- Control: policy/rule/security control/approval/constraint.
- Place: physical/cloud/network/environment/location boundary.
- Group: container/scope/domain/phase/collection (can contain child nodes).
- Concept: idea/risk/assumption/decision/theme.
- Outcome: goal/KPI/benefit/result.
- Object: tangible item (ticket, contract, device, asset, case file, package).
4) Using Groups (containers / drill-in)
- Create a Group (Add container) to represent a boundary (e.g., Kubernetes cluster, Finance domain, Phase 1).
- Drag nodes into the group (set
parent implicitly).
- Drill in to focus on what’s inside a group; use Back up to return.
5) Quick actions
- Quick-connect dots on nodes: hover a node edge to add a connected node quickly.
- Icon picker: choose an icon (or upload your own) for a node.
- Collapse panels: use the arrow buttons to maximize the board.
- Undo: revert recent changes.
6) Save & Export
- Save stores the board in your browser.
- Export JSON/YAML produces an AI/LLM-friendly model including nodes, connections, and hierarchy.
7) Suggested workflow for a new map
- Add 5–15 nodes (Actors, Systems, Components, Data).
- Connect key flows using simple Actions (Sends to, Reads from, Triggers...).
- Fill Role + Domain for the important nodes.
- Use Groups to keep the board readable.
- Export YAML for AI analysis.
Shortcuts (tips)
- Shift + click: multi-select nodes.
- Space: pan mode while held.
- Use Fit view to center the current scope.
