Canvas Nodes

In Rekhic, every structural component on the canvas is a Node. Nodes are interactive elements that can be moved, resized, styled, and connected to other nodes.

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1. Architecture Nodes

Architecture nodes are designed specifically for software engineering diagrams:

• Icon Badge: Vector tech logo (AWS, GCP, PostgreSQL, Redis, Kubernetes, React, Spring Boot, etc.).
• Primary Label: Component name (e.g. Payment Gateway or Order Service).
• Category & Description: Metadata badge indicating its architectural role (application, service, database, queue, or external).
• Connection Handles: Four cardinal attachment points (North, East, South, West) for smart-routing connectors.

To create an architecture node:

• Press A on your keyboard, or click the Architecture Node tool in the creation toolbar.

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2. Basic Shapes

Basic shapes are versatile primitives used for custom diagrams, system boundaries, and flowcharting:

Rectangles (Shortcut R)

• Perfect for service containers, virtual private clouds (VPCs), subnets, or custom component boxes.
• Supports solid or dashed stroke styling, background fills, and corner radiuses.

Ellipses (Shortcut O)

• Traditionally used in software architecture to represent Databases, Data Lakes, or Storage Buckets.
• When exported to Markdown documentation, ellipses are automatically classified into the Data Stores section.

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3. Text Nodes (Shortcut T)

Text nodes provide unconstrained typography for:

• Architecture titles and legends.
• Data flow descriptions.
• Technical caveats or architecture decisions.
• Markdown headers (#, ##, ###).

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4. Sticky Notes (Shortcut S)

Sticky notes are colored cards designed for:

• Architecture reviews and pull request comments.
• Open architectural questions or pending refactors.
• Team notes during technical design interviews.

Next: Learn how to connect your nodes in Edges and Connections.