Shapes & Text

While architecture nodes handle the heavy lifting, standard shapes and text are essential for grouping, annotating, and structuring your diagrams.

Shape Nodes

You can add standard shapes from the left Toolbar.

Rectangles: Often used to represent generic components, bounded contexts, or network boundaries (like a VPC).
Ellipses: Useful for representing users, start/end states, or generic nodes.

Node Context Controls

When you select a shape node, the NodeContextToolbar appears. Here you can:

Change the background color.
Adjust the stroke (border) width and color.
Duplicate or delete the node.

Rekhic Node Context Toolbar floating above a selected blue rectangle

The context toolbar provides quick access to styles and actions for the selected shape.

Text & Sticky Notes

Text Nodes

Text nodes are transparent, borderless text blocks used for labeling connectors, providing titles to diagram sections, or writing loose notes.

Sticky Notes

Sticky nodes visually resemble physical sticky notes and are perfect for leaving temporary reminders, "TODOs", or highlighting crucial architectural decisions right on the canvas.

Selecting and Moving Nodes

Moving: Click and drag any node to move it around the canvas.
Editing Content: Double-click any shape, text, or sticky note to edit the text inside it.

Related: Learn about Architecture Nodes and Selection & Grouping.

Freehand Drawing

Exporting Diagrams