The canvas
The canvas is where you build. Every resource is a node, and a connection between nodes is the relationship between them. This page covers how you add nodes, connect them, and edit them. For the model behind why connections are relationships, see The canvas model.
The palette
Section titled “The palette”The resource palette on the left is where nodes come from. Drag a node from the palette onto the canvas to place it. The palette shows the real node types you can build with today.
When you drop a node, the inspector on the right opens for it.
Connections
Section titled “Connections”Drag from one node’s handle onto another node to draw an edge. An edge is a typed relationship, not a line.
The most common edge is membership: a private network node connected to a compute node means the compute node is in that network. A floating IP node connected to a compute node means that IP is assigned to that compute.
CrossXCloud validates connections as you draw. You cannot draw an edge that the provider does not allow, and you cannot draw a duplicate edge. For example, a floating IP can be assigned to at most one compute node at a time.
The connection rules are driven by backend provider rules, not hardcoded in the canvas. See The canvas model for the full edge model.
The inspector
Section titled “The inspector”Select a node to open the inspector on the right. The inspector shows the node’s fields, and editing is live. Change a field and the canvas updates immediately. There is no save button.
This is the edit-on-change model. If a field is invalid, the inspector shows the problem in place rather than blocking the canvas.
Not every node has editable fields. The primary IP companion node, for example, shows the live public IP address of its parent compute node but has no fields of its own.
Selecting and deleting
Section titled “Selecting and deleting”Click a node to select it. Right-click for the context menu. Delete a node with the keyboard, the context menu, or the inspector.
If a node has already been applied to your provider, CrossXCloud asks you to confirm the deletion, because deleting an applied node means the resource will be destroyed on the next Apply.
The menu bar and command palette
Section titled “The menu bar and command palette”The menu bar at the top holds breadcrumbs for the current project, the Plan and Execute actions, and the command palette trigger.
The command palette runs canvas actions from the keyboard, including adding nodes and opening dialogs. See Command palette for how to use it.
- Compute nodes for creating and configuring servers.
- Networking for private networks, primary IPs, and floating IPs.
- Plan and Apply for what the menu bar’s Plan action does.