Working with the map

The map connects a desired result to the architecture and the route that will realise it. Each intention immediately begins a line; several intentions and alternative routes can be developed together.

1. Create an intention: describe the result and its observable criteria. It appears in the horizontal map immediately.
2. Select its line and add a route. A route describes one way to realise that intention.
3. Add architectural components and contracts or explanations. These are reusable records with stable identities.
4. Add steps to the selected route. In each step, choose the existing components and explanations it uses. A step describes an action; a component describes part of the system.
5. Select a step to reveal its linked records above. Use Edit to change it and Validate map to check the document.
6. Apply a form, then save the map explicitly. File → Download JSON transfers the accepted map to another browser through Import.

When actions become available

• Intention is always available. Other creation actions open after the first intention. Existing imported records remain available for editing.
• Route requires a selected intention. Route step requires a selected route; use its line to choose the destination.
• Intersection requires at least two existing intentions, steps, components or explanations. Its form stays inactive until two different sources are selected. Routes and estimates are excluded.

What an intersection means

An intersection names a relationship worth explaining: for example, two steps depend on the same validation contract. Write the relationship in its note and choose its sources. Actual component reuse is expressed by both steps referencing the same component.

Several intentions and shared architecture

Add another intention to start another line. Add another route to explore an alternative for the same intention. Components and explanations can be shared across lines by identity; their names remain free to change. The arrows describe a route, while scheduling and time totals need a separate model.