Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you get started, model effectively, and deploy with confidence. Can't find what you're looking for?
Getting Started
What is EdgeNode in simple terms?
EdgeNode is a digital twin constructor built on the principle that "everything is a graph." Instead of using separate tools for process modeling, resource planning, and analysis, you build one universal graph model — and EdgeNode automatically projects it into BPMN, UML, SysML, ArchiMate, and other standards, while running built-in optimizations and evaluations.
How do I create my first graph?
Sign up for a Free account at edgenode.org, add your first node by clicking the canvas and typing a name, connect nodes by dragging from one node's edge port to another, add meaning by selecting a node and attaching an Actor, Artifact, or Goal from the side panel, then generate a diagram by clicking "Export" and choosing BPMN, UML, or another standard.
Tip: Start small. Model one workflow end-to-end before expanding.
What can I do with the Free plan?
- Build graphs with up to 50 nodes
- Generate basic BPMN 2.0 diagrams
- Run simple path analysis and artifact lifecycle tracking
- Export to SVG and JSON
- Access community documentation and support
No credit card required. Upgrade anytime to unlock Pro features.
How do I upgrade to Pro?
Go to your account settings → Billing, click "Upgrade to Pro", confirm subscription (899 RUB/month, VAT included for RU customers), and enjoy immediate access to 1,500-node graphs, all 8+ diagram standards, full evaluation suite, and priority support. Your existing graph data transfers automatically.
Preventive apologies if we do not have a payment system of your country yet, we're working on it.
Modeling & Graph Concepts
What is the difference between a Node and an Artifact?
| Concept | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Node | Structural position in the graph — the "where" | A process step, a team, a system component |
| Artifact | Semantic deliverable or work product — the "what" | A document, a code module, a prototype, a requirement |
Think of Nodes as locations on a map, and Artifacts as items moving between those locations.
How do I represent a business process?
- Create Nodes for each process step (e.g., "Receive Request", "Validate", "Approve")
- Connect them with Edges to show flow direction
- Attach Artifacts to Nodes to represent documents or data passing through
- Assign Actors to Cycles to show who performs each step
- Generate a BPMN diagram — EdgeNode auto-detects gateways, lanes, and events from your graph structure
Can I model non-process things (org charts, system architectures)?
Absolutely. The graph model is domain-agnostic:
- Organizational structure: Use Clusters for departments, Nodes for roles, Edges for reporting lines
- System architecture: Nodes for components, Edges for dependencies, Artifacts for interfaces
- Project planning: Goals as milestones, Artifacts as deliverables, Cycles as assignments
One graph, multiple views. Switch between BPMN, ArchiMate, or RACI without rebuilding your model.
What are Cycles and Transactions?
| Term | Meaning | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle | Planned work assignment | "Developer A will implement Feature X in 5 days" |
| Transaction | Actual work flow event | "Feature X moved from Design to Implementation on Mar 5" |
Cycles help you plan; Transactions help you track. EdgeNode uses both to calculate realistic timelines and identify bottlenecks.
How do I organize large graphs?
- Use Clusters: Group related nodes semantically (e.g., "Payment Module", "Q3 Deliverables")
- Leverage hierarchy: Assign parent-child relationships to Nodes for nested structures
- Spatial layout: Position nodes intentionally on the canvas — EdgeNode preserves coordinates for visual clarity
- Filter by type: Toggle visibility of Actors, Artifacts, or Goals to reduce visual clutter
Pro tip: Name your clusters descriptively — they become lane labels in BPMN and layer names in ArchiMate.
Diagram Generation & Standards
Which diagram standards does EdgeNode support?
| Standard | Best For | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| BPMN 2.0 | Business process automation | Free (basic), Pro (full) |
| UML State Machine | System behavior modeling | Pro |
| UML Sequence | Interaction timelines | Pro |
| UML Class | Structural dependencies | Pro |
| SysML | Requirements tracing | Pro |
| ArchiMate | Enterprise architecture | Pro |
| Value Stream Mapping | Lean process optimization | Pro |
| RACI Matrix | Responsibility assignment | Pro |
All diagrams are generated on-demand from your graph — no manual synchronization needed.
Why does my BPMN diagram look different from the canvas?
EdgeNode applies standard-compliant layout algorithms when projecting your graph: Nodes are arranged topologically (by dependency order), parallel paths are detected and rendered as gateways, actor assignments become swimlanes, and optimal paths are highlighted automatically.
Your canvas is for flexible modeling; the diagram is for standardized communication. Both reflect the same underlying data.
Can I export diagrams to native formats (.bpmn, .xmi)?
Currently: SVG and JSON export available on all plans. Planned (2026): Direct export to .bpmn, .xmi, .archimate for tool interoperability.
Need native format now? Contact support@edgenode.org — we can assist with custom export scripts for On-Premise customers.
How do I update a diagram after changing the graph?
No manual update needed. EdgeNode diagrams are live projections: Modify your graph (add node, change connection, update artifact), click "Regenerate Diagram" or switch standards, and the output reflects your changes instantly.
This eliminates the classic problem of outdated documentation — your diagram is always current because it's computed, not stored.
Evaluation & Decision Support
What is "Artifact Lifecycle Optimization"?
It finds the fastest or most cost-effective path for a specific deliverable (Artifact) to travel through your graph from start to finish.
How to use it: Select an Artifact in your graph, click "Evaluate" → "Optimize Lifecycle", and EdgeNode returns optimal node sequence, total time estimate, total budget estimate, and breakdown by node.
Use case: "What's the quickest way to get this feature from concept to production?"
How does Goal Execution Time calculation work?
When a Goal requires multiple Artifacts (e.g., "Launch Product" needs Design + Code + Documentation), EdgeNode calculates the timeline for each required Artifact path, identifies the longest parallel path (critical path), and returns the total time to complete the Goal.
This helps you spot bottlenecks: if Documentation takes 3 weeks but Code takes 1, the Goal can't finish faster than 3 weeks.
What is Hypothesis Testing?
- Capture baseline: Save current graph state and evaluation results
- Modify: Adjust nodes, assignments, or timelines (e.g., "What if we add a reviewer?")
- Re-evaluate: Run optimization again on the modified graph
- Compare: See time/budget/path differences vs. baseline
- Decide: Accept, reject, or iterate on the change
Can I evaluate cost, not just time?
Yes. When configuring Cycles (planned work), you can specify actor cost rates (per hour/day/week), artifact value units, and budget constraints per node. EdgeNode then optimizes paths by minimum time (primary) and minimum budget (tiebreaker).
Pro feature: View cost attribution breakdowns to see which nodes or actors drive expenses.
Deployment & Enterprise
What's the difference between SaaS and On-Premise?
| Aspect | SaaS | On-Premise |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | EdgeNode-managed cloud | Your infrastructure |
| Access | Internet required | Air-Gap capable (zero outbound) |
| Data ownership | User-level isolation | Organizational control + RBAC |
| Customization | Standard entity types | Type recursion (define custom entities) |
| Compliance | Standard TLS | 152-ФЗ/ФСТЭК, ГОСТ signing, immutable audit |
| Pricing | Free / 899 RUB/month Pro | Custom license quote |
What does "Air-Gap ready" actually mean?
The On-Premise bundle is designed for physically isolated environments:
- All dependencies bundled (no apt install, npm install, or stack build required)
- Static Haskell binaries (no runtime dependencies)
- Local fonts and resources (no CDN calls)
- Cryptographic signature verification (Ed25519 + ГОСТ)
- Firewall rules applied during installation to block egress traffic
Validation: tcpdump on external interface shows zero traffic post-install. Tested on clean Ubuntu/Debian VMs with network cable unplugged.
How does multi-mandate access work in On-Premise?
Unlike SaaS (where each user owns their graph), On-Premise supports organizational graph structures with:
- Delegation hierarchy (assign modeling rights across departments while maintaining central oversight)
- Granular permissions (read/write/evaluate access at node, cluster, or graph level)
- Audit trail (every action logged to immutable PostgreSQL schema)
- RBAC integration (map EdgeNode roles to your existing Active Directory or LDAP groups)
Can I migrate from SaaS to On-Premise later?
Yes. All plans support JSON export of your graph model:
- Export your SaaS graph (Settings → Export → JSON)
- Provide the file to our deployment team during On-Premise setup
- We import your model into the organizational graph structure
- Configure permissions, compliance settings, and custom types as needed
Your semantic data (Actors, Artifacts, Goals) transfers intact. Only the ownership model changes.
Security, Compliance & Data
How is my data protected?
| Layer | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email/password with bcrypt hashing, JWT + refresh tokens |
| Authorization | All records reference primary_user_id (SaaS) or org hierarchy (On-Premise) |
| Encryption | TLS for all connections (browser → Nginx → API → Database) |
| Audit | Immutable PostgreSQL schema with REVOKE UPDATE/DELETE for 152-ФЗ compliance |
| Integrity | Ed25519 + ГОСТ Р 34.10-2012 signing for artifact and license verification |
On-Premise customers receive full schema documentation for independent security review.
What compliance standards does EdgeNode support?
- 152-ФЗ (Russia): Personal data processing policy templates, immutable audit logs, data localization
- ФСТЭК: Technical control requirements alignment, cryptographic signing (ГОСТ), access logging
- GDPR (EU): Data processing principles, cross-border transfer guidance, DPIA support
- Sector-specific: Custom audit schema design for finance, healthcare, energy
Contact compliance@edgenode.org for the full compliance package.
Can I export or migrate my data?
Absolutely. Data portability is a core principle:
- JSON API: Full CRUD access to graph model and evaluations
- SVG export: All generated diagrams
- SQL dump: Database export available (On-Premise)
- Planned: Native format exports (.bpmn, .xmi) and bulk operations
Your graph belongs to you. We provide the tools to move it — today or years from now.
What happens to my data if I cancel my subscription?
Free/Pro (SaaS): Your graph remains accessible in read-only mode for 90 days. Export anytime. After 90 days, data is anonymized and deleted per our Privacy Policy.
On-Premise: You retain full control. Canceling support doesn't affect your installation — you continue operating with the last licensed version.
No lock-in. No surprise deletions.
Technical & Integration
Why is EdgeNode built with Haskell?
Haskell enables the reliability and correctness required for mission-critical modeling:
- Type safety: Catch logical errors at compile time, not in production
- Pure functions: Predictable behavior without hidden side effects
- Formal verification: Property-based testing (QuickCheck) proves correctness for evaluation algorithms
- Maintainability: Strong abstractions reduce technical debt over decades
We also offer Haskell consulting for organizations adopting functional programming in their own critical systems.
Is there an API for integrations?
Yes. All functionality is accessible via REST API with public endpoints (login, register, password recovery) and authenticated endpoints (graph CRUD, entity management, evaluation, diagram generation). Format is JSON request/response with OpenAPI 3.0 documentation available.
Pro and On-Premise customers receive API keys and integration guides. Contact corp@edgenode.org for access.
Can I embed EdgeNode diagrams in other tools?
- SVG export: All diagrams generate as scalable vector graphics — embed in Confluence, SharePoint, or custom portals
- JSON model: Import graph data into other analytics or visualization tools
- Planned: Webhook notifications for graph changes, iframe embedding with SSO
Need a custom integration? Our team can assist — especially for On-Premise deployments.
How do I troubleshoot installation issues?
Use the built-in diagnostic tool: edgenode-cli diagnose
For On-Premise, the tool checks network isolation, cryptographic signatures, and database connectivity.