Node Types

OpenFlowKit supports both generic and family-specific nodes. The actual node model in the app covers flow, architecture, mind map, journey, class, ER, annotation, grouping, and media use cases.

Core node families

Flow nodes

These are the default building blocks for most workflows:

start
process
decision
end
custom

Typical properties include:

label and sublabel
icon
color preset or custom color
shape
typography
dimensions and rotation

Mind map nodes

mindmap nodes track extra structure such as:

depth
parent id
left/right side
branch style

Keyboard helpers:

Tab adds a child
Enter adds a sibling

Journey nodes

journey nodes include journey-specific metadata such as:

actor
section
task
score

These are useful for service blueprints and UX journey maps.

Architecture nodes

architecture and icon-backed custom nodes are designed for system diagrams. They can carry:

provider metadata
resource type
environment and trust domain fields
provider icon pack references
architecture boundary relationships

Structural and content nodes

These support organization and annotation:

annotation
section
group
swimlane
image

Use them to explain or frame diagrams rather than only to model system entities.

Shapes

The node data model supports these shape variants:

rectangle
rounded
capsule
diamond
hexagon
cylinder
ellipse
parallelogram
circle

Not every family exposes every shape in the same way. General flow nodes are the most flexible.

Wireframe surfaces

The asset browser can create browser and mobile wireframe nodes. These are useful when you need UI flow context inside the same canvas as process logic.

Provider-backed icon nodes

The assets panel can load icon catalogs for:

general icons
AWS
Azure
GCP
CNCF

These are inserted as icon-presented nodes rather than plain boxes, which makes them better suited for infrastructure maps.

Which node should you use?

Use this rule of thumb:

choose process/start/decision/end for classic workflows
choose mindmap for branching idea trees
choose journey for actor and stage-based experiences
choose architecture or provider icons for cloud/system diagrams
choose annotation, text, and section for explanation and grouping

Best for: Process steps, services, database tables, or general entities.
Features: Resizable, editable label, support for icons.

2. Text Node / Annotation

A lightweight, borderless node used for adding comments or labels to the canvas without affecting the flow structure.

Best for: Adding sticky notes, section headers, or explanatory text.
Usage: Select “Text” from the toolbar or press `T`.

3. Group Node

Container nodes that visually group other nodes together. Moving a group moves all nodes inside it.

Best for: Visualizing sub-systems, VPCs, or logical boundaries.
Usage: Select nodes -> Right Click -> “Group Selection”.

4. Swimlane Node

Vertical or horizontal lanes to organize processes by actor or department.

Best for: Cross-functional flowcharts.

5. Image Node

Embed arbitrary images directly onto the canvas.

Best for: Adding logos, screenshots, or reference diagrams.
Usage: Drag and drop an image file directly onto the canvas.