The Canvas & Nodes
Navigate the Orchestrator editor, understand node types, and build your first workflow from scratch.
What you'll be able to do after this module
- Open a new workflow and navigate the visual canvas
- Identify the three node types: Trigger, Action, and Add Node
- Use the toolbar to save, undo, run, and configure a workflow
- Create a simple two-node workflow and execute it
The Orchestrator Editor
When you open Orchestrator and create a new workflow, you land in the editor — a full-screen workspace with three areas:
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Toolbar | Save, Undo/Redo, Run, AI Generate, Export Code, Workflow Settings |
| Canvas | Drag-and-drop workspace where you arrange and connect nodes |
| Config Panel | Opens when you select a node — configure trigger type, action settings, and template variables |
Canvas Controls
The canvas is powered by a node-graph engine. You can:
- Pan — click and drag on empty space
- Zoom — scroll wheel or pinch gesture
- Select — click a node to open its config panel
- Connect — drag from a node's output handle (bottom) to another node's input handle (top)
- Delete — right-click a node or edge → Delete, or select and press
Delete/Backspace
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd + Z | Undo |
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z | Redo |
Delete / Backspace | Remove selected node or edge |
Ctrl/Cmd + S | Save |
Node Types
Every workflow is a directed graph of nodes connected by edges. There are three node types:
1. Trigger Node
Every workflow has exactly one trigger node. It defines how the workflow starts.
| Trigger Type | How it fires |
|---|---|
| Manual | Click the Run button in the toolbar |
| Webhook | An external HTTP POST request hits the workflow's webhook URL |
| Schedule | A cron expression fires at set intervals |
The trigger node is always the first node in the graph. You cannot delete it — only change its type.
2. Action Nodes
Action nodes do the actual work. Each action belongs to a plugin (integration provider) and performs a specific operation — generate text, send an email, create a GitHub issue, etc.
Orchestrator ships with 15 integration plugins providing 42 actions, plus 3 built-in system actions (HTTP Request, Database Query, Condition). You'll explore all of them in Module 2.
3. Add Node (+)
The + button appears at the end of the chain. Click it to browse the action catalog and insert a new action node.
Your First Workflow
Create a new workflow
Go to orchestrator.skytells.ai, sign in, and click New Workflow. You'll see a canvas with a single Manual trigger node.
Add an action
Click the + node at the bottom of the trigger. The action browser opens — search for "Generate Text" under the Skytells plugin. Select it.
A new action node appears on the canvas, connected to the trigger by an edge.
Configure the action
Click the Generate Text node to open the config panel on the right.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Integration | Select your Skytells connection (or create one — you'll need your Skytells API key) |
| Model | Pick any text model (e.g. skytells-large-3) |
| Prompt | Write a one-sentence summary of what orchestration means in software. |
Run the workflow
Click Run in the toolbar. The trigger fires, the Generate Text action executes, and you'll see a green checkmark on each node when it succeeds.
Click the Runs tab in the right sidebar to inspect the output.
Autosave & Workflow Settings
Orchestrator autosaves your work. After you stop making changes, the workflow is persisted within 1 second. You'll see a save indicator in the toolbar.
To rename or configure the workflow, click Settings in the toolbar:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Display name shown on your dashboard |
| Description | Optional description of what the workflow does |
| Visibility | private (default) — only you can see it. public — read-only for anyone with the link (integrations are stripped) |
Validation
Before running a workflow, Orchestrator checks for issues:
- Missing trigger — every workflow needs exactly one trigger node
- Empty required fields — action nodes with unfilled required config
- Missing integrations — action nodes that need a provider connection but don't have one selected
If there are issues, an indicator shows the count in the toolbar. Click it to see the full list.
What you now understand
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Canvas | The visual workspace where you build workflows |
| Trigger node | How a workflow starts (Manual, Webhook, Schedule) |
| Action node | A step that does work via an integration plugin |
| Edge | A connection between nodes defining execution order |
| Config panel | The right sidebar for configuring a selected node |
| Autosave | Workflows save automatically after changes |
Up next: Actions & Integrations — explore the full catalog of 45+ actions and connect your first provider.