Why it lives in two places
The data model is both a specification (it constrains what code Archie generates) and an operational surface (you query it, view rows, run migrations). Specifications shows it as a spec; Backend shows it with the full editor. For most editing — adding tables, configuring fields, defining relationships, creating views, managing indexes — go to Backend → Data Model. The spec view is read-mostly: a sidebar listing tables and types, and a panel showing the selected entity’s structure.What’s here
- Tables — list of all tables with their columns and types
- Data Types — enums and other custom types
- Relationships — foreign keys and cardinality (1:1, 1:N, M:N)
- Indexes — read-only summary; configure in Backend → Data Model
How the data model feeds code
The data model is one of the most directly load-bearing specifications:- Database schema — every table becomes a Postgres or MySQL table
- GraphQL API — every table generates queries (
tableName,tableNames) and mutations (createTableName,updateTableName,deleteTableName) - REST API — same operations exposed as REST endpoints
- TypeScript types — codegen produces typed clients from the schema
FAQ
Why can't I add tables here?
Why can't I add tables here?
The full editor lives in Backend → Data Model. Specifications is the design view; Backend is where you build, query, and migrate. Both edit the same schema.
What's the difference between this and Strategy → Data Architecture?
What's the difference between this and Strategy → Data Architecture?
Strategy → Data Architecture is prose and diagrams describing the data design at the architecture level. Data Model is the actual table definitions — the concrete schema that becomes the database. The two work together.
If I add a table in Backend, will it show up here automatically?
If I add a table in Backend, will it show up here automatically?
Yes. The two views are synchronized. Edits in either place reflect in both.