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Flows in Datastripes

Flow canvas example

Flows are the core of Datastripes — they represent how data moves, changes, and becomes something insightful.

You’re not writing code. You’re designing a live process, visually.

A Flow connects your sources to a series of nodes — each performing a task — and ends in outputs like dashboards or slideshows. It’s intuitive, interactive, and powerful.

What Exactly Is a Flow?​

Think of it like a living blueprint for your data logic.

Data starts at one or more Sources, travels through Nodes (where things like filtering or calculations happen), and ends in Outputs — charts, tables, dashboards, slideshows, or even new data streams.

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Flows update in real time. When your data changes — your outputs do too.

Building Your First Flow​

Creating a flow is simple — and surprisingly fun.

Start from a blank canvas. Add a Source (like a SQL query or a live event feed). Then drag on Nodes to transform, filter, or visualize your data.

As you connect the nodes, you’re literally defining the flow of your logic.

Each Edge — the lines connecting your nodes — represents how the data travels. Linear or parallel, simple or branching — it’s all possible.

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Click a node to configure it. Want to filter rows? Aggregate values? Just select what you need and go.

Nodes and Edges​

Nodes are the workers in your flow. Each one handles a task: transform a dataset, create a chart, filter rows, join data, etc.

Edges are the pipes. They move data from one node to the next — either in sequence or branching out in parallel.

Need to compare two filtered versions of the same source? Just create two parallel paths.

What About Displacements?​

Good question.

Displacements are how data changes between nodes. Sometimes you're just passing raw data through — other times you're filtering, aggregating, or reshaping it entirely.

In Datastripes, you control that behavior for every connection. That’s what makes flows expressive and precise.

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Displacements give you control over how much and what type of data moves between steps — without needing custom scripts.

Building Blocks: The Mechanics​

Once you’re inside the editor, here’s how it works:

  • Drag and drop nodes onto the canvas
  • Connect them to define flow direction
  • Configure each node visually
  • Watch the results update instantly

It’s designed to feel natural — like sketching ideas on a whiteboard, only the output is real, live, and shareable.

A Simple Flow in Action​

Let’s walk through an example:

  1. You connect to a SQL database
  2. Add a Filter Node to exclude unwanted data
  3. Drop in a Chart Node to visualize a trend
  4. Attach it to a Dashboard Output

That’s it. You’ve built a working, live flow.

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Flows are versioned. You can save, duplicate, or evolve them safely — perfect for iteration and collaboration.

Pro Tips for Powerful Flows​

As you build more flows, here are a few suggestions:

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Name Everything Clearly
A well-labeled node helps future-you (and your team) understand what’s going on at a glance.

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Reuse and Duplicate
You can copy flows or sub-flows to try different approaches without losing work.

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Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Try out unusual node combinations or branching strategies — Datastripes lets you explore without fear of breaking things.

Where to Next?​

Flows are only the beginning — but they unlock everything else.

Want to dive deeper?

  • Nodes Overview
  • Dashboards
  • Plugins

"A flow is a story your data tells."