Quick Start
Get productive in 5 minutes. Build your first mountain.
Create Your First Node
Every project starts with a core node. This is your foundation—the big idea everything else branches from.
How to do it
- Double-click anywhere on the canvas
- Type your project name or goal
- Press Enter
Start broad. "Launch Product" is better than "Design button for homepage." You'll break it down in the next step.
Add Branches
Break your root node into major phases or categories. These become Level 2 nodes that branch off your foundation.
How to do it
- Hover over your core node and click the + button
- Or select the node and press Tab
- Type the branch name and press Enter
- Repeat to add more branches
The physics engine will push nodes apart automatically. Drag one and watch the others adjust—no manual spacing needed.
Add Details & Notes
Each node can hold rich notes, images, tags, and descriptions. Click into any node to flesh out your ideas.
How to do it
- Click any node to select it, then click its title to edit
- Press D to open the description editor
- Add tags, cover images, and icons from the right-click menu
- Open the Notes Sidebar for longer-form writing
Use the Notes Sidebar to write in freeflow mode — your text syncs directly to nodes on the canvas in real time.
Filter Your View
When your map gets dense, hide what doesn't matter right now. Focus on what you can actually act on.
How to do it
- Click 🔍 Filters in the toolbar
- Toggle filters to hide locked, inactive, or completed nodes
- Use tag filters to show only specific categories
- Or press Focus to enter Focus Mode and zero in on one branch
The power isn't in seeing everything—it's in hiding what doesn't matter right now.
You're Done
That's it. You now know 80% of what Tectonian does. The rest is refinement — themes, AI generation, focus mode, and the notes sidebar. But the core loop is: create nodes, add details, and filter noise.
Your map is encrypted end-to-end and auto-saves to the cloud. Switch devices and pick up where you left off.