Get started with the Flow Editor
Understand strategy modes, workspace areas, validation, and the save lifecycle before building.
Use the Flow Editor to arrange strategy logic as nodes connected on a canvas. This page explains the decisions and workspace areas you will meet first.
Prerequisites
You can read these docs without an account. To follow the product steps, sign in to a Screebits account with Flow Editor access and permission to create or edit a strategy. Modes, starting points, and nodes can vary by plan and account availability.
Before you create a strategy
Choose the mode carefully:
- Tactical strategies respond to market events and can evaluate signals, submit orders, monitor positions, or send alerts.
- Portfolio strategies run primarily on a schedule, can include a bounded auxiliary safety guard, and work with universes, rankings, weights, constraints, and rebalancing.
The mode cannot be changed after creation. If you choose the wrong mode, create another strategy in the correct mode.
Availability can depend on your plan. A locked choice is not a validation error.
Create from a starting point
The creation flow asks for a mode, a name and optional description, then a starting point:
- Blank strategy creates the smallest editable graph for the selected mode.
- Starters contains guided, editable examples available to your account.
Follow Create a strategy for the complete flow.
Know the workspace
- The toolbar contains Save strategy, Save checkpoint, Undo, Redo, Auto-layout, Preferences, editor commands, and Backtest actions when available.
- The palette lists nodes you can add in the current mode.
- The canvas holds nodes and control or data connections.
- The Inspector configures the selection and shows Parameters, Outcomes, and Data Ports.
- The validation area reports problems that prevent a ready graph.
- Variables is available from its workspace control. Open Preferences, then choose Settings, for strategy settings.
On compact screens, workspace panels open over the canvas and only one panel stays open at a time.
Save and verify
Changes become dirty before they are stored. You can choose Save strategy or press Ctrl+S on Windows and Linux or Command+S on macOS. Autosave also runs while editing. Offline, error, and conflict states need your attention.
After saving, return to the strategy list and reopen the strategy to confirm that your latest graph is available.
Next step
Build the RSI Momentum Alert to practice both control and data connections.
Related documentation
- Create a strategyChoose a permanent mode, enter the strategy identity, and select a compatible starting point.
- Build an RSI Momentum AlertCreate the Starter strategy, change its threshold, validate it, save it, and reopen it.
- Tactical and Portfolio strategiesChoose the strategy mode that matches the decisions your graph needs to make.