Overview

While Cortex Studio provides a comprehensive administrative interface, developers are encouraged to build custom UIs tailored to their specific use cases. Studio's modular architecture makes it an excellent reference implementation for extracting components and patterns.

This guide provides a structured approach to understanding Studio's architecture and building custom analytics interfaces.

How custom UIs integrate with Cortex APIs using Studio patterns

Architecture Layers

Understanding Studio's architecture requires knowledge of its key abstraction layers:

1. Core Concepts

Foundation architectural patterns and design principles that power Studio's component system.

Key Topics:

• Architectural layers (Data, Component, Page)
• Design patterns (Builder, Composition, Dialog)
• State management philosophy
• Type system integration
• Performance patterns

2. Component Patterns

Detailed exploration of specific component patterns for building scalable interfaces.

Key Topics:

• Builder components (MetricSchemaBuilder, DashboardBuilder)
• Dialog patterns (CRUD operations, complex workflows)
• Chart component patterns
• Form patterns and validation
• Layout and navigation patterns

3. API Integration

Reactive composables and type-safe patterns for API communication.

Key Topics:

• Composable architecture
• Type safety and validation
• Error handling strategies
• Caching and performance
• Authentication integration

4. UI Components

Studio's custom component library for analytics workflows, built on Shadcn/ui and Reka UI.

Key Topics:

• Chart and visualization components
• Metric builder components
• Dashboard creation components
• Resource management components
• Component architecture patterns

5. Data Flow

Understanding reactive state management and data flow patterns.

Key Topics:

• Reactive state architecture
• Component communication patterns
• API data flow
• Form data management
• Performance optimization

Learning Path

For developers new to Studio's architecture, we recommend following this learning path:

1. Start with Core Concepts

Begin by understanding the foundational patterns that power Studio's architecture.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the layered architecture approach
• Learn key design patterns (Builder, Composition, Dialog)
• Grasp the reactive state management philosophy
• Explore the TypeScript integration strategy

2. Explore Component Patterns

Dive deep into specific component patterns used throughout Studio.

Learning Objectives:

• Master the builder pattern for complex forms
• Understand dialog patterns for user interactions
• Learn chart component abstractions
• Explore form validation patterns

3. Study API Integration

Learn how Studio integrates with Cortex APIs using reactive patterns.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand composable-based API integration
• Learn error handling and loading state management
• Explore caching and performance strategies
• Master authentication and security patterns

4. Master UI Components

Explore Studio's custom component library for analytics workflows.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn chart and visualization components
• Understand metric builder patterns
• Master dashboard creation components
• Explore component architecture and integration

5. Understand Data Flow

Grasp how data flows through Studio's reactive architecture.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand reactive state management
• Learn component communication patterns
• Master form data flow patterns
• Explore performance optimization techniques

Quick Start Guide

Ready to start building? Follow these steps to extract and adapt Studio patterns for your custom UI:

1. Analyze Your Requirements

• Identify the analytics workflows you need to support
• Determine which Studio components align with your use cases
• Plan your component extraction strategy

2. Set Up Your Project

• Initialize a Vue.js project with TypeScript support
• Install the necessary dependencies (see Technology Stack)
• Configure your build tools and development environment

3. Extract Core Patterns

• Start with the API integration layer (composables)
• Extract the UI components you need
• Adapt the component patterns for your use cases

4. Implement Your Features

• Build your custom interfaces using extracted patterns
• Integrate with your specific backend systems
• Add your custom branding and design requirements

5. Test and Iterate

• Test your components thoroughly
• Gather user feedback
• Iterate and improve based on real usage

Technology Stack

Studio is built with a modern technology stack that can be adapted for custom UIs:

Best Practices

Component Design

1. Single Responsibility: Each component should have one clear purpose
2. Props Interface: Use TypeScript interfaces for all props
3. Event Emission: Emit events for parent component communication
4. Accessibility: Include ARIA labels and keyboard navigation
5. Performance: Optimize for large datasets and complex interactions

API Integration

1. Composable Patterns: Use established composable patterns for API calls
2. Error Handling: Implement comprehensive error states and recovery
3. Type Safety: Maintain strong typing throughout API integration
4. Caching Strategy: Cache responses appropriately for performance
5. Loading States: Provide visual feedback during async operations

State Management

1. Local First: Keep state as local as possible to components
2. Reactive Patterns: Use Vue's reactivity system effectively
3. Composable Logic: Extract business logic to reusable composables
4. Error Boundaries: Handle errors gracefully with user feedback
5. Performance: Optimize reactive state for large datasets

Resources and Examples

Codebase Exploration

• Components: /app/components/ - Reusable Vue components
• Composables: /app/composables/ - Reactive business logic
• Pages: /app/pages/ - Route-specific component compositions
• Types: /app/types/ - TypeScript interface definitions

Reference Implementations

• Metric Builder: Complex form builder with tabbed interface
• Dashboard Creator: Drag-and-drop dashboard composition
• Chart Components: ECharts wrappers with TypeScript
• API Integration: Reactive composables for all resources

Integration Examples

• Authentication Flow: Token-based auth with automatic refresh
• Workspace Context: Multi-tenant workspace management
• Real-time Updates: WebSocket integration for live data
• Form Validation: Schema-based validation with user feedback

Next Steps

Start your journey with Studio's architecture:

1. Core Concepts - Understand the foundational patterns
2. Component Patterns - Explore specific component patterns
3. API Integration - Learn API integration strategies
4. UI Components - Master the component library
5. Data Flow - Understand reactive state management

Studio provides a comprehensive foundation for building custom analytics interfaces that are maintainable, scalable, and user-friendly.