Product
Currently in Development
We're actively developing the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for Elan8. The features listed below represent the intended capabilities for our initial release.
What is Elan8?
Elan8 is a Git-native architecture description language and tooling stack that lets teams define, version, and automatically validate system architectures.
Core Framing
Elan8 treats architecture like code — and CI treats architecture like something that can fail.
How Elan8 works
- Define your system architecture in the Elan8 DSL
- Commit architecture alongside source code
- Automatically validate interfaces and constraints
- Catch architectural breakage locally or in CI
Elan8 in Action
Elan8 provides an IDE that shows your architecture code alongside a visual diagram. Write your architecture in the DSL, and see it rendered as a block diagram in real-time.
A Minimal Example
Here's a simple example showing how you define components, interfaces, and connections in the Elan8 DSL:
// Define an interface for power
interface flow Power24V {
across voltage: Volt
through current: Ampere
}
// Define a component
part MotorController {
port power: Power24V
port comm: Ethernet
}
// Connect components
connect power_supply.output to MotorController.power
connect router.eth0 to MotorController.commElan8 validates that interfaces are compatible, connections are properly formed, and constraints are met. If you try to connect incompatible interfaces, Elan8 will catch it during validation.
Elan8 MVP
The features we're building:
System decomposition
Break down complex systems into components, subsystems, and modules. Understand the hierarchy and relationships.
Interface definitions
Define explicit interfaces between components. Specify data flows, protocols, and contracts that components must follow.
Software + electronics
Model both software and electronics in the same architecture. Understand how they interact and depend on each other.
Text-based models
Write architecture in a human-readable DSL. Version it in Git, review it like code, and keep it in sync with implementation.
What Elan8 Validates
Elan8 automatically checks your architecture for correctness. Here are the categories of validation it performs:
Interface compatibility
Ensures connected ports use compatible interfaces
Directionality / flow mismatches
Validates that data flows and signal directions are correct
Missing or unused connections
Detects ports that should be connected but aren't
Capability requirements
Verifies that required capabilities are provided
Version or contract mismatches
Checks that interface versions and contracts match
Is Elan8 Right for You?
Good fit if you:
- ✓ Build complex, long-lived systems
- ✓ Work across HW/SW/mechanical boundaries
- ✓ Care about interface correctness and evolution
Probably not a fit if you:
- ✗ Build small, short-lived applications
- ✗ Don't version or review architecture
- ✗ Don't care about architectural drift
What Elan8 Is Not
- • Not a PLM: We focus on architecture, not product lifecycle management or manufacturing.
- • Not a replacement for engineers: Elan8 helps engineers work better together, it doesn't replace them.