Blank Canvas Mode¶
Audience: Intermediate users | Status: V1 Advanced | Verified against: v0.43.0
Recommended: Start with Learning Mode
If this is your first time using CloudBlocks, start with First Architecture from a Template or a guided learning scenario via the Learn button in the menu bar. Blank canvas mode is for users who have completed guided scenarios and want to build a custom architecture from scratch.
This guide walks you through designing a cloud architecture from an empty canvas without using a template.
Step 1 — Create a Network¶
Every architecture starts with a network block.
- On the empty canvas, click Practice on Blank Canvas to dismiss the overlay and start with an empty workspace.
- Alternatively, open the Sidebar Palette and drag Network (VNet) onto the canvas.
The network block represents your primary logical boundary (Virtual Network or VPC).
Step 2 — Add Subnets¶
Subnets partition your network into isolated segments.
- In the Sidebar Palette, find Subnet (under Network category or Foundation group).
- Click or drag it inside your Network on the canvas.
- Add a second subnet to separate tiers — one for internet-facing resources, another for backend services.
Disabled Resources
Resources that require a network appear disabled in the palette. Hover over them to see the requirement tooltip.
Step 3 — Place Resources¶
Add resources from the Sidebar Palette. Resources are organized into 8 categories:
| Category | Example Resources |
|---|---|
| Network | NAT Gateway, Public IP, Route Table, Private Endpoint |
| Delivery | DNS Zone, CDN Profile, Front Door, Application Gateway, Load Balancer, Firewall |
| Compute | Functions, App Service, Container Instances, VM, AKS |
| Data | Blob Storage, SQL Database, Cosmos DB |
| Messaging | Queue (Service Bus), Event Hub |
| Security | Key Vault, Bastion, NSG |
| Identity | Entra ID, Service Principal |
| Operations | Monitoring |
- Click a resource in the palette to place it automatically on the best available container.
- Drag a resource onto the canvas to place it manually.
Step 4 — Connect Resources¶
CloudBlocks uses a port-based connection model.
- Click an output port on the source resource.
- Click an input port on the target resource.
See Core Concepts — Connections for allowed connection flows and semantic types.
Step 5 — Validate¶
Run Build → Validate Architecture and check the Validation tab in the Bottom Dock. Fix any placement or connection errors.
Step 6 — Export Starter Code¶
Once your architecture is valid, export Terraform starter code via Build → Generate Code. This helps you learn what your visual design looks like as infrastructure-as-code.
Bicep and Pulumi export are also available (Experimental).
Example: Three-Tier Web Application¶
Network (VNet)
├── Subnet 1
│ ├── Application Gateway (Delivery)
│ └── Virtual Machine (Compute)
└── Subnet 2
├── SQL Database (Data)
└── Blob Storage (Data)
Tips¶
- Tiered Pattern: Arrange resources in a logical flow — Internet → Delivery → Compute → Data.
- Rename Blocks: Click any block and edit its name in the Inspector Panel.
- Undo: Use Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z to quickly revert mistakes.
- Templates: Consider starting from a template or a guided scenario rather than building from scratch.
- Learning Mode: If you get stuck, try the Learn button in the menu bar for guided practice.
What's Next?¶
| Goal | Guide |
|---|---|
| Understand blocks and connections | Core Concepts |
| Export Terraform starter code | Code Generation |
| Browse architecture patterns | Templates |
| Try guided learning scenarios | Click the Learn button in the menu bar |