π§ Think in semio
π§© Understanding semio: The Anatomy of a Modular Design System
Letβs say youβve just bought a big LEGO box. Inside, you can build a spaceship, a castle, or a race car. Everything starts from that box, and thatβs how semioβs architecture works too.
π¦ Kit = The LEGO Box
- A Kit is your complete LEGO set π§°
- It holds all the parts, instructions, and models you need to build anything π§±
- In semio, the Kit is your project container π
- It includes everything related to your modular system:
- π Designs, π§± Building Blocks, π Connection Logic, π Various Data
π§Ύ Design = The Model You Build
- A Design is one specific thing you build
- Like a spaceship π, a launchpad π§±, or a tower π°
- Itβs made of multiple LEGO parts arranged with intention π―
- You can build many different Designs from the same building components π§°
π§± Type = The Unique Brick Mold
A Type in semio is your brick mold β the unique template behind a distinct kind of brick π§±
- π§ Each Type defines a distinct brick mold
- That means: a unique combination of shape, role, and connection logic
- For example: a 2Γ4 brick, a window brick, or a roof brick π§±
- π It acts as the blueprint of that brick
- Describing what it is, how it looks, and how it connects π§
- β»οΈ Once defined, a Type can be reused to create many identical bricks
- Helping you build modular, consistent, and scalable systems π§©
π Piece = A Brick You Actually Use
- A Piece is an individual brick you place in your design π§±
- Itβs a distinct instance of a Type β the brick mold it was made from π§°
- For example, if you use ten red 2Γ4 bricks, each one is a separate Piece β but they all come from the same mold
- Each Piece inherits the following from its Type:
𧬠Geometry β its shape
π§ Design meaning β what it represents
π Connection Points β where and how it snaps to others
π Metadata β additional properties
β Port = The Connection Point
- A Port is a smart, intentional connector π§²
- Like a LEGO stud or socket π§±, but placed exactly where itβs needed π―
- Each Port tells the system where and how a Piece connects π§
- Ports are defined once on a Type and automatically inherited by all its Pieces π§©
π Connection = The Snapping Together
- A Connection defines how two bricks fit together π§·
- Like snapping a window piece onto a wall πͺ
- Itβs not a shape or object β itβs a rule π§
- It tells the system which Ports to join and how they align β
π Example:
βConnect the top Port of Piece A β¬οΈ to the bottom Port of Piece B β¬οΈβ