Glossary
Many Steedos concepts are derived from Salesforce. If certain terms like "Object" or "Profile" seem unfamiliar, don't worry. Think of this document as a "Steedos-to-Human Dictionary" for your quick reference.
📚 Data Model
The skeleton of the system; it determines what your data looks like.
| Term | Analogy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Object | Spreadsheet / Table | Like a "Sheet" in Excel. A container for storing data. For example, "Customer" and "Contract" are both Objects. |
| Field | Column | Like a "Column" in Excel. An attribute within an object. Examples include "Name," "Phone," and "Address." |
| Record | Row | Like a "Row" in Excel. A specific entry of data. For example, all information belonging to the customer "John Doe" is a single Record. |
| Standard Object | Built-in Table | Out-of-the-box objects provided by the system, such as users, organizations, and space_users. |
| Custom Object | User-defined Table | Objects you create based on business needs, such as projects or invoices. |
| Lookup | Foreign Key / Weak Link | A connection between two objects. For example, selecting a "Customer" within a "Contract." Deleting the customer usually does not delete the contract. |
| Master-Detail | Parent-Child / Strong Link | A tight coupling between two objects. For example, "Expense Report" and "Line Items." Deleting the report (Master) causes the items (Detail) to be automatically deleted. |
| _id (Record ID) | Unique ID / SSN | A unique, system-generated alphanumeric string for every record (e.g., 64f1a2b3c...). The system uses this to distinguish between data entries. |
🖥️ User Interface (UI)
The face of the system; it determines how users interact with the data.
| Term | Analogy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| App | Workbench / Folder | Like a "Folder" on a smartphone home screen. |
It is not standalone software, but a collection of related menus (Tabs). e.g., a "Sales App" containing Customers, Leads, and Contracts. |
| Tab | Menu Entry | A button that opens an object's list. Note: You must create a Tab for an Object before users can see it in the navigation menu. |
| List View | Filter / Saved Search | Like "Filtering" in Excel.
A saved set of filter criteria, such as "My Pending Tasks" or "Contracts Added This Week." |
| Amis | Rendering Engine | The frontend UI framework (open-sourced by Baidu) used by Steedos. It generates pages via JSON configurations and supports drag-and-drop design. |
🤖 Automation
The brain of the system; it determines the business logic.
| Term | Analogy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Rule | Robot / IFTTT | "If This, Then That." |
Fully automated logic. For example: If Amount > $1M, Then automatically email the CEO. |
| Approval Process | Approval Flow | A process requiring human intervention: Submit -> Lock -> Manager Approval -> Finance Approval -> Finish. |
| Trigger | Interceptor / Hook | Advanced logic for programmers.
A script (Node.js) that can intercept data before saving for validation or execute complex calculations after saving. |
| WebHook | Push Notification | Sends a notification to an external URL when data changes. Commonly used to integrate with Slack, Microsoft Teams, or custom external systems. |
🛡️ Security & Permissions
The gatekeeper of the system; it determines who can see what.
| Term | Analogy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| User | Account | An individual who can log into the system. |
| Profile | Job Role / Driver's License | Determines "What you can do." |
For example: Do you have the right to "Export Data"? Can you see the "Setup Menu"? Every user must have one Profile. |
| Permission Set | Expansion Pack / VIP Card | Determines "What else you can do."
A flexible supplement to permissions. If a user has standard permissions, you can assign a "Recruitment Permission Set" to allow them to view resumes temporarily. |
| Sharing Rule | Exception / Access Grant | A rule that allows records that are normally private to be shared with specific groups of people. |
⚙️ Development & Architecture
The foundation of the system; essential for developers.
| Term | Analogy | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Metadata | Configuration / Blueprint | The soul of Steedos. Definitions for all objects, fields, and permissions exist as .yml or JSON files. |
| API Name | Unique Identifier | The programmatic name for an object or field (e.g., contracts, amount). This name must be used in code and formulas instead of the display label. |
| GraphQL | Universal API | A query language provided by Steedos that allows the frontend to request specific combinations of data from the backend in one go. |
| OData | Standard Protocol | A REST-based protocol that allows external tools like Excel or Power BI to connect directly to the Steedos database. |
| Package | Plugin / Module | A bundle of related functionalities. For example, "Inventory Management" can be bundled as a Package and installed into other Steedos instances. |
