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Concepts & Terminology

This glossary aligns with the current TrueFidelity desktop UI and the system-based workflow. Use it as a reference while reading the rest of the docs.

Core Objects

System Design

  • System – A JSON configuration that defines ECUs, networks, diagrams, and runtime settings.
  • Diagram – A canvas-based view (for example, Network Topology) within a system. Each diagram opens as a tab.
  • ECU (Electronic Control Unit) – A virtual ECU that runs in a Docker container with firmware, OS, and network settings.
  • Network – A shared bus (for example, CAN) that connects ECUs in a diagram.
  • System Canvas – The visual workspace where you place ECUs and networks and wire connections.
  • Toolbox – The component palette used to drag ECUs and networks onto the canvas.
  • Properties Panel – The inspector that edits the selected ECU, network, edge, or diagram.

Layouts and Panels

  • Layout – A named workspace arrangement (System Design, Monitoring, ECU Monitoring, Network Analysis, Debugging).
  • Panel – A dockable UI surface such as Signal Viewer, Network Traffic, or ECU Console.
  • Tabset – A stack of panels organized as tabs in a single docked area.

CAN & Data Terminology

  • CAN Frame – A single message on the CAN bus with ID, DLC, payload, and timestamp.
  • Signal – A decoded value derived from a CAN payload using a DBC definition.
  • DBC File – The definition file that maps CAN frames to signals and scaling.
  • Channel / Bus – A logical CAN interface (for example, CAN, CAN1).
  • Dataset (BLF) – A playback file that contains recorded frames used by Signal Player.

Playback Concepts

  • Signal Player & Injection – The panel used to configure datasets, control playback, and manage injection.
  • Dataset Inspection – Reading metadata such as channels and frame counts for a dataset.
  • Channel Mapping – Selecting which dataset channel corresponds to each CAN network.
  • Playback State – Play, pause, or stop state for streaming frames into the system.

Injection Concepts

  • Draft – A configured override in the Signal Player tree that can be queued.
  • Injection Session – A running override stream applied to a signal.
  • Sync with playback – Keeps injection lifecycle aligned with playback state.

Monitoring & Runtime Terminology

  • ECU Hardware Status – Summary table of ECU state, architecture, board, and memory.
  • ECU Resource Monitor – CPU and memory charts for a selected ECU.
  • ECU Task Monitor – Per-process view with CPU and stack usage.
  • ECU Console – Runtime log stream from ECU containers.
  • Terminal – Interactive shell access to ECU containers.
  • Network Traffic – Live CAN frame table with filters, recording, and export.

Status Indicators

  • Docker status – Connected/Disconnected indicator in the status bar.
  • Container count – Running vs total containers shown in the status bar.
  • License status – License tier and state shown in the status bar.
  • Version – Desktop app version shown in the status bar.

Using This Glossary

  • Keep this page open while onboarding new team members.
  • Link definitions in documentation or runbooks using anchors (for example, #system).