Nodelus lets you shape layouts fast. Drag bars to resize, use Shift to move just a segment, and snap into clean lines. Panels (Areas) are your workbenches for future tools.
Blue = movingGreen = will snapPurple = intersection debug
What is Nodelus?
A live layout engine. You arrange Areas (panels) by moving bars and intersections. Today it’s a clean layout demo; soon it hosts real tools, data views, and editors inside each Area.
⚡ Fast: bars snap into tidy lines; intersections slide on both axes.
🧠 Simple mental model: move bars, split panels, save layouts.
🔒 Secure: site runs over HTTPS.
1) Move a whole bar chain
A
LMB a separator bar and drag. The chain highlights blue.
B
Near a match, it turns green. Release to snap.
2) Move just a segment
A
Hold Shift + LMB on a separator to shorten the chain between the nearest intersections.
B
Snapping still applies. Great for precise nudges around tight corners.
3) Move an intersection (┼ or T)
A
LMB a 4-way (┼) or T (⊢ ⊣ ⊤ ⟘).
B
Drag to move vertical and horizontal bars together. Each axis snaps independently. Debug guides may appear purple.
4) Split · Join · Swap
A
Split — Middle-click (MMB) a panel border. Top/bottom ⇒ vertical split; left/right ⇒ horizontal split. If too small, the border flashes.
B
Join — MMB press on a separator to preview. Release over a target Area to merge when a clean rectangle is possible.
C
Swap — While previewing on a separator, release over the bar to swap the two neighbor Areas.
Status: Splits and preview behaviors are active; joins/swaps commit in compatible builds.
Save · Load · Tabs
💾Save / Save As / Open — Export a JSON of your layout. Drag-drop a layout file to reopen it.
🗂️Tabs — Add with “+”, rename (double-click / F2), duplicate, delete (keeps at least one).
🔁 Nodelus remembers your last layout between sessions.
Quick Keys
I — toggle info
R — refresh/redraw
More shortcuts later (undo/redo, preferences).
Tips for fast brains
🖱️ Aim for the bar to move a chain; aim for the intersection to move both axes.
🎯 Intersections have generous click zones.
🧲 Blue = moving, Green = snap now.
🦺 Safety avoids creating tiny gaps around near-intersections.
Nodelus Quick Card — v070
Nodelus is a live layout engine. You arrange Areas by moving bars/intersections; layouts snap into tidy lines.
Move
LMB bar: move a whole bar chain (blue). Near a match: green → release to snap.
Shift+LMB bar: move just the segment between intersections.
LMB on ┼ or T: move both axes; each snaps independently.