Canvases
The metric map: cards, typed relationships, groups, evidence, and comments.
A canvas is one metric map — an infinite space where you lay out what you care about and how the pieces connect. Most work in Canvasm happens on a canvas.
Cards
Each box on a canvas is a card. A card has a category that says what kind of thing it is:
| Category | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Core / Value | An outcome you're trying to move | MRR, Profit |
| Data / Metric | Something you measure | New MRR, Signups, CAC |
| Work / Action | A thing your team does | "Launch annual plans" |
| Ideas / Hypothesis | A bet you want to test | "Onboarding email lifts activation" |
| Metadata | Notes and context | A segment definition |
In the MRR example, MRR is a Core/Value card and New MRR, Expansion MRR, and Churned MRR are Data/Metric cards.
Relationships
A relationship is a typed link between two cards — it says how one relates to another. Canvasm has four types:
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deterministic | A defined calculation: the source fully computes the target |
| Compositional | The target is made up of its sources (parts of a whole) |
| Causal | The source is believed to cause a change in the target |
| Probabilistic | An observed or estimated statistical link |
You can add confidence, a weight, and notes to a relationship to record how sure you are and why. New, Expansion, and Churned MRR relate to MRR compositionally (they sum to it); a driver like activation rate might relate to New MRR causally.
Groups
A group visually collects related cards on a canvas — for example an "Acquisition" group around your top-of-funnel metrics. Groups keep large maps legible and are also a unit you can attach visibility to (see Groups & visibility).
Evidence
Evidence is the proof behind a card or a relationship — attach an experiment, analysis, notebook, external research, or a user interview so the "why" travels with the map. Evidence turns a canvas from a diagram into a defensible model. See Evidence & governance.
Comments
Team members can leave comments on cards to discuss in context. Commenting needs at least the Commenter role (see Organizations & workspaces).