Getting Started in Flux: Project Setup & Workflow Guide

Overview

Ask Flux to help you turn an existing project into a complete device. For this ON AIR board, add an ESP32 controller and ask Flux to prepare the project for digital light control.

Review this ON AIR board project. Plan how to add an ESP32 so it can control the light intensity.

List the electronics, enclosure, firmware, and test work needed to turn this board into a complete device.

Build an ON AIR board with these features:

Intensity adjustment by adjusting a feedback loop with a slider
Push button for on and off
USB-C powered
Powered by a single buck converter

Use the project workspace

Ask Flux to read or update project information while you work. Use the editor views to inspect the same design.

Review the project tables and list missing component values, connections, and pin names.

Use the project requirements to update the design and summarize the changes in the project.

The project view switcher has tabs such as Schematic, Layout, Files, and Preview. Select a tab to open that view. Select Add tab to add a view such as Components, BOM, Nets, Pins, Knowledge, or Symbol. The table views below show the available columns and actions.

The Project drawer at the lower left holds project tools such as Library, Objects, Layers, Rule Sets, and Review. Select Library to expand its panel, search or filter parts, and add a component to the project. See the Part Library for import formats and part search.

Select a project object or a row in a table to show its properties in the Inspector column on the right. Minimize the Inspector to a floating badge when you need more canvas space.

Use the Chat panel to ask Flux to work on the project. Minimize Chat when you want more room for the canvas. A status badge shows when a conversation is working or needs your input. A purple dot on minimized Chat marks a request that needs your attention.

The thread list shows each conversation and its status. Select **Show Project** to return to the design.

The project drawer and Inspector remain available beside the canvas when Chat is minimized.

The purple dot marks a conversation that needs your input.

Ask Flux to check the fit of the board and its 3D parts. Then open Preview to inspect them together.

Review the board and its 3D parts for fit. Tell me what to inspect in Preview.

Check whether the connectors and mounting features are accessible in the assembled view.

Open Preview to inspect the board and its 3D parts together.

Project tables

Ask Flux to review and edit structured project information. Add the view that matches the task to the editor.

For table columns, edit steps, and review results, see Project tables: BOM, components, nets, and pins.

Review the BOM table and replace parts that are end of life. Keep the package and electrical requirements the same.

Review the Components table. Find resistors with missing values and fill in the values from the schematic.

Review the Nets table and identify power nets with fewer connections than the schematic requires.

Review the Pins table and align pin names with the firmware interface and connector labels.

Review the Knowledge view and organize the project guidance for the enclosure and PCB layout.

To open a view, open the project editor, select Add tab, then select a view. Select a tab to switch views.

Nets

Ask Flux to check connections and net properties.

Review the Nets view and list connections that do not match the schematic.

The Nets view lists Name, Pins, Connections, and net properties. Sort rows by name, pin count, connections, or property. Edit the net name, connections, and property cells. Select a row to select the net in the editor. Delete a net from its row action.

Components

Ask Flux to review component values, packages, and sourcing data.

Review the Components view for missing values, packages, manufacturer names, and part numbers.

The Components view lists Designator, Component, Value, Package, Manufacturer, MPN, Unit Price, Availability, Lead Time, and Lifecycle. Sort by designator, component, value, package, manufacturer, or MPN. Edit designators, values, package, manufacturer, and MPN. Select a row to select its component in the editor. Delete a component from its row action.

BOM

Ask Flux to check the bill of materials against the design requirements.

Review the BOM view. Compare the parts, quantities, and unit prices with the project requirements.

The BOM view lists Component, Designator, Quantity, Value, Package, Manufacturer, MPN, Description, Unit Price, Availability, Lead Time, and Lifecycle. Sort by component, designator, quantity, value, package, manufacturer, MPN, or description. Edit values, package, manufacturer, and MPN. Select a row to select its components in the editor. Select Export BOM to export the bill of materials.

Pins

Ask Flux to compare pin names with the firmware interface and connector labels.

Review the Pins view and align pin names with the firmware and connector labels.

The Pins view lists Name and the pin's available properties. Sort rows by name or property. Edit pin names and property cells. Select a row to select the pin in the editor. Delete pins from the row action.

Knowledge

Ask Flux to review and organize project guidance.

Review the project knowledge and organize the guidance for the enclosure and PCB layout.

The Knowledge view uses cards rather than table columns. Open a card to review its guidance. Select See User Context Knowledge to review user knowledge.

Symbol

Ask Flux to refine a part symbol for readability.

Review this part symbol. Suggest a clear arrangement for its pins and labels.

For a part project, add Symbol to create or edit the part symbol. The view displays the symbol canvas. Edit symbol names and labels, add or reposition pins, and arrange symbol sections.

Start a project

Ask Flux to adapt an existing project or template to your device requirements.

Find a public template for a USB-C powered controller. Explain what I can reuse for this ON AIR board.

Create a project plan for a new design based on this template. Keep its layout and add an ESP32 for digital light control.

Open Flux menu → New project. Choose the account that will own the project. Start from a public project, one of your templates, a starred template, a preloaded example, or a blank project.

Browse templates

Ask Flux what design features or rules you can reuse from a template.

Review this template and list the parts, layout rules, and terminals I can reuse for my device.

Public projects with #template in their description are available as templates. In All Templates, browse community templates. In My Templates, choose your saved templates. A template can include parts, PCB layout rules, or terminals for new projects. Use Starred to filter templates you have starred.

Open preloaded examples

Ask Flux to explain the feature you want to learn from an example project.

Explain how this example project organizes its schematic, PCB, and project files.

Suggest one change I can make to this example to learn how the project works.

Open Account menu → Profile and choose an example project. Example project names start with [Example]. You can change the examples and add or remove parts.

Create a blank project

Ask Flux to plan a new project from its requirements.

Create a project outline for a USB-C powered ON AIR sign with an ESP32 controller.

Open Flux menu → New project, select the account, then select NEW BLANK PROJECT. Add a project name and description. Add a project image from Assets → Add → Add Item → Select Image, and set project permissions for collaborators.

Clone an existing project

Ask Flux to identify the parts and layout you can reuse from an existing project.

Review this project and identify the schematic, board, and project details I can reuse for my new design.

Open the project menu and select Clone Project to continue from a copy. A clone includes project elements except comments. Forking keeps a link to the original project.

Use a module to add a reusable circuit block, such as the buck converter in this tutorial. See Electronics: schematic and PCB to review the circuit.

Set project details for Flux

Ask Flux to turn the design goals into project properties.

Suggest project properties for this ON AIR board. Include its operating voltage and wireless connectivity requirements.

Write a project description for a digitally controlled ON AIR sign.

Add project properties to describe your design goals for Flux and other users.

Project Description: Use the description field to explain the project to other users and Flux (for example, "A digitally controlled ON AIR sign").
Custom Properties: Beyond basic text, you can add specific Properties. With the schematic canvas open and no element selected, in the inspector panel on the right, under "properties", click ADD and set the following properties for this project:
- Operating voltage: 5VDC, or 4.2VDC from lithium-ion
- Connectivity requirements: Wifi

How to Ask Flux for Help

Ask Flux to make a change when you want it to update the design. Use Chat to compare options or ask questions first.

Explain how I can power this project from USB-C and a lithium-ion battery.

Find an alternative part with lower cost or better availability, then explain the differences.

You can work with Flux in two primary ways:

Chat panel: Ask Flux about your project. For example:
How do I power this project from USB-C and a lithium-ion battery?
Explain what the selected component does in this circuit.
Find an alternative part with lower cost or better availability.
Flux uses your project properties to suggest part numbers and circuit requirements. In Agent mode, Flux can add parts, draw the schematic, place and route the board, design mechanical parts and enclosures, and write firmware.
Canvas and component menu: Right-click a component or open the Flux menu to ask Flux to explain it or find an alternative.

Modern Workflows

Ask Flux to coordinate design work across the schematic, board, mechanical parts, and firmware.

Review the project plan and list the work needed from electrical, mechanical, and firmware design.

Summarize the current design decisions for the team.

Flux supports collaboration across engineering teams.

Most hardware designs are part of a multidisciplinary effort. Electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, firmware engineers, and manufacturers give input on a design. In Flux, the schematic, the board, the mechanical parts, and the firmware are in the same project, so everyone works on the same live design.

Some Flux features that support collaboration include Sharing and permissions, and comments.

Share projects and use comments to coordinate design work.

Ask Flux to prepare a short project summary for the people you will invite.

Write a project summary for an electrical and mechanical design review.

Use sharing and permissions to manage project access.

Access: Choose who can view, edit, or comment on a project.
Share a link: Copy the project URL and send it to collaborators. They need the correct access level. Read the sharing and permissions guide.
Customization: Teams can keep projects private, share them with select users, or make them public, adapting to the project's confidentiality needs.

Commenting

Ask Flux to prepare a focused review question before you add a comment.

Write a review question about the connector clearance in this layout.

How commenting benefits a modern workflow:

Contextual Feedback: Direct commenting on schematics or the PCB editor in Flux provides immediate, context-rich feedback. This feature is invaluable in multidisciplinary teams where clear communication reduces errors and enhances understanding.
Interactive Dialogue: The ability to respond, resolve, or delete comments directly within the project streamlines the review and revision process, making it more efficient and integrated.

Add a comment to the schematic or PCB editor:

Right-click the canvas and select Insert Comment.

Read the comments guide for more information.

Version Control

Ask Flux to compare the current design with the change you want to make.

Summarize the current project state and the hardware changes I plan to make next.

Flux saves project changes in version history. Open Change History to view earlier versions.

To open Change History:

Open Flux menu → Change History.
Select a version to view the project at that point in time.

What's Next

Ask Flux to write the Project Specification and industrial-design brief before you begin the enclosure or electronics.

Use this project idea to create a Project Specification. List the requirements and questions we need to answer before designing the greenhouse monitor.

Continue with Specification, then Industrial design and concept.

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