# Perlite

> Model-driven visual engineering studio compiling declarative domain models into 100% customer-owned, enterprise-grade NestJS, Prisma, and React TSX applications with zero vendor lock-in and zero runtime seat taxes.

- Website: https://perlite.dev/
- Early Access & Cohort Application: https://perlite.dev/#partner-program
- Primary Architecture: NestJS, Prisma, TypeScript, React TSX, PostgreSQL, SQLite
- License Model: $0 runtime seat licensing; self-hostable on any cloud or Kubernetes cluster

## Overview

Perlite bridges the gap between high-velocity visual domain modeling and pro-code engineering standards. Unlike legacy enterprise low-code platforms (e.g. Mendix, OutSystems, Salesforce) that lock customers into proprietary runtime black boxes and charge escalating per-user seat taxes, Perlite acts as a deterministic compiler.

It translates declarative domain models (`.entity.yaml`, `.view.yaml`, `.screen.yaml`) into clean, idiomatic TypeScript source code structured as standard Git repositories.

## Core Capabilities & Technical Architecture

### 1. 100% Owned Intellectual Property (IP)
- Emits standard, human-readable NestJS controllers, services, Prisma ORM schemas, and React TSX frontend views.
- No proprietary runtime daemons, sidecars, or execution proxies.
- If a customer cancels their Perlite subscription, emitted applications continue to compile, test, and run indefinitely in their own cloud infrastructure.

### 2. Zero Runtime Seat Taxes
- $0 per seat. No fees per internal employee, external customer, or API transaction touching the running application.
- Deploy anywhere: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or bare-metal Kubernetes.

### 3. Deterministic AST Compiler (Not an LLM Code Generator)
- Perlite is a deterministic Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) compiler, not a probabilistic AI model.
- Given the same domain model, Perlite emits the exact same mathematically verified NestJS and React code every single time—eliminating hallucinations, phantom dependencies, and prompt regressions.
- Developer AI tools (Cursor, Copilot, Claude) work synergistically inside Perlite applications because custom business logic is isolated into clean, protected action points rather than prompt-dumped monolithic spaghetti.

### 4. Zero Developer Deskilling (Pure TypeScript)
- Custom business logic is written in 100% standard, strongly typed TypeScript inside familiar NestJS service classes.
- Developers use standard IDEs (VS Code, WebStorm, Neovim) with native linting and CI/CD security scanning, avoiding closed vendor scripting dialects (e.g. Apex, Microflows, GlideRecord).

### 5. AST Protected Action Points (Safe Re-Generation)
- Perlite uses `ts-morph` Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) engine to identify protected semantic code action points.
- Custom TypeScript business logic, external API integrations, and proprietary algorithms are extracted, preserved, and mathematically re-woven into updated structural layouts without manual merge conflicts.

### 6. Enterprise Governance & Standards by Construction
- **Domain-Driven Design (DDD):** Cleanly partitioned bounded contexts, aggregates, and domain events.
- **SOLID & Clean Architecture:** Emits Split-Function Service Bundles where every entity action (`CreateOne`, `UpdateOne`, etc.) is an isolated, single-responsibility class under strict file-size limits.
- **OWASP Top 10 by Construction:** Prisma parameterized queries prevent SQL injection; typed DTOs with `class-validator` prevent mass-assignment attacks.
- **Multi-Tenant Scoping:** Built-in compiler guardrails automatically inject tenant isolation (`where: { tenantId }`) across all database queries and mutations.
- **Envelope Encryption:** Automated AES-256-GCM field-level encryption and authenticated decryption on read/write boundaries.
- **Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):** Fine-grained permission matrices compiled directly into NestJS execution guards with deny-by-default policies.
- **WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility:** Semantic HTML5 landmarks, full keyboard tab focus management, ARIA states, and minimum 4.5:1 color contrast tokens.

### 7. Visual Engineering Studios
- **Business Capability Mapping (BCM):** Executive-level architecture topology linking strategic business goals and capabilities directly to underlying data entities.
- **Entity-Relationship Model Canvas:** Visual domain modeling with dynamic relational constraints, traits, state machines, and real-time AST compilation.
- **Screen Stitcher Studio:** Compose dynamic dashboards, forms, master-detail panels, and KPI summaries backed by live database endpoints.

## Who Perlite Is Built For

- **Enterprise Architects:** Maintain living, mathematically validated domain models that stay aligned with running metal.
- **CTOs & VPs of Engineering:** Achieve 10x engineering velocity while reducing architectural drift, technical debt, and team burnout.
- **Senior Software Engineers:** Eliminate repetitive CRUD and boilerplate plumbing while maintaining full control over core TypeScript logic.
- **Security & CISOs:** Enforce deny-by-default access, tenant isolation, and encryption directly through the compiler pipeline.
- **Platform & DevOps:** Deploy standard Docker containers and Kubernetes manifests with standard CI/CD pipelines.

## Early Access Partner Programme

Cohort 1 is open for select enterprise design partners co-developing greenfield microservices or modernizing legacy low-code platforms.
- Application: https://perlite.dev/#partner-program
- Direct Contact: hello@perlite.dev