data_flow View

The data_flow view models information architecture, data lineage, ingestion boundaries, and data sensitivity classifications (PII, PHI, Confidential, Restricted).

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Visual Projection

Data Flow View illustrating data object lineage, sensitivity ratings, and encrypted persistence pipelines

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Purpose & Target Audience

• Target Audience: Data Architects, Privacy Engineers, Chief Data Officers (CDO), Data Governance Stewards.
• Primary Use Cases:
  • Mapping data lineage from ingestion touchpoints to persistent data stores.
  • Tracking the movement of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Health Information (PHI).
  • Verifying data encryption at rest and in transit across system boundaries.
  • Complying with data residency and cross-border data transfer regulations.

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Supported Entity Types

Entity Type	Role in Data Flow	Description
data_object	Core Data Entity	Logical data schemas, tables, and message events.
app	Producer / Consumer	Software applications reading, transforming, or emitting data.
system	Macro Domain	Enterprise systems housing data domains.
infrastructure	Persistence Store	Database clusters, data lakes, object stores, and caches.

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Supported Relationships & Verbs

Relationship Verb	Source Entity	Target Entity	Typical Representation
flows_to	data_object, app	system, app, infra	Data pipeline / movement edge
reads	app, component, actor	data_object	Read access edge
writes	app, component	data_object	Write / mutation edge
protects	system, control	data_object, infra	Cryptographic protection edge (mechanism "Encryption")
governed_by	data_object	policy	Data privacy retention / policy link

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Filtering & Layout Recommendations

• Recommended Layout: auto_layout LeftToRight (intake to persistence flow).
• Common Predicates:
  • include data_object where pii == true: Isolate privacy-scoped data flows.
  • include data_object where classification == "Restricted": High-security data assets.

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Complete DSL Example

views {
    data_flow v_customer_pii_lineage "Customer PII Lineage & Protection" {
        # Select PII data objects and accessing applications
        include data_object where pii == true || classification == "Restricted"
        include app
        include infrastructure

        # Show read, write, and pipeline flow edges
        include_verb flows_to both
        include_verb reads both
        include_verb writes both
        include_verb protects both

        # Ingestion-to-storage layout
        auto_layout LeftToRight

        # Style sensitive data objects with restricted highlight
        style data_object where classification == "Restricted" {
            css_class "data-restricted-red"
            icon "lock"
        }
    }
}