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+# Architecture overview
+
+JupyterGIS is a JupyterLab extension (based on the structure defined by
+[jupyterlab/extensions-cookiecutter-ts](https://github.com/jupyterlab/extension-cookiecutter-ts).
+
+Its architecture is based on QuantStack's
+[JupyterCAD](https://github.com/jupytercad/JupyterCAD) architecture.
+
+
+## JupyterLab
+
+### Backbone
+
+...
+
+
+## JupyterGIS components
+
+### Directory structure
+
+JupyterGIS is a monorepo containing TypeScript and Python packages.
+
+* `python/`: The Python packages! These may include some TypeScript as well (_TODO: why?
+  Link to JupyterLab extension doc?_).
+  * `jupytergis`: A metapackage including `jupytergis_core`, `jupytergis_lab`,
+    `jupytergis_qgis`, `jupyter-collaboration`, and `jupyterlab`.
+  * `jupytergis_core`: Python methods specific to JupyterLab (not JupyterLite).
+    * :star: `src/jgisplugin/plugins.ts`: Where all the commands we've defined are
+      registered in TypeScript land -- defines behaviors for menu items.
+    * `src/jgisplugin/plugins.ts`: Where commands are linked to layer and source context
+      menus.
+  * `jupytergis_lab`: _TODO: Ask Martin_.
+    * :star: `jupytergis_lab/notebook/gis_document.ts`: Entrypoint for Python API.
+    * `src/notebookrenderer.ts`: Enables rendering JupyterGIS in a Notebook.
+  * `jupytergis_lite`: A metapackage for deployment and testing of JupyterGIS in
+    JupyterLite.
+  * `jupytergis_qgis`: Enables importing and exporting QGIS project files.
+* `packages/`: The TypeScript packages.
+  * `base/`:
+    * `src/index.ts`: Entrypoint for Typescript code.
+    * :star: `src/constants.ts`: Defines all the JupyterGIS command names and
+      corresponding icons.
+    * :star: `src/commands.ts`: For each command, defines the labels, the behaviors, and
+      in what contexts each command is available.
+    * :star: `src/mainview/index.ts`: Entrypoint for the main map view.
+    * `src/toolbar/widget.tsx`: Where commands are linked to the toolbar.
+    * `src/formbuilder/`: Base React components for forms.
+  * :star: `schema/`: The source of truth for data structures in JupyterGIS. Python
+    classes and Typescript types are generated from this.
+
+
+### Schema
+
+The fundamental source of truth for many other components of JupyterGIS.
+
+* Forms: Generated from e.g. `schema/src/schema/project/layers/vectorlayer.json`
+* Project file / shared model: `schema/src/schema/project/jgis.json`
+
+
+### Model
+
+Structure defined in schema `packages/schema/src/schema/project/jgis.json`.
+
+
+#### Shared model
+
+All collaborators share this and listen for changes to this. It mediates changes with
+Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs), which is handled by `yjs`. It is the "magic
+sauce" that enables collaboration!
+
+:::tip
+You can view the shared model in many contexts by writing
+`console.log(model.sharedModel)` in a JupyterGIS TypeScript file!
+:::
+
+
+### Commands
+
+Many new features are a matter of defining a new command.
+
+
+### Forms
+
+Many forms are generated from `BaseForm`, but some forms use other classes which extend
+`BaseForm`. Each of these classes accepts the relevant schema a property in order to
+generate the form on-the-fly. The correct form class is selected in `formselector.ts`.
+
+_TODO: How much of this is specific to JGIS and how much is generic and could be
+extracted to a third-party package?_
+
+
+### Signals
+
+Signals are a [Lumino](https://lumino.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api/index.html) framework thing.
+
+_TODO: We need some help defining this section. Is this helping with listening to model
+changes? Do they carry CRDT payloads? Or simpler payload, e.g. `onLayerChange` signal
+carrying the layer ID of a changed layer?_
+
+Read more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCejhDXmzOrxhsTsQBWe-pww/videos
+
+
+### Map view
+
+Uses [OpenLayers](https://openlayers.org/doc/) as a rendering engine.
+
+
+`packages/base/src/mainview/index.ts`
+
+
+#### Swappable rendering engine?
+
+The Venn Diagram of the JavaScript map rendering engine ecosystem unfortunately looks
+like a bunch of disparate circles with few overlaps. The burden of understanding this is
+very high, and we hope to avoid shifting this burden on to our users.
+
+For example, OpenLayers has excellent support for alternative map projections and
+excellent low-level API, but lacks support for visualizing huge vector datasets with the
+GPU. DeckGL can quickly render huge datasets, but lacks projection support.