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Create your first log
A log is the starting point for everything in Anchorline. If you understand how to create one, you understand how to begin using the system.
This guide walks through creating a simple log and explains what happens as you use it.
What a log represents
A log is a timeline for a specific purpose.
You create a log when you want to track something over time. That might be money, a collection of items, or any system where changes matter.
Each log stays focused on one domain. You do not mix unrelated things into the same log.
Step 1: Create a log
From anywhere in the app, choose Create log.
You will be asked to give the log a name and choose a log type. The name should describe what the log is tracking, not how it is used. For example, "Household checking" or "Personal library".
Choose the log type that matches what you want to track. If you are tracking quantities like money or points, use a balanced log. If you are tracking individual things, use a collection log.
Once created, the log appears as an empty timeline.
Step 2: Add your first action
A new log has no state until something happens.
To begin, record an action. The type of action depends on the log you created. For a balanced log, this might be adding money. For a collection log, this might be creating an item.
When you add the action, it is recorded on the log's timeline. The current state updates immediately based on that action.
Nothing is edited in place. The change exists because the action exists.
Step 3: Observe the result
After your first action, the log now has both history and a current view.
You can see the result of the action right away, but you can also see when it occurred and what was recorded. These are two views of the same underlying data.
As you add more actions, the timeline grows and the current state continues to update.
What to expect going forward
Every log works this way.
You never directly edit the log's state. You move it forward by recording actions. Corrections, changes, and refinements are all handled the same way.
Once you are comfortable creating a log and adding actions, the rest of Anchorline is just variations on this pattern.
The next sections explain the core concepts in more detail and show how different kinds of logs build on the same foundation.