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Your First Workspace

When you launch Computtite for the first time — or when you have no active workspaces — the application opens the Forge workspace creation wizard. Forge is a multi-step guided setup that configures your workspace schema, storage mode, and initial asset structure. This is where Computtite diverges from rigid spreadsheet or legacy ITAM tools: you define what your inventory looks like, not the other way around.

A workspace in Computtite is an isolated environment with its own database, its own set of asset types and fields, its own team members (in cloud mode), and its own settings. You can have multiple workspaces — for example, one for a production environment and one for staging, or separate workspaces per client if you're an MSP. Each workspace is completely independent.

Step 1 — Name and Mode

Give your workspace a name that identifies it to your team, such as "Corporate IT", "Q4 Audit", or "Lab Equipment". The name appears in the workspace selector and in all exported reports.

Next, choose your storage mode. This is the most important decision in workspace setup, and it cannot be changed after creation without migrating:

  • Local mode: All data stays exclusively on your machine. A Computtite account is required, but no internet connection is needed for day-to-day use and no workspace data ever leaves your device. This is the right choice for solo operators, privacy-first deployments, air-gapped environments, or teams that simply don't need collaboration features.
  • Cloud mode: Your workspace syncs to an online service in real time. This enables multi-user collaboration with role-based access control, member invitations, permission profiles, asset visibility restrictions, and integrations with Google Sheets and Notion. Cloud mode requires a Computtite account and an internet connection to sync — though the app works offline and catches up when connectivity is restored.

If you're unsure, start with local mode. You can always create a second cloud workspace later and migrate your data manually via the export/import tool.

Step 2 — UI Tone

Computtite offers two interface tones that control how much technical detail and advanced controls are shown throughout the app:

  • Simple: A clean, streamlined interface suitable for non-technical users or day-to-day inventory operations. Advanced configuration options are hidden behind secondary menus.
  • Advanced: All controls, field configuration options, schema editor details, and diagnostic information are visible at all times. Recommended for IT admins or anyone who wants full visibility into what the app is doing.

You can change the tone at any time from Settings → Preferences without affecting your data.

Step 3 — Choose an Industry Template

Computtite ships with seven industry template packs, each containing pre-built asset types with curated field sets. Selecting a template does not lock you in — you can add, modify, or remove any field after setup.

  • IT Infrastructure: Laptops, Desktops, Servers, Routers, Switches (optional: Printers, Phones). Ideal for enterprise IT departments managing a mixed hardware fleet.
  • Education: Laptops, Desktops, Projectors, Tablets (optional: Printers). Designed for schools and universities tracking student and faculty equipment.
  • Corporate: Laptops, Desktops, Executive and Operational Phones, Printers, Projectors. For general business environments.
  • Commerce: POS Terminals, Barcode Scanners, Receipt Printers, Store Laptops, Inventory Terminals. Built for retail, logistics, and warehouse operations.
  • Healthcare: Medical Equipment, Patient Devices, Staff Workstations, Lab Instruments. Field names and compliance notes are adapted for clinical environments.
  • Fleet: Vehicles and Phones. For operations that track physical vehicles alongside communication devices.
  • Laboratory: Lab Instruments, Desktops, Laptops. For research and testing environments.

Alternatively, select Blank to start with no predefined asset types and build your schema entirely from scratch using the Forge editor.

Step 4 — Review and Finish

Forge shows a summary of your choices before creating the workspace. Review the name, mode, tone, and template, then confirm. The workspace and its initial database are created immediately. You land on the main interface, where the sidebar shows your asset types and the dashboard gives you a health overview of your (initially empty) inventory.

Switching and Managing Workspaces

The workspace selector is accessible from the top of the sidebar. Switching workspaces does not require a restart or logout — Computtite loads the new one seamlessly. Each workspace is completely isolated, with its own data and settings.