Question 1

What is Tentra?

Accepted Answer

Tentra is an AI-native architecture platform for engineering teams. Describe a system in natural language — get an interactive diagram, export production code in 14 frameworks (Spring Boot, FastAPI, Go, Rust, and more), detect drift between diagrams and your real code. Integrates with Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Windsurf via MCP.

Question 2

How does AI architecture generation work?

Accepted Answer

In your IDE, describe a system — 'Design a payment system with Stripe, Kafka, and PostgreSQL.' Your agent calls create_architecture, which returns a typed service topology (api_gateway, service, database, queue, external) with typed connections (sync_http, async_event, db_access, grpc). You get a shareable URL to an interactive diagram on Tentra's canvas with 167 cloud components.

Question 3

What is drift detection?

Accepted Answer

Drift detection via sync_architecture compares your saved architecture diagram against the current state of your codebase. It detects services added in code but missing from the diagram, services in the diagram that no longer exist, and changed connections. It returns an accuracy score from 0 to 100 plus a structured diff — run any time, in CI, or during PR review. Architecture that stays in sync with reality, automatically.

Question 4

Do I need an OpenAI or Anthropic API key to use Tentra?

Accepted Answer

No. Tentra uses the agent-as-LLM pattern — the Claude, Cursor, or Codex agent you already have does the semantic extraction and embedding work on its side. Zero LLM cost on Tentra infra, zero API key setup for end users. Works out of the box with any MCP-compatible agent.

Question 5

How does Tentra compare to IcePanel, Lucidchart, Structurizr, and Eraser?

Accepted Answer

Tentra does everything they do (diagrams, cloud components, C4-style topologies) PLUS AI generation from natural language PLUS 14-framework code export PLUS automatic drift detection. IcePanel costs $40-80 per editor per month and has no code export. Structurizr requires you to learn a DSL. Lucidchart is general-purpose and knows nothing about architecture semantics. Eraser's DiagramGPT produces static pictures without typed architecture or scaffolds. Tentra is free in beta and is MCP-native inside Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Windsurf.

Question 6

What programming languages can Tentra export to?

Accepted Answer

Tentra exports production-ready project scaffolds in 14 formats: Java (Spring Boot 3.2), Node.js (Fastify + TypeScript), Python (FastAPI + SQLAlchemy), Go (chi + pgx), Rust (Axum + tokio), .NET (ASP.NET Core 8), Kotlin (Ktor), PHP (Laravel 11), Ruby (Rails 7 API), Elixir (Phoenix 1.7), plus Docker Compose, Terraform, Mermaid diagrams, and Architecture Decision Records (ADR).

Question 7

How do I set up Tentra with Cursor or Claude Code?

Accepted Answer

Add a .mcp.json file to your project root with the Tentra MCP server configuration. Then describe your architecture in natural language — the AI will call Tentra's tools (create_architecture, analyze_codebase, export_architecture, etc.) to generate and manage your system design. Setup takes less than 60 seconds.

Question 8

Can Tentra scan my existing codebase?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tentra's analyze_codebase tool scans your project directory and automatically detects services from package.json (Node.js), pom.xml (Java/Maven), go.mod (Go), pyproject.toml/requirements.txt (Python), docker-compose.yml, Kubernetes manifests, and Terraform files. It infers connections between services, detects databases, queues, and external services, then generates a complete architecture diagram.

Question 9

Is Tentra free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Tentra is currently in free beta. All features are available at no cost including AI architecture generation, 167 cloud components, 14 code export formats, codebase scanning, drift detection, and the full MCP integration. No credit card required.

Question 10

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how does Tentra use it?

Accepted Answer

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard that allows AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Windsurf to interact with external tools. Tentra provides 36 MCP tools — 10 primary architecture tools (create_architecture, update_architecture, analyze_codebase, lint_architecture, sync_architecture, get_spec_alignment, export_architecture, get_architecture, list_architectures, create_flow) plus 26 secondary code-graph and enrichment tools (index_code, query_symbols, find_references, safe_rename, list_god_nodes, record_contract, record_decision, and more).

Question 11

What is architecture drift detection?

Accepted Answer

Architecture drift detection compares your saved architecture diagram against the current state of your codebase. Tentra's sync_architecture tool scans your code, detects what services exist now, and reports differences: services added in code but missing from the diagram, services in the diagram that no longer exist in code, and changed connections. It provides an accuracy score from 0-100.

Tentra vs IcePanel

Key Differences