> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://pedal.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://pedal.gitbook.io/docs/core-concepts.md).

# Core Concepts

PEDAL automates the full product engineering lifecycle. Understanding its core concepts will help you get the most out of the platform.

## Lifecycle Stages

* **Plan**: Define requirements, tasks, and workflows.
* **Code**: Scaffold projects, integrate with version control, enforce code quality.
* **Build**: Automate builds, manage artifacts.
* **Test**: Run unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.
* **Deploy**: Deploy to cloud, on-prem, or hybrid environments.
* **Monitor**: Track metrics, logs, and workflow health.
* **Maintain**: Update dependencies, clean up resources.

## Key Terminology

* **Workflow**: A sequence of automated steps (DAG) for a product lifecycle stage.
* **Pipeline**: A set of connected workflows.
* **Trigger**: An event that starts a workflow (e.g., GitHub push).
* **Integration**: Connection to external tools (e.g., GitHub, Jenkins, Slack).
* **Artifact**: Output of a build or test (e.g., Docker image).

## PEDAL Architecture

PEDAL follows a modular, service-oriented architecture:

* **CLI**: Command-line interface for managing workflows and interacting with the platform.
* **API**: RESTful API for automation and integration with external systems.
* **Web Interface**: Dashboard for monitoring and managing workflows visually.
* **Backend**: FastAPI server handling orchestration, integrations, and business logic.
* **Database**: Stores workflow state, metadata, and execution history.
* **Pipeline Engine**: Core orchestration engine that executes workflows and manages dependencies.
* **Integration Layer**: Handles connections to external services (GitHub, Slack, etc.).

The architecture is designed for scalability, with clear separation of concerns and extensible plugin support.

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> Next: [Quick Start](/docs/quick-start.md)