# Datex Studio Runtime

> Datex Studio platform runtime semantics: platform-injected globals (`$flow`, `$datasources`, `$db`, `$shell`, `$frontendFlows`, `$operations`, `$apis`, `$flows`, `$types`, `$utils`, `$services.jobs`, `$editor`, `$datasource`), three-tier execution model (functions / actions / UI components) and the caller→callee allow/deny matrix per tier, generic CRUD action set in the Utilities package, and `controlConfig.type` values used on field controls (codeBox, textBox, numberBox, dateBox, checkBox, selectBox, button, label, text, image, draw, progressBar, matrix) with sibling-config-block rules. Not invoked directly — other skills link into the files below. Install this alongside any Datex Studio component-creator skill (action-creator, function-creator, grid-creator, hub-creator, form-creator, editor-creator, selector-creator, storage-creator, db-query, tailoring-overlay) so cross-skill references resolve.

- Skill: `datex/datex-studio-runtime` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add datex/datex-studio-runtime`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/datex/datex-studio-runtime/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: datex (https://skillmd.com/u/datex)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/datex/datex-studio-runtime

---


# Datex Studio — Runtime Semantics & Execution Model

This skill is a **library**, not a workflow. The Datex Studio component-creator skills cite the files here via relative paths (e.g. `../datex-studio-runtime/calling-conventions.md`). It exists as its own skill so that `npx skills` / `skills.sh` install it alongside its consumers — sibling non-skill directories are not copied by those tools.

## When this skill is relevant

You're following a Datex Studio component-creator skill and it points you here. Read only the specific reference file the parent skill named — do not preload the whole tree.

If you're asked a runtime question that isn't already scoped to a more specific skill (e.g. "can an action call a function?", "what's the tier rule for datasources?", "what's `$utils.isDefined` semantics?", "what fields does `codeBoxConfig` have?"), use the index below to find the right file.

## Reference index

- [runtime-globals.md](runtime-globals.md) — Platform-injected globals reference table (every `$...` global the platform exposes inside flow code, with shape and tier restrictions) and the `$utils` helper notable semantics (`isDefined` is collection-aware; `isDefinedTrimmed` is whitespace-aware).
- [calling-conventions.md](calling-conventions.md) — The three execution tiers (functions / actions / UI components), the caller→callee allow/deny matrix per tier, datasource tier rule, storage tier rule (`$db` is function-tier only), the generic CRUD action set (`crud_create_entity` / `crud_update_entity` / `crud_delete_entity` in the Utilities package).
- [control-types.md](control-types.md) — `controlConfig.type` values across forms / editors / hub filters / grid cells; sibling-config-blocks-stay-null rule; declarative-string-slot encoding via cross-link to `../datex-studio-conventions/file-format.md`; dynamic mutation via flow code on the `$<container>.fields.<id>.control.<prop>` surface; detailed `codeBox` section plus stubs for textBox, numberBox, dateBox, checkBox, selectBox, button, label, text, image, draw, progressBar, matrix.
- [scheduled-jobs.md](scheduled-jobs.md) — `$services.jobs` in depth: submission vs schedule API surface (`.submit`, `.schedule.create/update/list/activate/deactivate`), `ScheduleConcurrency`, schedule-name discipline, the idempotent initialize + enable/disable-toggle lifecycle pattern, the sync/async dispatcher pattern, and the pre-flight checklist for background-job features.

## Notes for skill authors

When a Datex Studio creator skill needs to reference content here:

1. Link with a relative path: `../datex-studio-runtime/<file>.md`.
2. Declare the dependency in the consumer's SKILL.md frontmatter:
   ```yaml
   depends:
     - datex-studio-runtime
   ```

This skill is a sibling of `datex-studio-conventions` (which covers file-format, naming-conventions, and defaults) and `datex-studio-shared` (which covers Datex Studio CLI operational context — branch selection, Studio lifecycle, designer context navigation, report authoring). The three shared-reference skills divide the cross-cutting platform knowledge by concern.