Corteza FAQs
Some frequently asked questions and answers about Corteza.
Corteza
What is Corteza?
Corteza is a 100% open-source low-code application development, business process management and integration platform developed and maintained by Planet Crust.
Who owns Corteza?
Every single part of Corteza is 100% open-source and comes with an Apache 2.0 License. That means you have full and complete ownership rights over your Corteza to do what you want with it, including:
– Use Corteza or any part of it in your commercial products for free.
– Use, modify, distribute or sell Corteza or any part of it as you like.
– Release your modified version of Corteza under any license of your choice.
– Claim copyright over your configuration files and issue binaries as proprietary software.
Where can I see the Corteza source code?
All Corteza software code is published and can be reviewed at https://github.com/cortezaproject.
Who administers Corteza’s code?
The Corteza code is protected under the auspices of the independent Commons Conservancy Software Foundation.
For more information, please visit https://cortezaproject.org/.
Can I change Corteza’s code?
Yes, you are free to modify the Corteza code as you like with no obligation to publish your modified code.
By contrast, most open-source low-code software comes with the restrictive General Public License (GPL) or Affero General Public License (AGPL), which require you to publish any new code you add, which is known as “copyleft” restrictions.
Do I need to publish any code changes I make?
No, you have no obligation to publish any modifications you make to the Corteza code.
Will I always have access to the Corteza code?
Yes! Corteza is and will always be 100% open-source.
Who owns the apps I build on Corteza?
You do. Everything you build on Corteza belongs to you to do with what you want.
Can I use Corteza to build applications that I sell under my own brand and license?
Yes! What you build on Coreza belongs to you to sell under your own brand and license if you like.
How much does Corteza cost?
As 100% open-source software, Corteza is free to download, install, use and distribute at no cost.
Support
Why should I get an Assurance and Support contract?
With an Assurance and Support subscription, you’ll be able to quickly resolve any issues that come up with your Corteza. We’ll be there to guide your team in Corteza best practices, help you resolve complex production problems and prioritize your bug fixes. In addition, our detailed onboarding process will document all your goals and requirements so we can guide you through the app-building cycle and help you maintain your apps. You’ll also have access to personalized training and our Production Services
A support subscription will also reduce your overall operational risk since we’re the ones who handle every aspect of maintaining the code and improving and iterating the platform. By getting an Assurance and Support subscription, you’ll help future-proof Corteza by making it possible for us to maintain and develop the platform long into the future. Plus, you’ll get an integral say in determining our roadmap and where Corteza will go over time so it matches your needs. And if there’s a feature you want, simply request to put it on our roadmap.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
What’s included in Planet Crust Assurance and Support?
With an Assurance and Support contract, we’ll help you resolve any technical issues you may experience with Corteza and ensure that all your apps work as you intended them to.
You’ll have access to our online support desk, so you can submit support requests and get relevant feedback and assistance.
We'll help you with set-up as well as configuration issues. And if you discover a software malfunction in the Corteza platform, we’ll prioritize it and fix it so you experience minimum delays with application builds.
Advanced or Premium subscriptions cover the entirety of the Corteza platform and all its features. Standard subscriptions are limited to Corteza’s “no-code” features.
With an Advanced or Premium subscription, you’ll also receive personalized training and get access to our Production Services (which are billed separately).
A Premium subscription will also provide you with additional services such as access to our core team, business analysis, roadmap development and co-development.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Can I access all of Corteza’s features without a support contract?
Yes. Corteza is 100% open-source. The entire platform and all of its features are available you to use. An Assurance and Support contract merely dictates which features we’ll help you with. Choose an Advanced Assurance and Support contract to make sure all of Corteza’s features are covered.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Can I wait to get a support contract when I need it?
Yes, of course. Since Corteza is 100% open-source, you’re free to use it for as long as you like without an Assurance and Support contract in place.
That being said, Corteza is both extremely flexible and extremely complex under the hood. If you’re serious about using Corteza for your business, we highly recommend taking out an Assurance and Support contract as soon as possible to ensure that you get exactly what you want out of Corteza without any hiccups.
Do you offer training for Corteza?
Yes, Advanced and Premium Assurance and Support subscribers have access to personalized, individual or group video training in how to use Corteza, Corteza best practices and how to property maintain your apps and workflows. Training is included in the cost of the subscription.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Can I hire Planet Crust to build apps and workflows for me on Corteza?
Yes, Advanced and Premium Assurance and Support subscribers have access to our Production Services, which include custom low-code application development, workflow and integration services.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Can I hire Planet Crust to create integrations for me?
Yes, Advanced and Premium Assurance and Support subscribers have access to our Production Services, which include custom low-code application development, workflow and integration services. We don't provide Production Services to Corteza users who don't have either an Advanced or Premium support subscription with us.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Are Production Services included in the price of the support subscription?
No. Production Services are billed separately from your Assurance and Support Subscription.
For more information about the cost of production services, contact us.
Application Development
Is Corteza a RAD platform?
That probably depends on who you ask. As a low-code platform, Corteza most definitely facilitates rapid application development by speeding up the development process without sacrificing quality. Additionally, Corteza is designed to handle complex business logic and other requirements, and comes with robust, ready-made frameworks, scalable architecture, built-in and reusable components, strong reporting tools that let you test as you iterate, flexible data models and powerful API integration functionality. Corteza also gives you the flexibility to customize your code by letting you export it as a YAML file. You can even work at the Corteza source code level to customize UIs.
On the other hand, Corteza is a low-code platform, not a coding platform and in that sense isn’t a hard-core RAD platform where you can see the code as you build your app.
What types of apps can I build with Corteza?
You can build any type of record-based web application on Corteza, e.g. CRMs, customer service platforms, supply chain management systems, logistics solutions, BMP solutions, urban data platforms, patient management systems, call center software, agency management systems, event management software, donor/beneficiary management systems, and more. If it’s record-based, you can build it!
How many apps can I build on Corteza?
As many as you want. However, how many apps we’ll provide support for depends on your Assurance and Support subscription.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
How many apps do you provide support for?
How many apps we provide support for depends on your Assurance and Support subscription.
Find out more here: Assurance and Support.
Does Corteza come with pre-built apps?
Yes, Corteza comes with a pre-built CRM that you can customize and build on top of as you like. It also comes with a Service solution. More pre-built apps are in the works.
Can I use Corteza as a CRM?
Yes. Corteza comes with a pre-built CRM that you can customize and build on top of as you like. Or you can build your own CRM.
Can I see and edit the underlying code for the apps I build?
Yes. You can export all your apps as YAML files and inspect and edit the code. However, Corteza isn’t set up for you to inspect or edit the code within the platform itself.
Can I use Corteza to build mobile apps?
Not at the moment. This is something we’re working on for the future.
Workflows
Can I use Corteza as a BPM platform?
Yes. Corteza is BPMN 2.0 compliant and comes with a visual workflow builder, javascript scripting engine, flexible processes models, bi-directional API integration, messaging queues, a chart and page builder, advanced reporting and more.
Is Corteza BPMN 2.0 compliant?
Yes. Corteza is standardized according to BPMN 2.0.
Integrations
Can I use Corteza as an integration hub?
Yes. Corteza comes with a REST API and Integration Gateway and supports integrations flows, app-to-app integration, microservice integration, data integration, cloud and local integrations, endpoint connectors, and custom connectors. Additionally, Corteza comes with a centralized console, developer tools, integration monitoring, real-time processing and role- and resource-based access controls.
How does the integration Gateway work?
Corteza’s Integration Gateway connects with any third-party source, whether it supports a REST API or not, and lets you pre-filter data payloads it receives from third-party systems. You can also use it to call on Corteza Workflow to process data or perform further actions on it, including post-filtering and sending it to a third-party system.
What can Corteza integrate with?
Corteza can integrate with any record-based, machine-readable data system.
Do you have any pre-configured integrations?
Not at the moment. This is something we are working on and will release in the near future.
Data
What databases does Corteza support?
Corteza supports MySQL and PostgreSQL databases with others to be added, along with support for multiple, simultaneous database sources.
How do I migrate data to Corteza?
You can import your data records as either JSON or CSV files. You can import app and workflow configurations as YAML files.
Can I export my data?
Yes. You can export all your records as either JSON or CSV files and all your app and workflow configurations as YAML files.
Can I export my app configurations and workflows?
Yes, you can export all your app and workflow configurations as YAML files.
User Interface
Can I customize the Corteza UI?
Yes. You can use CSS to customize the look and design of any part of Corteza, as well as to create different looks for different parts and apps.
Can I use my own or a third-party UI and only use Corteza as the back-end?
Yes. You can connect the Corteza backend server to any other UI to and still stay in sync with all new Corteza releases.
Can I use Corteza as a customer portal or CMS?
Corteza itself is not set up as a customer portal or CMS, but you can connect the Corteza backend server to any customer portal or CMS such as ZenDesk, WordPress, Drupal and others and still stay in sync with all new Corteza releases.
Does Corteza come in other languages?
The Corteza user interface is in English. However, Corteza is internationalized according to i18n, which means that Corteza can be localized into any of the planet’s 7,000+ languages.