System requirements
In short: SciNodes runs in a current desktop browser, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari, with WebGL2 and hardware acceleration turned on. You need at least 4 GB of memory and 2 CPU cores. 16 GB and 8 cores are recommended for the largest maps. The browser window must be at least 768 pixels wide and 500 pixels tall. To test your computer, open the user menu and click Device Check.
Minimum and recommended
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| CPU cores | 2 | 8 |
| Graphics | WebGL2, integrated graphics | WebGL2, discrete graphics |
| Browser | All required features | Current version |
| Window size | 768 × 500 pixels | — |
Required browser features are WebGL2, WebAssembly, structuredClone, OffscreenCanvas and ResizeObserver. Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari have them all. Nothing needs to be installed: SciNodes runs entirely in the browser.
Memory and map size
Maps are drawn on your computer, so bigger maps need more memory.
| Map size | What it means | Memory needed |
|---|---|---|
| Small maps | Up to about 4,000 nodes | 4 GB |
| Large maps | Up to about 60,000 nodes, with the default edge limit | 8 GB |
| Very large maps | Beyond 65,000 nodes, shown as an overview in chunks | 8 GB |
| Large maps, all edges shown | A large map with the edge limit raised | 16 GB |
To keep a map light, show fewer edges or nodes with Thresholds in the map configuration panel, or build the map from a corpus slice. See Map controls and styling.
Run Device Check
Device Check measures your computer and browser against these requirements.
- In SciNodes, click your avatar to open the user menu.
- Click Device Check. You can also open User Preferences → Device check.
- Click Run test. It takes about a second.
- Read the Compatibility rating at the top.
- Under Requirements, compare This device with Minimum and Recommended for each row.
- Under What this device can open, see which map sizes your computer can handle.
- After you change a browser setting, click Re-run test.
The test runs locally. Nothing is sent to SciNodes, and the result is saved in this browser only.
| Compatibility | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Excellent | Fast, with plenty of memory and cores |
| Good | Nothing is below the recommendation |
| Fair | Meets every minimum, but something is below the recommendation |
| Limited | Something is below the minimum. Large maps may be slow or fail. |
| Unsupported | WebGL2 or a required browser feature is missing. Maps can't be drawn. |
Each requirement row shows Meets recommended, Meets minimum, Below minimum or Not reported. Each map size shows Supported, Workable, Not supported or Unknown.
Device Check rows are Memory, CPU cores, Processing speed, Graphics and Browser. Processing speed times a short task taken from opening a map and compares it with a reference computer: "1.3× reference" or lower is recommended, and above "3.5× reference" is below the minimum.
Screen size, phones and tablets
The SciNodes app is built for desktop and laptop screens. If the window is narrower than 768 pixels or shorter than 500 pixels, the app is covered by "SciNodes will soon be available on mobile."
- On a desktop or laptop: make the browser window larger, or zoom out with
Ctrl+-. - On a phone or tablet: if the browser supports full screen, click Use fullscreen to use SciNodes full screen in landscape. If the device is upright, you see "Rotate to landscape". Turn the device sideways.
- If full screen isn't available, you see "Until then, please use a device with a larger screen."
The sign-in, sign-up and password reset pages work on any screen. If you're signed in, the screen-size message also has a Log out button. SciVerse and SciNodes Academy don't have this screen-size check.
Allow pop-ups for Google and Microsoft sign-in
Signing in with Google or Microsoft opens a pop-up window. This applies to the app, SciVerse and Academy. Allow pop-ups for app.scinodes.com, sciverse.scinodes.com and academy.scinodes.com. If pop-ups are blocked, you see "Your browser blocked the sign-in window. Allow pop-ups and try again."
Troubleshooting
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Maps cannot be rendered without WebGL2. Check that hardware acceleration is enabled." | The browser isn't offering WebGL2. | Turn on hardware (graphics) acceleration in your browser settings, restart the browser, then click Re-run test. |
| "Rendering in software rather than on the GPU. Enable hardware acceleration in your browser settings." | Graphics run on the processor, which is too slow for maps. | Turn on hardware acceleration and update your graphics drivers. |
| "Missing: features. Update your browser." | The browser lacks a feature SciNodes needs. | Update your browser, or switch to a current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. |
| "Below the 4 GB minimum. Larger maps are likely to stall or crash the tab." | The computer has less memory than SciNodes needs. | Use small maps, close other tabs, or use another computer. |
| "This browser does not report device memory, so RAM could not be checked." | Firefox and Safari don't share memory size with websites. | Nothing is wrong. Check your computer's memory in its system settings. |
| "Maximum texture size is Npx, so exported map images will be downscaled." | Your graphics limit image size. | Map exports will be smaller than requested. See Exporting maps. |
| "Roughly N versions behind the current release." | Your browser is out of date. | Update your browser. |
| "SciNodes will soon be available on mobile." | The window is too small for the app. | Enlarge the window, zoom out, or click Use fullscreen. |
Large maps can be slow even on a supported computer. Close other heavy tabs, lower the Thresholds, or turn off showing all edges.
FAQ
Can I use SciNodes on a phone or iPad?
Not fully yet. The app needs a window at least 768 × 500 pixels. On a phone or tablet that supports full screen, Use fullscreen in landscape lets you in. SciVerse and Academy work without this limit.
Which browser should I use?
Any current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. Chrome and Edge report memory size to Device Check, so the memory check is more complete there.
Why does Device Check say "8 GB or more" when I have 16 GB?
Browsers report at most 8 GB, so Device Check can't confirm the 16 GB recommended for large maps with all edges shown.
Does Device Check send my hardware details to SciNodes?
No. It runs in your browser and saves the result on this device only.