Questions and answers

Do I need a big process mining project to get started?

No. A classic process mining project usually means buying a platform, a data team building connections to your systems, and consultants for several weeks before anyone sees a map.

With glasstarn:

• There is nothing to buy. It is free and open source.
• You start from an export you can make yourself, such as a CSV or Excel file. If you need data from a system such as SAP or Salesforce, your agent tells you exactly what to export, and writes a short request you can send to the system’s admin.
• Install takes a few minutes, and you can see a first map the same day.
• Your AI app walks you through each step and explains the results.

You can get started on your own. If your team would like a hand, Tropical Glacier offers quick consulting or training. Email hello@glasstarn.com.

I am new to AI agents. Is this hard?

No. You type what you want in your AI app, in normal words, and it does the rest. You do not need to learn commands. Install glasstarn with one line, then try the Five minute demo.

Is it free?

Yes. glasstarn is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence. There is no paid version.

How does the cost compare with enterprise tools?

glasstarn has no software licence fees. You can investigate a process on your computer with the AI agent you already use, without buying an enterprise platform. Your AI app’s usual costs still apply.

How much of my AI plan does it use?

The glasstarn engine uses deterministic calculations on your computer, with no AI. Your agent reads short summaries, keeping AI usage similar for large and small files.

Does my data leave my computer?

Your files and the calculations stay on your computer. Your AI app sees summaries, such as counts, times and step names, and sends them to the company that runs it. You can hide names from it. See Privacy and trust.

Which AI apps does it work with?

Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Antigravity, or any other agent app that can run commands on your computer. Use the desktop app, not the browser version. We test with Claude and ChatGPT. See Install.

Do I need to click through the screens?

No. Keep talking to your agent and your open results page follows along: new answers appear on it, and when you ask to see something, such as “show me the three main variants”, it moves there and puts on the filter by itself. This needs no computer use or browser control, so it works in every agent app glasstarn supports. You can still click around yourself whenever you like.

What else can I ask my agent for?

Anything that builds on the results: slides, a summary for your manager, improvement ideas, a draft SOP, a comparison of two months. Just keep asking. See Keep going.

Which processes does it work with?

Any workflow that records what happened and when: purchasing, sales, service tickets, claims, hiring, permits and more.

What data can I use?

Start with an Excel workbook or CSV export from your system. glasstarn also reads other table and process-log formats; see supported file types. It needs an ID for each item, a step name and a time. More columns, such as amount, region or who did the step, give you more insight.

Not sure what to export? Install glasstarn and ask your agent. It knows how systems like SAP and Salesforce store their data, and tells you exactly what to export or what to ask your admin for. See What your data needs.

Can it follow work across systems?

Yes. glasstarn can link related records across systems to show how work moves between them. For example, an order in one system can be linked to its invoice in another. Your agent helps you match the records and follow the work across them. See Linked records.

Which systems does it work with?

Any system you can export a table from. glasstarn already knows how about 60 common processes are stored in systems such as SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, HubSpot, Dynamics 365 and Jira, so your agent can tell you exactly what to export. See Systems glasstarn knows.

What does my file need?

Three things on every row: which item it is about, what happened, and when. Everything else is optional. See What your data needs.

How big a file can it handle?

The browser accepts uploads up to 100 GiB (about 107 GB). That is an upload limit, not a guarantee that every file that size will fit in memory or analyse quickly. File format, the number of events and links, and your computer’s available memory all matter. For large exports, CSV or Parquet is usually a better starting point than a workbook. Start with a useful period for one process, then expand it.

Can it watch my process live?

No. glasstarn works on exports you make when you want them. To see a newer period, export again and refresh the project.

Does it tell me why something is slow?

It tells you where the time goes and what slow items have in common. It does not claim causes. Your agent will suggest explanations and label them as guesses, so you can check them with the people who do the work.

Can I share the results?

Yes. Export the map as BPMN, or ask your agent to write a summary or make slides from the results. You can also zip the project folder and open it on another computer.

What does glasstarn mean?

A tarn is a small mountain lake left behind by a glacier. Glass, because its water is so clear you can see right to the bottom. That is the idea: see your process clearly, all the way down. The logo is two peaks reflected in that water.

Who makes glasstarn?

Tropical Glacier LLC, based in Massachusetts. Contact hello@glasstarn.com.