home / skills / a5c-ai / babysitter / diagram-generation

This skill generates multi-format diagrams from text descriptions, producing Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, and Graphviz visuals for architecture, data models, and

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---
name: diagram-generation
description: Multi-format diagram generation from text descriptions. Create Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, and Graphviz diagrams including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, architecture diagrams (C4), and data models.
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep
backlog-id: SK-006
metadata:
  author: babysitter-sdk
  version: "1.0.0"
---

# Diagram Generation Skill

Multi-format diagram generation from text descriptions.

## Capabilities

- Mermaid diagram generation (flowcharts, sequence, class, ER)
- PlantUML diagram creation and rendering
- D2 diagram generation
- Graphviz DOT language support
- Architecture diagram generation (C4 model)
- Excalidraw integration for hand-drawn style
- Diagram accessibility analysis
- SVG/PNG export with optimization

## Usage

Invoke this skill when you need to:
- Create architecture diagrams
- Generate sequence diagrams
- Build data model visualizations
- Create flowcharts and decision trees
- Export diagrams in various formats

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| type | string | Yes | mermaid, plantuml, d2, graphviz, c4 |
| diagramType | string | Yes | flowchart, sequence, class, er, architecture |
| source | string | No | Diagram source code |
| inputPath | string | No | Path to diagram source file |
| outputPath | string | Yes | Output file path |
| format | string | No | svg, png, pdf (default: svg) |
| theme | string | No | Theme for styling |

### Input Example

```json
{
  "type": "mermaid",
  "diagramType": "sequence",
  "source": "sequenceDiagram\n  Client->>API: Request\n  API-->>Client: Response",
  "outputPath": "docs/diagrams/api-flow.svg",
  "format": "svg"
}
```

## Mermaid Diagrams

### Flowchart

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[Start] --> B{Is valid?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Process]
    B -->|No| D[Error]
    C --> E[End]
    D --> E
```

### Sequence Diagram

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant U as User
    participant A as API Gateway
    participant S as Service
    participant D as Database

    U->>A: POST /users
    A->>A: Validate Token
    A->>S: Create User
    S->>D: INSERT user
    D-->>S: Success
    S-->>A: User Created
    A-->>U: 201 Created
```

### Class Diagram

```mermaid
classDiagram
    class User {
        +String id
        +String email
        +String name
        +create()
        +update()
        +delete()
    }

    class Order {
        +String id
        +Date createdAt
        +Status status
        +process()
        +cancel()
    }

    class OrderItem {
        +String productId
        +int quantity
        +float price
    }

    User "1" --> "*" Order : places
    Order "1" --> "*" OrderItem : contains
```

### Entity Relationship Diagram

```mermaid
erDiagram
    USER ||--o{ ORDER : places
    USER {
        uuid id PK
        string email UK
        string name
        timestamp created_at
    }
    ORDER ||--|{ ORDER_ITEM : contains
    ORDER {
        uuid id PK
        uuid user_id FK
        enum status
        timestamp created_at
    }
    ORDER_ITEM {
        uuid id PK
        uuid order_id FK
        uuid product_id FK
        int quantity
    }
    PRODUCT ||--o{ ORDER_ITEM : "ordered in"
    PRODUCT {
        uuid id PK
        string name
        decimal price
    }
```

### State Diagram

```mermaid
stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> Draft
    Draft --> Pending: Submit
    Pending --> Approved: Approve
    Pending --> Rejected: Reject
    Rejected --> Draft: Revise
    Approved --> Published: Publish
    Published --> [*]
```

## C4 Model Diagrams

### System Context

```plantuml
@startuml C4_Context
!include https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plantuml-stdlib/C4-PlantUML/master/C4_Context.puml

Person(user, "User", "A customer of the system")
System(system, "E-Commerce Platform", "Allows users to browse and purchase products")
System_Ext(payment, "Payment Gateway", "Processes payments")
System_Ext(email, "Email Service", "Sends notifications")

Rel(user, system, "Uses", "HTTPS")
Rel(system, payment, "Processes payments", "HTTPS")
Rel(system, email, "Sends emails", "SMTP")
@enduml
```

### Container Diagram

```plantuml
@startuml C4_Container
!include https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plantuml-stdlib/C4-PlantUML/master/C4_Container.puml

Person(user, "User")

System_Boundary(system, "E-Commerce Platform") {
    Container(spa, "Web Application", "React", "User interface")
    Container(api, "API Gateway", "Node.js", "REST API")
    Container(orders, "Order Service", "Go", "Handles orders")
    Container(products, "Product Service", "Go", "Product catalog")
    ContainerDb(db, "Database", "PostgreSQL", "Stores data")
    ContainerQueue(queue, "Message Queue", "RabbitMQ", "Async messaging")
}

Rel(user, spa, "Uses", "HTTPS")
Rel(spa, api, "Calls", "HTTPS")
Rel(api, orders, "Routes", "gRPC")
Rel(api, products, "Routes", "gRPC")
Rel(orders, db, "Reads/Writes", "SQL")
Rel(orders, queue, "Publishes", "AMQP")
@enduml
```

## D2 Diagrams

### Architecture Diagram

```d2
direction: right

users: Users {
  shape: person
}

frontend: Frontend {
  spa: React SPA
  mobile: Mobile App
}

backend: Backend Services {
  gateway: API Gateway
  auth: Auth Service
  orders: Order Service
  products: Product Service
}

data: Data Layer {
  postgres: PostgreSQL {
    shape: cylinder
  }
  redis: Redis Cache {
    shape: cylinder
  }
  s3: S3 Storage {
    shape: cylinder
  }
}

users -> frontend.spa
users -> frontend.mobile
frontend -> backend.gateway
backend.gateway -> backend.auth
backend.gateway -> backend.orders
backend.gateway -> backend.products
backend.orders -> data.postgres
backend.auth -> data.redis
backend.products -> data.s3
```

## Graphviz DOT

### Dependency Graph

```dot
digraph Dependencies {
    rankdir=LR;
    node [shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor=lightblue];

    "api-gateway" -> "auth-service";
    "api-gateway" -> "user-service";
    "api-gateway" -> "order-service";

    "order-service" -> "user-service";
    "order-service" -> "product-service";
    "order-service" -> "payment-service";

    "user-service" -> "database" [style=dashed];
    "order-service" -> "database" [style=dashed];
    "product-service" -> "database" [style=dashed];

    "database" [shape=cylinder, fillcolor=lightyellow];
}
```

## Configuration

### Mermaid Config

```json
{
  "theme": "neutral",
  "themeVariables": {
    "primaryColor": "#4a90d9",
    "primaryTextColor": "#fff",
    "primaryBorderColor": "#2d5986",
    "lineColor": "#5c6370",
    "secondaryColor": "#f0f0f0",
    "tertiaryColor": "#e8e8e8"
  },
  "flowchart": {
    "curve": "basis",
    "padding": 20
  },
  "sequence": {
    "actorMargin": 50,
    "boxMargin": 10
  }
}
```

## Workflow

1. **Parse source** - Load diagram definition
2. **Validate syntax** - Check for errors
3. **Apply theme** - Configure styling
4. **Render diagram** - Generate output
5. **Optimize** - Compress SVG/PNG
6. **Export** - Save to output path

## Dependencies

```json
{
  "devDependencies": {
    "@mermaid-js/mermaid-cli": "^10.0.0",
    "plantuml": "^0.1.0",
    "d2": "^0.6.0",
    "graphviz": "^0.0.9",
    "svgo": "^3.0.0"
  }
}
```

## CLI Commands

```bash
# Mermaid to SVG
npx mmdc -i diagram.mmd -o diagram.svg

# PlantUML to PNG
java -jar plantuml.jar diagram.puml

# D2 to SVG
d2 diagram.d2 diagram.svg

# Graphviz to PNG
dot -Tpng diagram.dot -o diagram.png

# Optimize SVG
npx svgo diagram.svg -o diagram.min.svg
```

## Best Practices Applied

- Use consistent direction (LR or TD)
- Limit nodes to 15-20 per diagram
- Use meaningful labels
- Group related components
- Include legends for complex diagrams
- Optimize for accessibility (color contrast)
- Version control diagram source

## References

- Mermaid: https://mermaid.js.org/
- PlantUML: https://plantuml.com/
- D2: https://d2lang.com/
- Graphviz: https://graphviz.org/
- C4 Model: https://c4model.com/

## Target Processes

- arch-docs-c4.js
- data-model-docs.js
- api-reference-docs.js
- adr-docs.js

Overview

This skill generates diagrams from plain-text descriptions into multiple diagram languages and export formats. It supports Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, Graphviz (DOT), and C4 architecture diagrams, with options for SVG/PNG/PDF output and optimization. The skill is built to produce clear flowcharts, sequence diagrams, data models, and architecture views suitable for documentation and design workflows.

How this skill works

Provide a diagram type and source (or a path to one). The skill parses the source, validates syntax, applies a configurable theme, then renders the diagram in the requested format. After rendering it runs optimization (SVG/PNG compression) and saves the result to the specified output path. Accessibility checks and optional Excalidraw-style output are available for hand-drawn visualizations.

When to use it

  • Creating architecture diagrams (C4) for system or container-level documentation.
  • Converting sequence or flow descriptions into Mermaid or PlantUML diagrams for API flows.
  • Documenting data models with ER/class diagrams for developer handbooks.
  • Generating dependency or topology graphs with Graphviz DOT for operations teams.
  • Producing quick visual drafts in D2 for iterative architecture discussions.

Best practices

  • Keep diagrams to 15–20 nodes to maintain readability.
  • Use consistent layout direction (LR or TD) across related diagrams.
  • Provide meaningful, concise labels and group related components.
  • Include a legend for complex diagrams and document assumptions.
  • Version control the source diagram files, not just the exported images.

Example use cases

  • Render an API sequence diagram from a short mermaid source and export as docs/api-flow.svg.
  • Produce a C4 system-context PlantUML diagram for architecture repositories.
  • Convert a DOT dependency graph into a PNG for an operations runbook.
  • Generate ER diagrams from schema sketches and optimize SVG for web embedding.
  • Create a D2 architecture draft for design reviews and iterate quickly.

FAQ

What input formats are supported?

Mermaid, PlantUML, D2, and Graphviz DOT are supported. You can pass inline source or a path to a source file.

Which export formats can I request?

SVG, PNG, and PDF exports are supported. SVG is the default and is optimized with SVGO when requested.

Can I customize styling and themes?

Yes. Theme variables (colors, spacing, sequence/flow settings) can be applied before rendering to produce consistent visuals.