excalidraw-diagram

Workflow

Step 1: Understand the request

Before generating anything, make sure you know:

• What concept or system are they diagramming?
• What are the major components or sections?
• What is the flow or relationship between them?

If the request is vague (e.g., "make a diagram of Docker"), ask 1-2 clarifying questions:

• What specific aspect? (architecture, networking, volumes, etc.)
• What level of detail? (high-level overview vs. detailed internals)

Step 2: Research if needed

If you're not confident about the technical accuracy of the concept, research it before diagramming. Verify:

• Correct component names and relationships
• Proper hierarchy and nesting
• Accurate data flow direction

Step 3: Plan the layout

Before writing any JSON, sketch the layout mentally:

• What are the major sections? (left-to-right or top-to-bottom)
• What is nested inside what?
• What arrows connect what?

Write down the section plan:

[Section A: w=170] --40px gap-- [Section B: w=170] --40px gap-- [Section C: w=640]

Step 4: Generate elements

Build elements in order:

1. Outer boxes / containers first
2. Section header text
3. Nested elements (top to bottom within each section)
4. Arrows and arrow labels last

Step 5: Save and deliver

1. Save to [concept-slug].excalidraw in the current directory
2. Show the full JSON in a code block so the user can copy it directly
3. Briefly describe what the diagram shows and what each color zone represents
4. Tell the user how to use the file:

How to view and edit your diagram:

• Go to excalidraw.com (free, no account needed)
• Option A: Click the menu (top-left hamburger icon) > "Open" > select the .excalidraw file
• Option B: Copy the JSON code block above, open excalidraw.com, and paste it with Ctrl+V / Cmd+V
• Every element is fully editable -- drag to move, grab handles to resize, double-click to edit text

Step 6: Handle feedback

If the user asks for changes:

• Shifting an element = update x/y on that element + all elements that depend on it
• Changing text = update both text and originalText fields
• Adding a zone = assign it a new color from the palette, keep spacing consistent
• If a diagram gets complex (20+ elements), build it section by section to avoid coordinate errors

Critical Rule: Text Contrast

Text inside colored shapes must be readable. Use #1e1e1e (near-black) or #343a40 (dark charcoal) for all text inside filled shapes. Never use the zone's stroke color for text sitting on that zone's background (e.g., yellow text on a yellow card is unreadable). Reserve the zone's strokeColor for shape borders and arrows only.

Design Principles

Color tells the story: One color per logical zone. Everything in the "input" zone is blue. Everything in the "output" zone is green. The viewer should understand structure before reading a word.

Nesting shows containment: If X lives inside Y, X's box is drawn inside Y's box with consistent padding. Coordinates are absolute, not relative: child_x = parent_x + padding.

Labels are short: 2-5 words per label. Longer explanations become annotations with smaller fontSize and muted color (#868e96).

White space is structure: 15px minimum gap between siblings. 40px minimum between major sections.

Arrows carry intent: Color arrows to match purpose. Label every non-obvious arrow.

Layout System

Always plan coordinates before writing JSON.

1. Identify major sections (left-to-right or top-to-bottom)
2. Assign fixed width and starting x to each section
3. Calculate gaps: 40-60px between major sections, 15-25px between siblings
4. Work top-to-bottom within sections: next_y = current_y + current_height + gap

Padding rules:

• Outer box to inner label: 8-10px top offset
• Outer box to nested box: 10-15px offset on all sides
• Sibling elements: 10-15px gap

Text width trick: Set text width = parent box width. Text centers automatically when textAlign: "center".

Arrow labels: Position as separate text elements, 20-25px above the arrow's midpoint y, with width and x matching the arrow.

Coordinate math example:

Section A: x=30,  w=170  -> right edge = 200
Gap:                        40px
Section B: x=240, w=170  -> right edge = 410
Gap:                        40px
Section C: x=450, w=600  -> right edge = 1050

Color System

For nested elements, vary the fill intensity:

• Outer: lightest (e.g., #d3f9d8)
• Inner: medium (e.g., #8ce99a)
• Deep inner: light-medium (e.g., #b2f2bb)

Typography Scale

Text width = parent box width. Text x/y offset ~8-10px from box x/y for padding.

Element Schema

Every element needs these base fields. Do not omit any.

Base fields (all types)

{
  "id": "unique-string",
  "type": "rectangle|ellipse|diamond|arrow|line|text|freedraw",
  "x": 0, "y": 0,
  "width": 100, "height": 50,
  "angle": 0,
  "strokeColor": "#1e1e1e",
  "backgroundColor": "transparent",
  "fillStyle": "solid",
  "strokeWidth": 2,
  "strokeStyle": "solid",
  "roughness": 1,
  "opacity": 100,
  "groupIds": [],
  "frameId": null,
  "roundness": null,
  "boundElements": [],
  "updated": 1,
  "link": null,
  "locked": false
}

Text fields (add to base)

{
  "text": "Label text",
  "fontSize": 16,
  "fontFamily": 1,
  "textAlign": "center",
  "verticalAlign": "top",
  "containerId": null,
  "originalText": "Label text",
  "lineHeight": 1.25
}

Arrow fields (add to base)

{
  "points": [[0, 0], [100, 0]],
  "lastCommittedPoint": null,
  "startBinding": null,
  "endBinding": null,
  "startArrowhead": null,
  "endArrowhead": "arrow"
}

Key values

• fontFamily: 1 = Virgil (handwritten, default), 2 = Helvetica, 3 = Cascadia (monospace)
• roughness: 0 = smooth, 1 = slightly rough (default Excalidraw feel), 2 = very rough
• fillStyle: "solid" for clean diagrams, "hachure" for classic Excalidraw hatching
• roundness: null = sharp corners, {"type": 3} = rounded rectangles, {"type": 2} = curved arrows
• strokeStyle: "solid", "dashed" (optional connections), "dotted"

Common Patterns

Labeled box

[Rect: x, y, w, h]
[Title text: x, y+10, w, fontSize=18]
[Subtitle: x, y+38, w, fontSize=14, strokeColor=#868e96]

Nested container

[Host rect: x=0, y=0, w=640, h=500]
[Host label: x=0, y=10, w=640]
[Item 1: x=15, y=50, w=190, h=200]
[Item 2: x=225, y=50, w=190, h=200]
[Item 3: x=435, y=50, w=190, h=200]

Arrow with label

[Arrow: x=start_x, y=mid_y, width=gap_width, points=[[0,0],[gap_width,0]]]
[Label: x=start_x, y=mid_y-25, width=gap_width, textAlign=center]

JSON Wrapper

Every diagram uses this shell:

{
  "type": "excalidraw",
  "version": 2,
  "source": "https://excalidraw.com",
  "elements": [ ... ],
  "appState": {
    "gridSize": null,
    "viewBackgroundColor": "#ffffff"
  },
  "files": {}
}