Diagrams Skills Discovery
Provides automatic access to comprehensive Mermaid.js diagram skills for visual documentation.
When This Skill Activates
This skill auto-activates when you're working with:
- Process flows and flowcharts
- Sequence and interaction diagrams
- System architecture and C4 diagrams
- Database schemas and ER diagrams
- Class diagrams and state machines
- Data visualization charts
- Project timelines and Gantt charts
- Git workflows and branching
- Mindmaps and concept hierarchies
- Any Mermaid.js diagram creation
Available Skills
Quick Reference
The diagrams category contains 8 specialized Mermaid.js skills:
- mermaid-flowcharts - Process flows, decision trees, node shapes, subgraphs
- mermaid-sequence-diagrams - Interactions, message flows, participants, lifelines
- mermaid-class-state-diagrams - UML classes, relationships, state machines, FSM
- mermaid-er-diagrams - Entity-relationship, database schemas, cardinality
- mermaid-architecture-diagrams - C4 diagrams, block diagrams, system design
- mermaid-charts - Pie, XY, quadrant, radar charts for data visualization
- mermaid-project-diagrams - Gantt charts, timelines, project planning
- mermaid-specialized - Git graphs, Sankey flows, mindmaps, requirement diagrams
Load Full Category Details
For complete descriptions and workflows:
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/INDEX.md
This loads the full diagrams category index with:
- Detailed skill descriptions
- When to use which diagram type
- Common workflow combinations
- Best practices and integration patterns
Load Specific Skills
Load individual skills as needed:
# Process and logic
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-flowcharts.md
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-sequence-diagrams.md
# Structure and design
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-class-state-diagrams.md
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-er-diagrams.md
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-architecture-diagrams.md
# Data and metrics
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-charts.md
# Planning and history
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-project-diagrams.md
# Specialized diagrams
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-specialized.md
Common Workflows
Document REST API
Sequence: Architecture → Sequence → ER
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-architecture-diagrams.md # System design
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-sequence-diagrams.md # Request/response flows
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-er-diagrams.md # Database schema
Document Feature Implementation
Sequence: Flowchart → Sequence → State
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-flowcharts.md # Business logic
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-sequence-diagrams.md # Service interactions
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-class-state-diagrams.md # State management
Project Planning
Sequence: Mindmap → Gantt → Timeline
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-specialized.md # Brainstorm with mindmap
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-project-diagrams.md # Schedule with Gantt
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-project-diagrams.md # Roadmap with timeline
System Architecture Documentation
Sequence: C4 Context → C4 Container → Sequence
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-architecture-diagrams.md # System context
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-architecture-diagrams.md # Technology choices
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-sequence-diagrams.md # Runtime behavior
Database Design
Sequence: ER → Class
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-er-diagrams.md # Schema design
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-class-state-diagrams.md # ORM models
Diagram Selection Guide
Process & Logic:
- Flowchart: Algorithms, workflows, decision trees
- Sequence: API calls, protocols, service communication
- State: Lifecycle management, FSM, protocol states
Structure & Design:
- Class: Object models, API structure, OOP design
- ER: Database schema, data relationships
- Architecture: System topology, infrastructure, C4 diagrams
Data & Metrics:
- Pie: Distribution percentages, market share
- XY Charts: Trends over time, performance metrics
- Quadrant: Prioritization matrices, risk assessment
- Radar: Skill assessments, feature comparison
- Sankey: Flow analysis, conversion funnels
Planning & History:
- Gantt: Project schedules, task dependencies
- Timeline: Product roadmaps, company history
- GitGraph: Branching strategies, release workflows
Ideation:
- Mindmap: Brainstorming, concept hierarchies, learning paths
Integration with Other Skills
Diagram skills commonly combine with:
API skills (discover-api):
- Sequence diagrams for API interactions
- ER diagrams for data models
- Architecture diagrams for system design
Database skills (discover-database):
- ER diagrams for schema design
- Sequence diagrams for query patterns
- Flowcharts for migration processes
Testing skills (discover-testing):
- Flowcharts for test scenarios
- Sequence diagrams for test flows
- State diagrams for state-based testing
Frontend skills (discover-frontend):
- Flowcharts for user flows
- State diagrams for UI state management
- Sequence diagrams for data fetching
Infrastructure skills (discover-infra, discover-cloud):
- Architecture diagrams for deployment
- Sequence diagrams for CI/CD pipelines
- Gantt charts for migration schedules
Usage Instructions
- Auto-activation: This skill loads automatically when Claude Code detects diagram/visualization work
- Browse skills: Run
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/INDEX.mdfor full category overview - Load specific skills: Use bash commands above to load individual diagram skills
- Follow workflows: Use recommended sequences for comprehensive documentation
- Combine diagrams: Multiple diagram types provide complete picture
Progressive Loading
This gateway skill (~200 lines, ~2K tokens) enables progressive loading:
- Level 1: Gateway loads automatically (you're here now)
- Level 2: Load category INDEX.md (~3K tokens) for full overview
- Level 3: Load specific skills (~2-3K tokens each) as needed
Total context: 2K + 3K + skill(s) = 5-10K tokens vs 30K+ for entire category.
Quick Start Examples
"Create a flowchart for user authentication":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-flowcharts.md
"Document API interactions":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-sequence-diagrams.md
"Design database schema":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-er-diagrams.md
"Show system architecture":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-architecture-diagrams.md
"Create class diagram for ORM models":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-class-state-diagrams.md
"Visualize project timeline":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-project-diagrams.md
"Show data distribution":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-charts.md
"Document Git workflow":
cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/mermaid-specialized.md
Best Practices
- Start broad, drill down: Architecture → Sequence → Class → Flowchart
- One diagram, one purpose: Don't mix abstraction levels
- Label everything: Relationships, transitions, axes, values
- Limit complexity: Split large diagrams into focused views
- Use GitHub/GitLab rendering: Diagrams auto-render in markdown
- Iterate in https://mermaid.live: Fast feedback loop
Mermaid.js Quick Tips
In Markdown files:
```mermaid
graph TD
A --> B
```
Live Preview:
- https://mermaid.live - Official editor
- VS Code: Install "Mermaid Preview" extension
- GitHub/GitLab: Auto-renders in README.md
Common Gotchas:
- Use quotes for labels with spaces:
A["Label with spaces"] - Escape special characters in labels
- Check syntax highlighting for errors
- Start simple, add complexity incrementally
Next Steps: Run cat ~/.claude/skills/diagrams/INDEX.md to see full category details, or load specific diagram skills using the bash commands above.