drawio-architecture

Draw.io Architecture Diagrams + MCP Integration

Create professional, editable architecture diagrams in draw.io's native .drawio XML format and integrate the official draw.io MCP server so diagrams open directly in the editor. This skill merges two proven sources:

1. Authoring knowledge — how to write correct .drawio XML for architecture, network, cloud, flowchart and ER diagrams (from Agents365-ai/drawio-skill and scarr05/claude-skills-pub).
2. MCP integration — how to configure and call the official @drawio/mcp server so the agent opens diagrams inline/editor instead of dumping XML to a file (from jgraph/drawio-mcp, the vendor's own reference).

When to use

• The user asks for an architecture / system / service / network / cloud diagram, a flowchart, ER diagram, sequence / UML class, C4 model, or any draw.io/diagrams.net visualization.
• The user wants diagrams to open in draw.io automatically (MCP) rather than be saved as a file for manual import.
• You are setting up the draw.io MCP server for the current agent/IDE and need the exact config block per platform.
• You want the agent to search the official shape library (AWS/Azure/GCP/Cisco/K8s/brand logos) without guessing shape= strings.

When NOT to use

• A casual hand-drawn / whiteboard look → excalidraw or tldraw.
• Diagrams-as-code that live in git and render in Markdown → mermaid (general) or plantuml (UML).
• Freeform infinite-canvas sketching → tldraw.

Two delivery paths (pick one, or combine)

Both paths share the same XML authoring rules in this skill — only the delivery step differs. You can generate XML with the rules below and feed it to either open_drawio_xml (path A) or a local file + CLI export (path B).

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PATH A — MCP server: configure + use

A.1 Configure the server

The server is distributed as npx @drawio/mcp (stdio). The single universal invocation is:

npx -y @drawio/mcp

Add it to your client's MCP config under mcpServers.drawio. For the concrete JSON block per platform plus self-hosting, see references/mcp-config.md (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, VS Code .vscode/mcp.json, Cursor ~/.cursor/mcp.json, OpenCode, Windsurf, and the DRAWIO_BASE_URL env for self-hosted instances).

There is also a hosted alternative (https://mcp.draw.io/mcp) that renders diagrams inline via the MCP Apps protocol (Claude.ai, VS Code, Cursor) — no install, but it is a different server type than the stdio one above.

Automated setup helper

Run the bundled helper to detect the agent/platform and append the correct config automatically:

python3 scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py --detect
python3 scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py --target claude-code --dry-run
python3 scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py --target vscode --global

See scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py for all --target values (claude-desktop, claude-code, vscode, cursor, opencode, windsurf, raw) and flags (--dry-run, --global, --force).

A.2 MCP tools reference

The server exposes these tools. Mention the tool name explicitly in prompts so the agent uses MCP rather than hand-writing a file ("Always use the draw.io MCP tools to create diagrams.").

open_drawio_xml — the main one for architecture diagrams

Opens the editor with native draw.io/mxGraph XML. Parameters:

open_drawio_mermaid

Opens the editor with a Mermaid.js diagram. Use for standard typed diagrams (flowchart, sequence, class, state, ER, gantt, mindmap, sankey…) where you don't need custom styling/icons — write Mermaid text, let draw.io render it editable. Params: content (yes), lightbox, dark.

open_drawio_csv

Opens the editor with CSV converted to a diagram (org charts, tables). Params: content (yes), lightbox, dark.

search_shapes

Searches the ~10,000-shape draw.io library (AWS, Azure, GCP, Cisco, Kubernetes, P&ID, electrical, BPMN…) and returns ready-to-use style strings for open_drawio_xml. Supplemented by the draw.io icon service for brand logos (react, slack, shopping cart). Params: query (space-separated keywords, yes), limit (default 10, max 50).

Use search_shapes only for diagrams needing industry-specific/branded icons (cloud architecture, network topology, P&ID, K8s, BPMN specifics, brand logos). Skip it for flowcharts/UML/ERD/org charts/mind maps that use basic shapes.

list_pages / get_page / set_page

Page-level access to a local multi-page .drawio/.xml file. Address pages by 0-based index, exact name, or id.

A.3 Layout & routing passes (MCP open_drawio_xml)

You declare logical structure (nodes, edges, labels, containers). draw.io's router + optional post-layout handle placement. Two opt-in passes on open_drawio_xml:

• routing: "libavoid" — keeps your node positions, re-routes edges orthogonally around shapes. Use for deliberately-laid-out architecture/network/deployment/swimlane diagrams where wires shouldn't cut through boxes.
• postLayout: "elk" — full re-layout (ELK layered); nodes are re-placed and edges routed. Best for directional/hierarchical flows (flowcharts, pipelines, decision flows). Set direction: "horizontal" for left-to-right. Do not combine with routing — pick one.

For Mermaid: complex flowcharts (≥ ~20 nodes, ≥ 3 diamonds, feedback edges, or ≥ 3 endpoints) need postLayout: "elk"; simple flowcharts and all non-flowchart Mermaid types need none.

---

PATH B — Local CLI export (fallback / deliverables)

Resolve the binary name first (drawio is canonical on Homebrew/Linux .deb/.rpm/AUR; draw.io on older builds; full path on macOS .app/Windows .exe). Then:

# Preview PNG (NO -e; required for vision self-check; width-capped under 2576px)
drawio -x -f png --width 2000 -o diagram.png input.drawio

# Final PNG (WITH -e; double extension keeps it editable; run repair_png after)
drawio -x -f png -e -s 2 -o diagram.drawio.png input.drawio

# SVG / PDF (final, -e safe)
drawio -x -f svg -e --embed-svg-images -o diagram.svg input.drawio
drawio -x -f pdf -e -o diagram.pdf input.drawio

After every -e PNG export, fix draw.io's truncated IEND chunk:

python3 scripts/validate_drawio.py diagram.drawio.png --repair-iend

If the CLI is unavailable, fall back to a browser URL (no upload — XML lives in the # fragment):

python3 scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py --viewer-url input.drawio        # read-only
python3 scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py --viewer-url --edit input.drawio # editable editor URL

See references/mcp-config.md for the full Linux headless (xvfb-run, --no-sandbox, --disable-gpu, HOME) guidance and the fallback chain.

---

AUTHORING — .drawio XML rules (shared by both paths)

These rules come from the vendor's own shared/xml-reference.md (the single source of truth for MCP prompts) plus the Agents365/claude-skills-pub authoring guides. Follow them whether the XML goes to open_drawio_xml or a local file.

File skeleton

Rules: id="0" and id="1" are required root cells — never omit. User shapes start at id="2" with unique ids. Top-level shapes use parent="1". Set type="device" when the file is meant to be opened from disk.

Rigid grid (use for every diagram)

• Column x = col*180 + 40 (col 0 = 40, col 1 = 220, …)
• Row y = row*120 + 40 (row 0 = 40, row 1 = 160, …)
• Node sizes: rectangle 140×60, diamond 140×80, circle 60×60, document 120×80, cylinder 100×70

Place each node at a (col,row); the router handles spacing. Do not hand-add `` waypoints or exitX/entryY overrides unless you have specific geometric intent.

Core shapes (vertex)

<!-- Rounded rectangle — services, modules -->

  


<!-- Diamond — decision -->

  


<!-- Cylinder — database -->

  

Edges (connectors)

CRITICAL: every edge mxCell needs an expanded `` child. Self-closing edge cells do not render.

• Do not hand-route — just declare source/target. For clean orthogonal wires around boxes, set routing:"libavoid" (MCP) or apply the same spirit in CLI files.
• Consistent edge style per diagram: ER → entityRelationEdgeStyle; UML class → straight (no edgeStyle); mind maps → curved=1; flowchart/architecture/network → orthogonalEdgeStyle.
• Keep edge labels short (1–3 words: Yes, async, reads). Push longer detail into node text or a legend node.
• Animated data-flow: add flowAnimation=1;.

Containers & nested architecture

Use real parent-child containment (not shapes placed on top of bigger shapes).

Rules: children use coordinates relative to the parent. Edges between cells in different containers must have parent="1" (else they render inside a container and get clipped). Every container gets pointerEvents=0; unless it itself must be connectable (then swimlane handles it).

Layered architecture (top → bottom) and left-to-right flow

• Layered (TB): Users/Clients → API/Interface → Business Logic → Data/Storage. Each layer = a swimlane or rounded container; components inside; arrows show flow; add a legend; add a metadata footer.
• Left-to-right (LR): Source → Process → Target. Use postLayout:"elk" + direction:"horizontal" (MCP) or place columns left-to-right with the rigid grid.

See references/architecture-patterns.md for full worked XML of: layered service architecture, microservices with an event bus, client/API/DB, and a C4-lite context diagram.

Color palette (semantic)

Use coordinated fill/stroke pairs. When 3+ roles appear, auto-generate a legend (see references/style-guide.md).

Cloud provider icons

For AWS/Azure/GCP/Cisco/K8s, prefer official icons. With MCP, call search_shapes and paste the returned style. Hand-authored cheatsheet (AWS shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon;resIcon=…, Azure image=img/lib/azure2/…svg, GCP paths) is in references/cloud-icons.md.

HTML labels, dark mode, tags, layers, metadata

• Always add html=1 to every cell style — plain text is unaffected, but HTML (, , ``) renders only with it.
• Line breaks: 
 (works with or without html=1) or <br> (needs html=1). Never \n.
• XML-escape attribute values: & < > ".
• Dark mode: set adaptiveColors="auto" on ``; strokeColor/fillColor/fontColor="default" auto-adapt. Use light-dark(light,dark) only when inverse is wrong.
• Tags (cross-cutting filters): wrap cell in ``; label replaces value.
• Layers (toggle visibility): mxCell parent="0" with no vertex/edge.
• Metadata + placeholders: `` with label="%component% — %status%".

CRITICAL: XML well-formedness

• NEVER include XML comments (<!-- -->) in diagram output — they waste tokens and can cause parse errors.
• Escape special chars in attribute values; always use unique ids.
• Validate before delivery: python3 scripts/validate_drawio.py diagram.drawio.

Workflow (recommended)

1. Clarify (1–3 questions if missing): diagram type, output mode (MCP open vs file+CLI vs image), scope/fidelity, specific technologies.
2. Configure MCP if not already (path A.1 / helper) — or resolve the draw.io CLI binary (path B).
3. Plan shapes, relationships, layout (LR/TB), grouping (tier/container), icon needs.
4. Author the XML with the rules above (or write Mermaid for a standard typed diagram).
5. Deliver: MCP → call open_drawio_xml/_mermaid/_csv; CLI → write .drawio, export, optionally vision self-check.
6. Iterate with targeted XML edits (change fillColor, move x/y, add/remove node/edge) until approved.

Common mistakes

References (this skill)

• references/mcp-config.md — exact MCP config JSON per platform + self-host + headless/CLI fallback + automated setup + verify steps
• references/mcp-tools-reference.md — full MCP tools reference with parameters and examples (en) / mcp-tools-reference.pt-br.md (pt-BR)
• references/usage-guide.md — how to drive the skill once configured (en) / usage-guide.pt-br.md (pt-BR)
• references/usage-examples.md — end-to-end usage examples (en) / usage-examples.pt-br.md (pt-BR)
• references/architecture-patterns.md — full worked XML for layered / microservices / client-API-DB / C4-lite
• references/cloud-icons.md — AWS / Azure / GCP icon cheatsheet
• references/style-guide.md — palette, typography, effects, legend generation
• scripts/setup_drawio_mcp.py — detect platform + write MCP config / generate viewer URL
• scripts/validate_drawio.py — XML well-formedness + structural lint + IEND repair

External references (sources analyzed)

• draw.io MCP docs: https://www.drawio.com/docs/manual/generate/drawio-mcp-server/
• Vendor repo (4 integration modes + XML reference): https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-mcp
• MCP tool-server README (config blocks): https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-mcp/blob/main/mcp-tool-server/README.md
• XML reference (source of truth): https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-mcp/blob/main/shared/xml-reference.md
• Style reference: https://github.com/jgraph/drawio-mcp/blob/main/shared/style-reference.md
• Skill (authoring): https://github.com/Agents365-ai/drawio-skill
• Skill (authoring): https://github.com/scarr05/claude-skills-pub
• Workflow article: https://dev.to/rushier/how-to-use-claude-ai-drawio-to-create-architecture-diagrams-for-projects-17i1