Ln 25 Architecture Diagram Builder

Architecture Diagram Builder

Goal: Create the smallest set of understandable, evidence-backed diagrams needed to communicate current or proposed architecture. Change only approved architecture documentation; do not invent relationships, perform visual product design, replace prose evidence, audit fitness, or edit implementation.

Execution contract: The checklist defines completion. Track each item internally as PENDING, PROVEN with evidence, CLEARED with evidence its condition is absent, or UNPROVEN with a gap; reading, delegation, tool failure, a zero exit status, or a self-reported success is not proof; only the observed outcome is. Reconcile after each section. Before returning, resolve all PENDING, count only PROVEN and CLEARED, and apply verdict and approval rules to every gap. Preserve intent, scope, and existing authorization. Continue authorized work; ask only for consequential unresolved choices or required external approval. When no one can answer during the run, state the exact question and apply the skill's verdict for the remaining gap instead of waiting or guessing. Scale depth to material risk without skipping checks. Preserve dependency and safety order; otherwise choose an appropriate verification method. Accept equivalent user or repository evidence; no other skill, named artifact, or complete lifecycle is required. Preserve source requirement and decision IDs. Bind reused evidence to relevant source versions, dirty changes, configuration, and environment; invalidate only affected claims. On continuation, reconcile task, authorization, current state, and unresolved evidence. For long work, return a compact continuation record or update an already authorized artifact; read-only skills do not persist it. Distinguish artifact readiness, verified behavior, and external-action authority. Prepare authorized work before required approval. If blocked by an instruction, cite its exact source and unresolved boundary; do not invent approval gates from caution.

Tool Routing

Diagrams communicate a model; executable behavior remains authoritative for current state. Keep current, target, and transition views visibly distinct.

Artifact Rules

• Reuse an existing diagram convention or use docs/architecture/diagrams/<view>.md.
• Prefer Markdown with Mermaid for text-reviewable source; use ASCII when Mermaid is unsupported.
• For static structure, choose the context, container, or component level that answers the requested question; do not create prerequisite overview diagrams when existing context suffices.
• Keep diagram source reviewable in version control.
• Split views when one diagram needs multiple unrelated stories.
• Never use color as the only carrier of meaning.
• Use stable element identifiers and concise display labels so revisions produce reviewable diffs.
• Keep detailed evidence beside the diagram rather than crowding nodes and relationships.
• Preserve an understandable existing notation; introduce a new notation only when it answers the audience question better.

Checklist

1. Establish the Diagram Contract

• Resolve audience, question, current or target state, scope, approved destination, and required notation.
• Read repository instructions, relevant architecture artifacts, and existing diagram conventions.
• Select the minimum useful view or views; reject diagrams that add no relationship clarity.
• Define the evidence boundary and label user-supplied or proposed elements separately.
• Keep the run read-only except for approved architecture diagram documentation.

2. Build the Architecture Model

• Identify relevant people, systems, applications/data stores (C4 containers when using C4), components, queues, and external dependencies; distinguish logical containers from OS/container-runtime deployment units.
• Record responsibility, type, technology when decision-relevant, owner when known, and current/target status for each element.
• Resolve relationship direction, label, protocol or data, synchronicity, and trust or network boundary where relevant.
• Trace runtime discovery and registration before including current-state routes, handlers, jobs, plugins, or consumers.
• Mark uncertain elements or relationships UNKNOWN rather than completing the picture aesthetically.