Mermaid Diagram logo

Mermaid Diagram

Community
diegomarino
mermaid-diagram

Generate a Mermaid diagram from a text description

Overview

Publisherdiegomarino
Repositoryclaude-toolshed
Skill namemermaid-diagram
Stars
58
Forks
5
Bundled files
Instructions only
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by diegomarino on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Mermaid Diagram AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
    https://github.com/diegomarino/claude-toolshed/tree/main/plugins/mermaid/skills/mermaid-diagram
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/diegomarino/claude-toolshed.git /tmp/claude-toolshed
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/claude-toolshed/plugins/mermaid/skills/mermaid-diagram .claude/skills/mermaid-diagram
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Mermaid Diagram in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Mermaid Diagram on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Mermaid Diagram is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

/mermaid-diagram

User request: "$ARGUMENTS"

Task

Analyze the user's description, select the appropriate diagram type, and generate the diagram.

Instructions

Step 1: Resolve Plugin Path

bash
find "$HOME/.claude/plugins/cache" -type d -name "mermaid" -path "*/skills/mermaid" 2>/dev/null | head -1

If empty, run fallback (for dev/repo usage):

bash
find "$HOME" -maxdepth 8 -type d -name "mermaid" -path "*/skills/mermaid" 2>/dev/null | head -1

Use the returned path as PLUGIN_DIR.

Step 2: Ensure Dependencies

bash
bash "$PLUGIN_DIR/scripts/ensure-deps.sh"

If .claude/mermaid.json does not exist, display a one-time nudge before continuing:

First time using the mermaid plugin? Run /mermaid-config to pick a theme and output settings. Using defaults for now (zinc-light, ./diagrams).

Step 3: Read Config

If .claude/mermaid.json exists, read it and apply:

  • theme (default: zinc-light)
  • output_directory (default: ./diagrams)
  • auto_validate (default: true)
  • auto_render (default: false)

Resolve output path:

  • If output_directory is "same" AND an input file path is known (e.g. the file being documented): OUTPUT_DIR=$(dirname {input_file})
  • If output_directory is "same" AND no input file (text description only): OUTPUT_DIR=./diagrams
  • Otherwise: OUTPUT_DIR={output_directory}

Theme-First Rule

Respect the configured theme/themeVariables as the visual source of truth.

  • Do not emit hardcoded classDef fill/stroke/color by default.
  • Only add explicit color overrides if the user asks for a custom palette or semantic color coding.

Step 4: Analyze User Description

Analyze the request semantically — interpret intent regardless of language:

What the user wants to showType
How a process works, step-by-step flow, approval workflow, user journeyActivity
Who calls whom, API interactions, request/response, message passing between servicesSequence
Infrastructure topology, cloud resources, deployment, servers, containersDeployment
System components, microservices, layers, modules, high-level structureArchitecture
Classes, objects, inheritance, OOP design, data modelsClass
Database tables, entities, foreign keys, schema designER
States a thing can be in, lifecycle, FSM, transitionsState

If the description matches multiple types, present the top 2 options briefly and ask which.

If the request is "Not sure" or ambiguous, ask: "Briefly describe what you want to visualize — a process, a system, API calls, a database schema, or something else?"

Step 5: Present Recommendation

markdown
Based on your description "{description}", I recommend a **{type}** diagram because {reason}.

Proceeding with {type}...

Step 6: Load and Execute Specialist

Read the specialist file from $PLUGIN_DIR/specialists/mermaid-{type}.md and follow its Process and Output sections exactly. Do not ask the user again — generate the diagram.

Type-to-filename mapping:

  • Activity → mermaid-activity.md
  • Sequence → mermaid-sequence.md
  • Deployment → mermaid-deployment.md
  • Architecture → mermaid-architecture.md
  • Class → mermaid-class.md
  • ER → mermaid-er.md
  • State → mermaid-state.md

Step 7: Auto-render (if enabled)

If auto_render == true (or the user explicitly asks to render), render the generated .mmd file to SVG:

  • If theme == "custom" and themeVariables is present in config:

    bash
    node "$PLUGIN_DIR/scripts/resilient_diagram.js" {file} --output-dir $OUTPUT_DIR --custom-theme '{serialized themeVariables JSON}'
  • If theme == "custom" but themeVariables is absent from config: Render without custom theme and display a note:

    Custom theme configured but no themeVariables found — run /mermaid-config → option 6 to define colors.

  • Otherwise:

    bash
    node "$PLUGIN_DIR/scripts/resilient_diagram.js" {file} --output-dir $OUTPUT_DIR --theme {theme}

If the script fails, tell the user to run /mermaid-config → option 7 (health check).

Step 8: Offer design document (opt-in)

If the user's request mentions "document", "design doc", "design", or similar, or the generated diagram has high complexity (5+ components/entities/states), offer to scaffold a full design document around the diagram.

Match the diagram type to a template:

Diagram typeTemplate file
Architecture$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/architecture-design-template.md
Sequence$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/api-design-template.md
ER$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/database-design-template.md
Activity, State, Class, Deployment$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/feature-design-template.md

Display:

💡 This diagram could anchor a full design document.
   I can scaffold one using the {template_name} template — say "yes" to proceed.

If user accepts:

  1. Read the template from $PLUGIN_DIR/assets/{template}
  2. Embed the generated diagram in the relevant section
  3. Fill metadata placeholders ([Name], [Date], etc.) with context from the user's request
  4. Save the document to $OUTPUT_DIR/{name}-design-doc.md

If not triggered (simple diagram, no design keywords): skip silently.

Code/Script Flow Requests

If the user asks to "diagram the flow" of a file or script:

  1. Read the file first and derive the flow from actual control paths.
  2. If the diagram type is still unclear, ask one short clarification.
  3. Execute as the appropriate specialist after confirming intent.

Examples

Input: /mermaid-diagram "order processing with payment gateway" Analysis: Business workflow → Activity Executes: $PLUGIN_DIR/specialists/mermaid-activity.md

Input: /mermaid-diagram "API call from React frontend to FastAPI backend" Analysis: Service interaction → Sequence Executes: $PLUGIN_DIR/specialists/mermaid-sequence.md

Frequently asked questions

What does the Mermaid Diagram AI skill do?

Generate a Mermaid diagram from a text description

Why use Mermaid Diagram on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Mermaid Diagram is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Mermaid Diagram in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/diegomarino/claude-toolshed/tree/main/plugins/mermaid/skills/mermaid-diagram. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Mermaid Diagram?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Mermaid Diagram?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Mermaid Diagram with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Mermaid Diagram AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by diegomarino. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

View all

Set up your own AI workspace now

Get notified about new features and future giveaways by subscribing to our newsletter 👇