Create diagrams with PlantUML
Create a diagram from the most recent interaction context using PlantUML. Generate a PNG image with a transparent background and output it as a markdown image so it renders inline.
How to create a diagram
- Extract or derive diagrammable data from the current context.
- If the Emacs foreground color is not already known from a previous diagram in this session, query it:
This returns a hex color likeshemacsclient --eval ' (face-foreground (quote default))'"#eeffff". Reuse it for all subsequent diagrams. - Write a PlantUML file to a temporary file using that color.
- Run PlantUML on the file.
- Output the result as a markdown image on its own line:

shplantuml -tpng /tmp/agent-diagram-XXXX.puml
PlantUML template
plantuml@startuml skinparam backgroundColor transparent skinparam shadowing true skinparam roundcorner 10 skinparam defaultFontName "Helvetica" skinparam defaultFontColor #eeffff ' Set foreground color on all element types skinparam titleFontColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceLifeLineBorderColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceArrowColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceGroupHeaderFontColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceGroupBorderColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceDividerFontColor #eeffff skinparam sequenceDividerBorderColor #eeffff skinparam actorBorderColor #eeffff skinparam actorFontColor #eeffff skinparam participantFontColor #eeffff skinparam participantBorderColor #eeffff skinparam collectionsFontColor #eeffff skinparam collectionsBorderColor #eeffff skinparam noteFontColor #eeffff skinparam noteBorderColor #eeffff skinparam arrowFontColor #eeffff skinparam classFontColor #eeffff skinparam classBorderColor #eeffff skinparam classAttributeFontColor #eeffff skinparam packageFontColor #eeffff skinparam packageBorderColor #eeffff skinparam componentFontColor #eeffff skinparam componentBorderColor #eeffff skinparam interfaceFontColor #eeffff skinparam interfaceBorderColor #eeffff ' ... diagram content ... @enduml
Rules
- Query the Emacs foreground color once per session and reuse it for all subsequent diagrams. Only query again if the color is not already known.
- Always use
skinparam backgroundColor transparentfor transparent background. - Always use a timestamp in the filename (e.g.,
/tmp/agent-diagram-$(date +%s).png). Never use descriptive names. - Set the queried foreground color on
defaultFontColorand all relevantskinparamentries for borders, arrows, and text so the diagram is readable on the user's Emacs background. - After PlantUML runs successfully, output a markdown image (
) on its own line. - Choose an appropriate diagram type for the data (sequence, class, component, activity, state, etc.).
- Include a title when it adds clarity.
- If no diagrammable data exists in the recent context, inform the user.


