generate-workflow-diagram
About
This skill generates Mermaid flowchart diagrams from annotated workflow data, supporting nine themes and multiple output formats. It enables developers to create visual documentation for README files, Quarto, or R Markdown with interactive features like clickable nodes. Use it to produce or update diagrams after workflow changes or to adapt visuals for different audiences.
Quick Install
Claude Code
Recommendednpx skills add pjt222/agent-almanac -a claude-code/plugin add https://github.com/pjt222/agent-almanacgit clone https://github.com/pjt222/agent-almanac.git ~/.claude/skills/generate-workflow-diagramCopy and paste this command in Claude Code to install this skill
Documentation
Generate Workflow Diagram
Themed Mermaid flowchart from putior data → embed in docs.
Use When
- After annotating sources → produce visual
- Regenerate after workflow changes
- Switch themes/formats for audiences
- Embed in README, Quarto, R Markdown
In
- Required: workflow data from
put(),put_auto(), orput_merge() - Optional: theme (default
"light"; light, dark, auto, minimal, github, viridis, magma, plasma, cividis) - Optional: out target (console, file, clipboard, raw)
- Optional: interactive (
show_source_info,enable_clicks)
Do
Step 1: Extract workflow data
library(putior)
# From manual annotations
workflow <- put("./src/")
# From manual annotations, excluding specific files
workflow <- put("./src/", exclude = c("build-workflow\\.R$", "test_"))
# From auto-detection only
workflow <- put_auto("./src/")
# From merged (manual + auto)
workflow <- put_merge("./src/", merge_strategy = "supplement")
node_type → Mermaid shape:
node_type | Mermaid Shape | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
"input" | Stadium ([...]) | Data sources, configuration files |
"output" | Subroutine [[...]] | Generated artifacts, reports |
"process" | Rectangle [...] | Processing steps (default) |
"decision" | Diamond {...} | Conditional logic, branching |
"start" / "end" | Stadium ([...]) | Entry/terminal nodes |
Each → CSS class (class nodeId input;) for theme styling.
→ DF w/ ≥1 row: id, label + optional input, output, source_file, node_type.
If err: empty → no annotations/patterns. Run analyze-codebase-workflow or check syntax: put("./src/", validate = TRUE).
Step 2: Select theme + options
# List all available themes
get_diagram_themes()
# Standard themes
# "light" — Default, bright colors
# "dark" — For dark mode environments
# "auto" — GitHub-adaptive with solid colors
# "minimal" — Grayscale, print-friendly
# "github" — Optimized for GitHub README files
# Colorblind-safe themes (viridis family)
# "viridis" — Purple→Blue→Green→Yellow, general accessibility
# "magma" — Purple→Red→Yellow, high contrast for print
# "plasma" — Purple→Pink→Orange→Yellow, presentations
# "cividis" — Blue→Gray→Yellow, maximum accessibility (no red-green)
Extra params:
direction:"TD"(top-down, default),"LR","RL","BT"show_artifacts: show artifact nodes (noisy for large, 16+ extra)show_workflow_boundaries: wrap source file nodes in subgraphsource_info_style: source file display (subtitle)node_labels: label format
→ Theme names printed. Pick by context.
If err: unrecognized → falls back "light". Check spelling.
Step 3: Custom palette w/ put_theme() (opt)
# Create custom palette — unspecified types inherit from base theme
cyberpunk <- put_theme(
base = "dark",
input = c(fill = "#1a1a2e", stroke = "#00ff88", color = "#00ff88"),
process = c(fill = "#16213e", stroke = "#44ddff", color = "#44ddff"),
output = c(fill = "#0f3460", stroke = "#ff3366", color = "#ff3366"),
decision = c(fill = "#1a1a2e", stroke = "#ffaa33", color = "#ffaa33")
)
# Use the palette parameter (overrides theme when provided)
mermaid_content <- put_diagram(workflow, palette = cyberpunk, output = "raw")
writeLines(mermaid_content, "workflow.mmd")
Accepts: input, process, output, decision, artifact, start, end. Each takes c(fill = "#hex", stroke = "#hex", color = "#hex"). Unset → base theme.
→ Mermaid out w/ custom classDef. Shapes preserved from node_type, colors change. All use stroke-width:2px (not overridable via put_theme()).
If err: not putior_theme class → descriptive err. Pass put_theme() return, not raw list.
Fallback — manual classDef replacement (fine-grained per-type stroke widths):
mermaid_content <- put_diagram(workflow, theme = "dark", output = "raw")
lines <- strsplit(mermaid_content, "\n")[[1]]
lines <- lines[!grepl("^\\s*classDef ", lines)]
custom_defs <- c(" classDef input fill:#1a1a2e,stroke:#00ff88,stroke-width:3px,color:#00ff88")
mermaid_content <- paste(c(lines, custom_defs), collapse = "\n")
Step 4: Generate Mermaid
# Print to console (default)
cat(put_diagram(workflow, theme = "github"))
# Save to file
writeLines(put_diagram(workflow, theme = "github"), "docs/workflow.md")
# Get raw string for embedding
mermaid_code <- put_diagram(workflow, output = "raw", theme = "github")
# With source file info (shows which file each node comes from)
cat(put_diagram(workflow, theme = "github", show_source_info = TRUE))
# With clickable nodes (for VS Code, RStudio, or file:// protocol)
cat(put_diagram(workflow,
theme = "github",
enable_clicks = TRUE,
click_protocol = "vscode" # or "rstudio", "file"
))
# Full-featured
cat(put_diagram(workflow,
theme = "viridis",
show_source_info = TRUE,
enable_clicks = TRUE,
click_protocol = "vscode"
))
→ Valid Mermaid starting flowchart TD (or LR by direction). Nodes connected by arrows.
If err: flowchart TD no nodes → empty DF. Missing connections → check output filenames match input filenames across nodes.
Step 5: Embed in doc
GitHub README (```mermaid fence):
## Workflow
```mermaid
flowchart TD
A["Extract Data"] --> B["Transform"]
B --> C["Load"]
```
Quarto (native mermaid chunk via knit_child):
# Chunk 1: Generate code (visible, foldable)
workflow <- put("./src/")
mermaid_code <- put_diagram(workflow, output = "raw", theme = "github")
# Chunk 2: Output as native mermaid chunk (hidden)
#| output: asis
#| echo: false
mermaid_chunk <- paste0("```{mermaid}\n", mermaid_code, "\n```")
cat(knitr::knit_child(text = mermaid_chunk, quiet = TRUE))
R Markdown (mermaid.js CDN or DiagrammeR):
DiagrammeR::mermaid(put_diagram(workflow, output = "raw"))
→ Renders in target format. GitHub native mermaid fence render.
If err: GitHub no render → fence must be exactly ```mermaid (no extra attrs). Quarto → use knit_child() (direct var interpolation in {mermaid} not supported).
Check
-
put_diagram()valid Mermaid (startsflowchart) - All expected nodes appear
- Arrows between connected nodes
- Theme applied (check init block)
- Renders in target format
Traps
- Empty diagrams:
put()no rows → check annotations + syntax. - All nodes disconnected: output filenames must exactly match input (inc ext).
data.csv≠Data.csv. - Theme not visible on GitHub: limited theme support.
"github"designed for GitHub.%%{init:...}%%may be ignored. - Quarto var interpolation:
{mermaid}no R vars. Useknit_child(). - Clickable not working: need renderer w/ Mermaid interaction. GitHub static no clicks. Use local Mermaid or putior Shiny sandbox.
- Self-referential meta-pipeline: scanning dir w/ build script → duplicate subgraph IDs + Mermaid errs. Use
exclude:workflow <- put("./src/", exclude = c("build-workflow\\.R$", "build-workflow\\.js$")) show_artifacts = TRUEnoisy: large projects → 10-20+ artifact nodes. Use FALSE + rely onnode_typefor key in/out.
→
annotate-source-files— prereq before genanalyze-codebase-workflow— auto-detect supplements manualsetup-putior-ci— automate regen in CI/CDcreate-quarto-report— embed in Quartobuild-pkgdown-site— embed in pkgdown
GitHub Repository
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