16 diagram types, deterministic layout, verifiable output. A skill that turns plain-language requirements (or Mermaid) into polished, self-contained HTML diagrams — with SVG, dark/light themes, pan/zoom, search, and export to PNG / JPEG / WebP / SVG / WebM.
Forked from tt-a1i/archify (MIT), rebranded and expanded by AnyForge.
npx skills add anyforge/PaintForge -gInstalls to the user level — available in every project and session.
npx skills add anyforge/PaintForgeInstalls to the current project only.
npx skills add anyforge/PaintForge --allThe skill runs with zero runtime dependencies (validators are precompiled and inlined). Requires Node.js ≥ 18.
Verify the install:
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs doctorAfter installing, send your agent something like this:
Use PaintForge to draw the user signup flow:
enter email → validate → create account → send welcome email.
Make validation a decision diamond with a "fix errors" loop back.
Use PaintForge to model the order database:
Customer, Order, OrderItem, Product, Payment —
mark primary keys, foreign keys, and one-to-many cardinality.
Use PaintForge to map this team's reporting structure,
and a Gantt chart of the release plan for next quarter.
Then keep refining in chat: "add a Payment entity", "highlight the cache-miss path", "switch to the light theme", "export a PNG".
No repository is required — start from a description, or ask your agent to read a repository for a source-backed architecture diagram.
Most diagram tools hand you pixels or syntax. PaintForge hands you a verifiable artifact.
PaintForge is a fork of archify, which pioneered the deterministic-layout + verifiable-output engine. We keep that engine and build on it:
| archify | PaintForge | |
|---|---|---|
| Diagram types | 5 | 16 |
| Deterministic layout | ✅ | ✅ (inherited) |
Byte-level receipt (deliver) |
✅ | ✅ (inherited) |
| Real-browser verification | ✅ | ✅ (inherited) |
| ER / dependency / org / mindmap | ❌ | ✅ |
| Flowchart / network / matrix / kanban / venn / gantt / sankey | ❌ | ✅ |
| Update checker | ✅ | removed (manual updates) |
| Install | npx skills add tt-a1i/archify |
npx skills add anyforge/PaintForge -g |
The original 5 types are unchanged — all the inherited guarantees still hold. PaintForge adds 11 new diagram types on the same verifiable foundation.
| Mermaid / PlantUML | ECharts / D3 | PaintForge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deterministic output | ❌ runtime-rendered | ✅ byte-stable SVG | |
| Byte-level receipt (SHA-256) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅deliver |
| Real-browser verification | ❌ | ❌ | ✅visual-check |
| Anti-hallucination guards | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ built into the contract |
| Self-contained HTML | ❌ needs a JS lib | ✅ zero-dependency | |
| Types covered | ~6 | statistical charts | 16 |
The loop is strict on purpose: validate (schema + geometry) → deliver
(freeze bytes + SHA-256) → visual-check (real Chrome evidence). A non-zero
exit can never be described as success — the skill refuses to fake a pass.
| Type | Best for | Include in your prompt |
|---|---|---|
architecture |
components, services, boundaries | scope, core components, primary path |
workflow |
approvals, CI/CD, runbooks | participants, order, branches, exceptions |
sequence |
API chains, cache fallback, auth | callers, callees, returns, timing |
dataflow |
pipelines, lineage, PII | sources, transforms, stores, boundaries |
lifecycle |
states, retries, terminals | states, events, retry/cancel paths |
er |
database schema, keys | entities, attributes, PK/FK, cardinality |
dependency |
module/package graphs | modules, versions, runtime vs dev |
org |
reporting hierarchy | people, titles, who reports to whom |
mindmap |
brainstorming, outlines | central topic, main branches |
flowchart |
process, decision trees | steps, decisions, yes/no branches |
network |
topology, devices | device kinds, physical/logical links |
matrix |
2×2 priority, value vs effort | two axes, item scores |
kanban |
task board, sprint status | columns, cards, priorities |
venn |
set overlap, shared ownership | 2-3 sets, intersections |
gantt |
timeline, schedule | tasks, start/end dates |
sankey |
flow quantities | stages, flows with values |
Not sure which fits? Ask the zero-dependency CLI:
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs guide "Show an API request with a Redis cache miss"
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs guide "Map the order database schema" --json| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Generate | The agent creates typed JSON IR from your description. |
| Validate | Bundled validators and layout rules check the source; failures name the exact repair in machine-readable JSON. |
| Deliver | A same-directory candidate is rendered and checked; only a passing artifact atomically replaces the target, with a SHA-256 receipt. |
| Verify | visual-check loads the delivered HTML in a real browser and reports containment + readability evidence. |
| Iterate | The agent updates the source while unrelated structure stays stable. |
On failure, validate --json and deliver --json emit one JSON object with
rule codes, the exact subject, and only supported repair controls. A non-zero
exit is never success.
| Type | For |
|---|---|
architecture |
components, services, boundaries, infrastructure |
workflow |
processes, approvals, CI/CD, runbooks |
sequence |
API chains, request lifecycles, async traces |
dataflow |
pipelines, ETL, lineage, consumers |
lifecycle |
states, transitions, retries, terminals |
er |
entity-relationship, schemas, keys, cardinality |
dependency |
module/package graphs, runtime vs dev |
org |
org charts, reporting hierarchies |
mindmap |
brainstorming, outlines, knowledge maps |
flowchart |
process flows, decision trees, algorithms |
network |
topology, devices, links (force-directed) |
matrix |
2×2 priorities, value-vs-effort |
kanban |
task boards, sprint status |
venn |
set overlap, shared responsibility |
gantt |
timelines, schedules, task bars |
sankey |
flow quantities across stages |
# Validate an example
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs validate er paintforge/examples/order-system.er.json --quality showcase --json
# Render to HTML
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs render er paintforge/examples/order-system.er.json out.html
# Deliver with a SHA-256 receipt (final acceptance)
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs deliver er paintforge/examples/order-system.er.json out.html --json
# Verify in a real browser
node paintforge/bin/paintforge.mjs visual-check out.html --jsonSee the demo/ directory for rendered examples of all 16 types.
Rendered samples live in demo/. Open any .html in a browser —
each is fully interactive (theme switch, pan/zoom, search, focus, export).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
MIT. See LICENSE. PaintForge is a derivative of tt-a1i/archify (MIT), which itself derives from Cocoon-AI/architecture-diagram-generator (MIT).