python-diagrams

name	python-diagrams
description	Python diagram generation: WAF/cost/compliance charts (matplotlib), architecture diagrams (diagrams library), ERDs, swimlanes, timelines, wireframes (graphviz). USE FOR: WAF bar charts, cost donut/projection charts, compliance gap charts, Python architecture diagrams, ERD diagrams, business process flows, timeline/Gantt charts, UI wireframes. DO NOT USE FOR: Draw.io architecture diagrams (use drawio), inline Mermaid (use mermaid), Excalidraw whiteboarding (use excalidraw).
compatibility	Works with VS Code Copilot, Claude Code, and any tool capable of running Python scripts.
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"apex","version":"1.0"}

Python Diagrams & Charts

Skill for generating diagrams and charts using Python libraries: matplotlib for WAF/cost/compliance visualizations, diagrams for architecture diagrams, and graphviz for ERDs, swimlanes, timelines, and wireframes.

Prerequisites

pip install diagrams matplotlib pillow && apt-get install -y graphviz

Routing Guide

Diagram type	Library	Output
WAF bar charts	matplotlib	.py + .png
Cost donut / projection charts	matplotlib	.py + .png
Compliance gap charts	matplotlib	.py + .png
Architecture diagrams (non-Draw.io)	diagrams	.py + .png
Swimlane / business process	graphviz	.py + .png
Entity-relationship diagrams	graphviz	.py + .png
Timeline / Gantt charts	matplotlib	.py + .png
UI wireframes	graphviz	.py + .png

Required Outputs (Workflow Integration)

Step	Python chart files
2	02-waf-scores.py/.png
3	03-des-cost-distribution.py/.png, 03-des-cost-projection.py/.png
4	04-dependency-diagram.py/.png, 04-runtime-diagram.py/.png
7	07-ab-cost-*.py/.png, 07-ab-compliance-gaps.py/.png

Suffix rules: -des for design (Step 3), -ab for as-built (Step 7).

Execution

Save .py source in agent-output/{project}/, then run to produce .png:

python3 agent-output/{project}/03-des-cost-distribution.py

Chart Design Tokens

Background & grid: Background #F8F9FA · Grid #E0E0E0 · DPI 150.

Azure colors: Azure blue #0078D4 · Min line #DC3545 · Target line #28A745 · Trend #FF8C00.

WAF pillar colors: Security #C00000 · Reliability #107C10 · Performance #FF8C00 · Cost #FFB900 · Operational Excellence #8764B8.

Architecture Diagram Conventions (diagrams library)

Follow this pattern for architecture diagram generation:

"""Brief description of what the diagram shows."""

from diagrams import Cluster, Diagram
from diagrams.azure.compute import AppServices
from diagrams.azure.network import FrontDoors

with Diagram("Diagram Title", show=False, filename="output-name", direction="TB"):
    with Cluster("Resource Group"):
        # Resources...
        pass

• Always set show=False to prevent auto-opening
• Use direction="TB" (top-to-bottom) for consistency
• Group resources in Cluster blocks matching Azure resource groups
• Set explicit filename parameter to control output location

Professional Output Standards

Critical settings for clean output — use labelloc="t" to keep labels inside clusters:

node_attr = {"fontname": "Arial Bold", "fontsize": "11", "labelloc": "t"}
graph_attr = {"bgcolor": "white", "pad": "0.8", "nodesep": "0.9", "ranksep": "0.9",
              "splines": "spline", "fontname": "Arial Bold", "fontsize": "16", "dpi": "150"}
cluster_style = {"margin": "30", "fontname": "Arial Bold", "fontsize": "14"}

Requirements: labelloc='t' · Arial Bold fonts · full resource names from IaC · dpi="150"+ · margin="30"+ · CIDR blocks in VNet/Subnet labels.

Guardrails

DO: Set show=False · Use direction="TB" · Group in Cluster blocks · Set explicit filename · Use DPI ≥150 · Apply design tokens consistently · Generate WAF scores PNG when WAF scores are assigned.

DON'T: Use Mermaid for charts (use matplotlib) · Use Python diagrams for primary architecture diagrams (use Draw.io skill) · Let show=True open a viewer · Omit filename (produces non-deterministic output names) · Use grouped list-to-list edge operators ([a, b] >> [c, d]) — use explicit node-to-node edges instead (the diagrams library may reject grouped expressions with a TypeError) · Use emoji or Unicode glyphs in chart labels — keep labels ASCII-safe for portability across container fonts.

Scope Exclusions

Does NOT: generate Draw.io architecture diagrams · produce Mermaid diagrams · generate Bicep/Terraform · create ADRs · deploy resources.

Scripts

scripts/generate_diagram.py (interactive diagram generation) · scripts/multi_diagram_generator.py (multi-type: process, ERD, timeline, wireframe) · scripts/ascii_to_diagram.py (ASCII art → diagram conversion) · scripts/verify_installation.py (prerequisites check)

Reference Index

File	Content
references/python-charts.md	Chart execution, design tokens, output standards
references/waf-cost-charts.md	WAF pillar bar, cost donut & projection chart implementations
references/azure-components.md	Complete list of 700+ Azure diagram components
references/common-patterns.md	Ready-to-use Python architecture patterns (3-tier, hub-spoke, etc.)
references/business-process-flows.md	Workflow and swimlane diagram patterns
references/entity-relationship-diagrams.md	Database ERD patterns
references/integration-services.md	Integration service diagram patterns
references/migration-patterns.md	Migration architecture patterns
references/sequence-auth-flows.md	Authentication flow sequence patterns
references/timeline-gantt-diagrams.md	Project timeline and Gantt diagrams
references/ui-wireframe-diagrams.md	UI mockup and wireframe patterns
references/iac-to-diagram.md	Generate diagrams from Bicep/Terraform/ARM templates