excalidraw-cli

name	excalidraw-cli
description	Use this skill when the user wants to create Excalidraw diagrams, flowcharts, or visualizations from text descriptions or DSL syntax.

Excalidraw CLI Plugin

CLI tool for creating Excalidraw hand-drawn-style flowcharts and diagrams programmatically from a text-based DSL or JSON input. Supports auto-layout, node styling, multiple flow directions, and export to PNG/SVG.

Commands

Diagram Creation

• excalidraw-cli diagram create <input> — Create flowchart from DSL or JSON file
• excalidraw-cli diagram create --inline <dsl> — Create from inline DSL string
• excalidraw-cli diagram create --stdin — Create from stdin pipe

Conversion & Export

• excalidraw-cli diagram convert <file> — Convert .excalidraw to PNG/SVG
• excalidraw-cli diagram parse <file> — Validate DSL/JSON without generating output

Info

• excalidraw-cli self version — Print version

Usage Examples

• "Create a flowchart from this DSL: (Start) -> [Process] -> (End)"
• "Generate an architecture diagram for our microservices system"
• "Convert my diagram.excalidraw file to a PNG image"

Installation

npm install -g @swiftlysingh/excalidraw-cli

Examples

Create from inline DSL

excalidraw-cli diagram create --inline "(Start) -> [Process] -> {Decision?}" -o flow.excalidraw

Create from file

excalidraw-cli diagram create flowchart.dsl -o diagram.excalidraw

Pipe from stdin

echo "[A] -> [B] -> [C]" | excalidraw-cli diagram create --stdin -o diagram.excalidraw

Export to PNG with dark mode

excalidraw-cli diagram convert diagram.excalidraw --format png --scale 2 --dark

Export to SVG

excalidraw-cli diagram convert diagram.excalidraw --format svg

Parse and validate DSL

excalidraw-cli diagram parse flowchart.dsl

Key Features

• Text-based DSL for quick flowchart creation
• JSON API for programmatic use
• Auto-layout using ELK.js (Eclipse Layout Kernel)
• Multiple flow directions: TB, BT, LR, RL
• Node styling: fillStyle, backgroundColor, strokeColor, etc.
• Export to PNG & SVG with dark mode, custom backgrounds, scale, and padding
• Generated .excalidraw files open in excalidraw.com, Obsidian, or any Excalidraw-compatible tool

DSL Syntax Reference

Syntax	Element	Description
[Label]	Rectangle	Process steps, actions
{Label}	Diamond	Decisions, conditionals
(Label)	Ellipse	Start/End points
[[Label]]	Database	Data storage
->	Arrow	Forward connection
<->	Bidirectional	Both directions
-->	Dashed Arrow	Dashed connection
-> "text" ->	Labeled Arrow	Connection with label