Generate software architecture documentation using C4 model Mermaid diagrams.
Works with
Supports all four C4 levels: System Context, Container, Component, and Deployment diagrams, plus Dynamic diagrams for request flows
Includes syntax and examples for people, systems, containers, components, boundaries, and relationships with directional and styling options
Provides microservices modeling guidance for single-team and multi-team ownership, plus event-driven architecture patterns
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Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
node --versionc4-architectureExecute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
Fetches c4-architecture from softaworks/agent-toolkit and configures it for Cursor.
The CLI shows a list of agents. Use arrow keys and space to select Cursor:
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Restart Cursor to activate c4-architecture. Access via /c4-architecture in your agent's command palette.
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
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Create detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and feature specs
Example
Generate user stories for 'password reset feature' with acceptance criteria, edge cases, and test scenarios
Reduce spec writing time by 50%, ensure comprehensive coverage
Research competitors, compare features, identify gaps
Example
Analyze 5 competitor products, create feature comparison matrix, suggest differentiation opportunities
Complete competitive research in 2 hours instead of 2 days
Evaluate features using frameworks (RICE, ICE, Kano) and create prioritized backlogs
Example
Score 20 feature ideas using RICE framework, generate prioritized roadmap with rationale
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Generate software architecture documentation using C4 model diagrams in Mermaid syntax.
Select the appropriate level based on the documentation need:
| Level | Diagram Type | Audience | Shows | When to Create |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C4Context | Everyone | System + external actors | Always (required) |
| 2 | C4Container | Technical | Apps, databases, services | Always (required) |
| 3 | C4Component | Developers | Internal components | Only if adds value |
| 4 | C4Deployment | DevOps | Infrastructure nodes | For production systems |
| - | C4Dynamic | Technical | Request flows (numbered) | For complex workflows |
Key Insight: "Context + Container diagrams are sufficient for most software development teams." Only create Component/Code diagrams when they genuinely add value.
C4Context
title System Context - Workout Tracker
Person(user, "User", "Tracks workouts and exercises")
System(app, "Workout Tracker", "Vue PWA for tracking strength and CrossFit workouts")
System_Ext(browser, "Web Browser", "Stores data in IndexedDB")
Rel(user, app, "Uses")
Rel(app, browser, "Persists data to", "IndexedDB")
C4Container
title Container Diagram - Workout Tracker
Person(user, "User", "Tracks workouts")
Container_Boundary(app, "Workout Tracker PWA") {
Container(spa, "SPA", "Vue 3, TypeScript", "Single-page application")
Container(pinia, "State Management", "Pinia", "Manages application state")
ContainerDb(indexeddb, "IndexedDB", "Dexie", "Local workout storage")
}
Rel(user, spa, "Uses")
Rel(spa, pinia, "Reads/writes state")
Rel(pinia, indexeddb, "Persists", "Dexie ORM")
C4Component
title Component Diagram - Workout Feature
Container(views, "Views", "Vue Router pages")
Container_Boundary(workout, "Workout Feature") {
Component(useWorkout, "useWorkout", "Composable", "Workout execution state")
Component(useTimer, "useTimer", "Composable", "Timer state machine")
Component(workoutRepo, "WorkoutRepository", "Dexie", "Workout persistence")
}
Rel(views, useWorkout, "Uses")
Rel(useWorkout, useTimer, "Controls")
Rel(useWorkout, workoutRepo, "Saves to")
C4Dynamic
title Dynamic Diagram - User Sign In Flow
ContainerDb(db, "Database", "PostgreSQL", "User credentials")
Container(spa, "Single-Page App", "React", "Banking UI")
Container_Boundary(api, "API Application") {
Component(signIn, "Sign In Controller", "Express", "Auth endpoint")
Component(security, "Security Service", "JWT", "Validates credentials")
}
Rel(spa, signIn, "1. Submit credentials", "JSON/HTTPS")
Rel(signIn, security, "2. Validate")
Rel(security, db, "3. Query user", "SQL")
UpdateRelStyle(spa, signIn, $textColor="blue", $offsetY="-30")
C4Deployment
title Deployment Diagram - Production
Deployment_Node(browser, "Customer Browser", "Chrome/Firefox") {
Container(spa, "SPA", "React", "Web application")
}
Deployment_Node(aws, "AWS Cloud", "us-east-1") {
Deployment_Node(ecs, "ECS Cluster", "Fargate") {
Container(api, "API Service", "Node.js", "REST API")
}
Deployment_Node(rds, "RDS", "db.r5.large") {
ContainerDb(db, "Database", "PostgreSQL", "Application data")
}
}
Rel(spa, api, "API calls", "HTTPS")
Rel(api, db, "Reads/writes", "JDBC")
Person(alias, "Label", "Description")
Person_Ext(alias, "Label", "Description") # External person
System(alias, "Label", "Description")
System_Ext(alias, "Label", "Description") # External system
SystemDb(alias, "Label", "Description") # Database system
SystemQueue(alias, "Label", "Description") # Queue system
Container(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
Container_Ext(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
ContainerDb(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
ContainerQueue(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
Component(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
Component_Ext(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
ComponentDb(alias, "Label", "Technology", "Description")
Enterprise_Boundary(alias, "Label") { ... }
System_Boundary(alias, "Label") { ... }
Container_Boundary(alias, "Label") { ... }
Boundary(alias, "Label", "type") { ... }
Rel(from, to, "Label")
Rel(from, to, "Label", "Technology")
BiRel(from, to, "Label") # Bidirectional
Rel_U(from, to, "Label") # Upward
Rel_D(from, to, "Label") # Downward
Rel_L(from, to, "Label") # Leftward
Rel_R(from, to, "Label") # Rightward
Deployment_Node(alias, "Label", "Type", "Description") { ... }
Node(alias, "Label", "Type", "Description") { ... } # Shorthand
UpdateLayoutConfig($c4ShapeInRow="3", $c4BoundaryInRow="1")
$c4ShapeInRow - Number of shapes per row (default: 4)$c4BoundaryInRow - Number of boundaries per row (default: 2)UpdateElementStyle(alias, $fontColor="red", $bgColor="grey", $borderColor="red")
UpdateRelStyle(from, to, $textColor="blue", $lineColor="blue", $offsetX="5", $offsetY="-10")
Use $offsetX and $offsetY to fix overlapping relationship labels.
orderService not s1)See references/common-mistakes.md for detailed anti-patterns:
Model each microservice as a container (or container group):
C4Container
title Microservices - Single Team
System_Boundary(platform, "E-commerce Platform") {
Container(orderApi, "Order Service", "Spring Boot", "Order processing")
ContainerDb(orderDb, "Order DB", "PostgreSQL", "Order data")
Container(inventoryApi, "Inventory Service", "Node.js", "Stock management")
ContainerDb(inventoryDb, "Inventory DB", "MongoDB", "Stock data")
}
Promote microservices to software systems when owned by separate teams:
C4Context
title Microservices - Multi-Team
Person(customer, "Customer", "Places orders")
System(orderSystem, "Order System", "Team Alpha")
System(inventorySystem, "Inventory System", "Team Beta")
System(paymentSystem, "Payment System", "Team Gamma")
Rel(customer, orderSystem, "Places orders")
Rel(orderSystem, inventorySystem, "Checks stock")
Rel(orderSystem, paymentSystem, "Processes payment")
Show individual topics/queues as containers, NOT a single "Kafka" box:
C4Container
title Event-Driven Architecture
Container(orderService, "Order Service", "Java", "Creates orders")
Container(stockService, "Stock Service", "Java", "Manages inventory")
ContainerQueue(orderTopic, "order.created", "Kafka", "Order events")
ContainerQueue(stockTopic, "stock.reserved", "Kafka", "Stock events")
Rel(orderService, orderTopic, "Publishes to")
Rel(stockService, orderTopic, "Subscribes to")
Rel(stockService, stockTopic, "Publishes to")
Rel(orderService, stockTopic, "Subscribes to")
Write architecture documentation to docs/architecture/ with naming convention:
c4-context.md - System context diagramc4-containers.md - Container diagramc4-components-{feature}.md - Component diagrams per featurec4-deployment.md - Deployment diagramc4-dynamic-{flow}.md - Dynamic diagrams for specific flows| Audience | Recommended Diagrams |
|---|---|
| Executives | System Context only |
| Product Managers | Context + Container |
| Architects | Context + Container + key Components |
| Developers | All levels as needed |
| DevOps | Container + Deployment |
Make data-driven prioritization decisions faster
Draft PRDs, status updates, and stakeholder presentations
Example
Create executive summary of Q3 roadmap, monthly progress report, feature launch announcement
Save 3-5 hours/week on communication overhead
Prerequisites
Time Estimate
30-60 minutes to see productivity improvements
Steps
Common Pitfalls
✓ Do
✗ Don't
💡 Pro Tips
✓ Use when
Use for user story writing, competitive research, roadmap prioritization, stakeholder communication, and PRD drafting. Best for reducing repetitive documentation and research work.
✗ Avoid when
Avoid for strategic product vision (requires deep customer empathy), pricing decisions (needs market and financial expertise), or when face-to-face customer discovery is more valuable than speed.
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c4-architecture fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
Registry listing for c4-architecture matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.
c4-architecture has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.
Keeps context tight: c4-architecture is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: c4-architecture is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
We added c4-architecture from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
c4-architecture reduced setup friction for our internal harness; good balance of opinion and flexibility.
Keeps context tight: c4-architecture is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
c4-architecture is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
We added c4-architecture from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
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