LikeC4 Architecture

Workflow

1. Scope the model:

• Identify system boundary and audience.
• Start with context and container views unless a different view set is requested.

1. Load DSL guidance before editing:

• If building from scratch or changing notation, read

  references/likec4-dsl-quickstart.md

  first.
• If choosing architecture shape, read

  references/likec4-patterns.md

  .
• If feature usage is unclear, check

  references/likec4-capabilities-reference.md

  and follow official docs links.

1. Locate or bootstrap model files:

• Reuse existing

  .c4

  /

  .likec4

  files when present.
• If missing, copy starter from

  assets/likec4-starter/docs/architecture/model.c4

  to project

  docs/architecture/model.c4

  .

1. Model structure before visuals:

• Define stable element IDs and meaningful names.
• Add explicit directional relationships with short labels.
• Add technology/description fields where useful.

1. Keep views focused:

• Create small, purposeful views.
• Split crowded diagrams by domain, team, or bounded context.

1. Validate and package:

• Run

  npx likec4 validate

  and fix all errors.
• Provide

  npx likec4 start

  preview command.
• If requested, provide build/export commands.

Quality Gates

• Avoid unlabeled ambiguous relationships.
• Avoid orphan elements that never appear in views.
• Prefer domain names over implementation-noise names.
• Finish only after successful CLI validation.

Command Set

npx likec4 validate
npx likec4 start
npx likec4 build -o ./dist
npx likec4 export png -o ./assets/architecture

Output Contract

1. Changed files.
2. Validation result.
3. One-line purpose for each view.
4. Relevant preview/build/export command(s).

References

• DSL quickstart:

  references/likec4-dsl-quickstart.md

• Architecture patterns:

  references/likec4-patterns.md

• Capabilities map:

  references/likec4-capabilities-reference.md

• Checklist:

  references/likec4-checklist.md

• Examples:

  references/examples.md

• Starter template:

  assets/likec4-starter/docs/architecture/model.c4