# Excalidraw Diagrams

Draw hand-drawn Excalidraw JSON diagrams for architecture and flows.

- Repository: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent (259479 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill excalidraw -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill excalidraw -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill excalidraw -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill excalidraw -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Hand-drawn Excalidraw JSON diagrams (arch, flow, seq).

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Excalidraw Diagram Skill

Create diagrams by writing standard Excalidraw element JSON and saving as `.excalidraw` files. These files can be drag-and-dropped onto [excalidraw.com](https://excalidraw.com) for viewing and editing. No accounts, no API keys, no rendering libraries -- just JSON.

## When to use

Generate `.excalidraw` files for architecture diagrams, flowcharts, sequence diagrams, concept maps, and more. Files can be opened at excalidraw.com or uploaded for shareable links.

## Workflow

1. **Load this skill** (you already did)
2. **Write the elements JSON** -- an array of Excalidraw element objects
3. **Save the file** using `write_file` to create a `.excalidraw` file
4. **Optionally upload** for a shareable link using `scripts/upload.py` via `terminal`

### Saving a Diagram

Wrap your elements array in the standard `.excalidraw` envelope and save with `write_file`:

```json
{
  "type": "excalidraw",
  "version": 2,
  "source": "hermes-agent",
  "elements": [ ...your elements array here... ],
  "appState": {
    "viewBackgroundColor": "#ffffff"
  }
}
```

Save to any path, e.g. `~/diagrams/my_diagram.excalidraw`.

### Uploading for a Shareable Link

Run the upload script (located in this skill's `scripts/` directory) via terminal:

```bash
python skills/creative/excalidraw/scripts/upload.py ~/diagrams/my_diagram.excalidraw
```

This uploads to excalidraw.com (no account needed) and prints a shareable URL. Requires the `cryptography` pip package (`pip install cryptography`).

---

## Element Format Reference

### Required Fields (all elements)
`type`, `id` (unique string), `x`, `y`, `width`, `height`

### Defaults (skip these -- they're applied automatically)
- `strokeColor`: `"#1e1e1e"`
- `backgroundColor`: `"transparent"`
- `fillStyle`: `"solid"`
- `strokeWidth`: `2`
- `roughness`: `1` (hand-drawn look)
- `opacity`: `100`

Canvas background is white.

### Element Types

The rest: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/HEAD/optional-skills/creative/excalidraw/SKILL.md