Overview

At a glance

DSL-first: Structurizr-compatible modeling
Bidirectional canvas ↔ DSL editing
Deterministic views and layouts
AI-assisted modeling with Copilot
Export to PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, draw.io, Ilograph
arc42 documentation generation
MCP server + Copilot chat participant in VS Code
Extensible via a plugin system
Works as a VS Code extension or web app

Why ArchTect

Bidirectional canvas ↔ DSL editing. Keep the model and diagram aligned without manual rework.
Opinionated modeling. Clear, view-specific rules keep architecture consistent.
View-aware modeling. System context, container, dynamic, and deployment views with stable view keys.
Deterministic outputs. Stable serialization and predictable layouts support governance and review.
AI-assisted. Copilot integration and in-app AI chat for modeling and documentation.
Rich export. PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, draw.io, Ilograph, and arc42 documentation generation.
Workflow flexibility. Use the same workspace in VS Code or in the browser.

Compared to code-only tools: ArchTect adds a visual editor without losing DSL precision. Compared to visual-only tools: ArchTect preserves a canonical DSL for traceability and governance.

Learn more about why ArchTect →

Quick start

VS Code extension (recommended): Getting Started: VS Code Extension
Browser app: Getting Started: Browser App
First project: Create your first workspace

Documentation overview

Section	What it covers
Getting Started	Installation, first project, UI tour
Portal Guide	Full UI walkthrough, projects, views, editing, export
Modeling	Structurizr DSL syntax, elements, relationships, view types
Editing	Canvas, inspector, view settings, themes, manual layout
Export & Documentation	PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, draw.io, Ilograph, arc42 documentation generation
VS Code Extension	Commands, MCP server, Copilot chat participant
Plugins	Extending ArchTect with panels, inspectors, and commands
Troubleshooting	Common issues and solutions
Reference	VS Code commands, file types, DSL support matrix
Contributing	Repository layout, running tests, building the extension

DSL Reference

ArchTect follows the Structurizr DSL. The canonical language reference is maintained by Structurizr: https://structurizr.com/help/dsl