Why ArchTect
The problem with architecture documentation
Section titled “The problem with architecture documentation”Most architecture documentation is a collection of separate diagrams, hand-drawn or hand-coded, with no shared source of truth behind them. Each diagram is redrawn or rewritten independently, so they drift from reality and from each other, reviews become unreliable, and documentation rots.
The C4 model and Structurizr’s DSL already solve this: model your architecture once, and generate every view — context, container, component, deployment — from that single model. ArchTect gives you a visual way to define that same model, lowering the barrier to learning the DSL, without giving up its precision and determinism.
ArchTect completes the model-based approach
Section titled “ArchTect completes the model-based approach”ArchTect is a visual, AI-assisted editor for Structurizr DSL. It lets you design on the canvas, write the DSL directly, or ask an AI to model it — all three surfaces stay in sync with the same underlying model, so there’s never a diagram to reconcile back to source. Every view is still a deterministic projection of that one model: opinionated, repeatable, and governance-ready.
Code-first clarity, visual-first communication
Section titled “Code-first clarity, visual-first communication”Bidirectional canvas-to-DSL editing keeps the diagram and model in permanent sync. Edit in whichever surface is most productive — the DSL editor or the interactive canvas, open as tabs side by side — without losing fidelity. Every visual change serializes back to clean, deterministic DSL.
Built for both architects and engineers
Section titled “Built for both architects and engineers”- Architects get interactive diagrams, multiple view types, and executive-ready exports (PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, Ilograph).
- Engineers get a version-controllable DSL, stable view keys, and a VS Code extension that fits into their existing workflow.
- Reviewers get deterministic outputs they can trust — same model in, same diagram out.
Consistency and governance
Section titled “Consistency and governance”ArchTect is deterministic by design. Serialization is stable and layouts are predictable. View types are explicit, with stable view keys, so architecture reviews are repeatable and governance-ready. No more “it looked different on my machine.”
AI-assisted modeling
Section titled “AI-assisted modeling”Built-in AI chat and VS Code Copilot integration help you iterate faster. Get suggestions for modeling decisions, generate arc42 documentation from your model, and explore your architecture through natural language.
Enterprise-friendly outputs
Section titled “Enterprise-friendly outputs”Export diagrams to PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, or Ilograph. Generate arc42-structured documentation directly from your model. Share architecture with stakeholders in whatever format they need.
VS Code native
Section titled “VS Code native”ArchTect runs as a VS Code extension — no separate app to install, no context switching. Open .dsl files directly, use the Command Palette, and leverage the Copilot chat participant. It also runs as a standalone browser app for teams that prefer web-based access.
How ArchTect compares
Section titled “How ArchTect compares”| Capability | Freeform diagramming tools | Code-only DSL tools | ArchTect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single underlying model | No — separate diagrams | Yes | Yes |
| Version-control friendly | Difficult | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive visual editor | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bidirectional DSL ↔ canvas | No | No | Yes |
| Deterministic outputs | No | Varies | Yes |
| AI-assisted modeling | No | No | Yes |
| arc42 doc generation | No | No | Yes |
| Multi-format export | Image only | Limited | PNG, SVG, Mermaid, PlantUML, Ilograph |
| VS Code integration | No | Partial | Native extension |