Generating AWS Diagrams

AWS DrawIO Diagram Generator

Generates professional DrawIO XML diagrams for Amazon Web Services architectures.

Capabilities

1. Extract - Analyze existing DrawIO XML files to identify AWS shapes, connections, and structure
2. Identify - Recognize AWS service icons from architecture diagram images
3. Generate - Create valid DrawIO XML from images or text descriptions
4. Convert - Transform AWS architecture diagrams into editable DrawIO format

Quick Reference

AWS Shape Patterns

There are two icon types. Use service icons when labeling the AWS service itself, and instance icons when representing a specific resource.

Service icon (colored square background) — for labeling the service:

shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon;resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.{shape_name}

Instance icon (bare icon, no background) — for specific resources:

shape=mxgraph.aws4.{shape_name};fillColor={category_color}

CRITICAL: Always keep fillColor set to the category color. Without it the icon renders white/invisible. The only difference from a service icon is the absence of the resourceIcon background square — never remove fillColor when using an instance icon.

CRITICAL: Underscore-Separated Names

Multi-word AWS shape names use UNDERSCORES in style properties!

• step_functions (correct)
• api_gateway (correct)
• kinesis_data_streams (correct)
• step functions (WRONG - will not render)
• api gateway (WRONG - will not render)

The aws4.xml stencil defines names with spaces, but DrawIO's style parser requires underscores.

Always look up exact names in assets/aws-icons.json before using.

Common AWS Services

AWS Container Types

Task 1: Analyze a DrawIO File

Use this workflow to extract and document all components from an existing DrawIO file.

Steps

1. Read the file - Load the .drawio XML file
2. Parse structure - Extract all <mxCell> elements
3. Identify shapes - Find cells with vertex="1"
4. Identify connections - Find cells with edge="1"
5. Extract styles - Parse style strings for each element
6. Map hierarchy - Build container/child relationships using parent attribute
7. Generate report - Output findings in structured format

Input

• Path to .drawio file

Output

Generate a Markdown report with:

# DrawIO Analysis Report

## Summary
- Total shapes: X
- Total connections: Y
- Containers: Z

## Shape Inventory

| ID | Label | Type | Position | Parent |
|----|-------|------|----------|--------|
| abc | Lambda | mxgraph.aws4.lambda | (100,200) | vpc1 |

## Connection Matrix

| From | To | Label | Type |
|------|-----|-------|------|
| Lambda | DynamoDB | API | solid |

## Container Hierarchy

- VPC (vpc1)
  - Lambda (lambda1)
  - Lambda (lambda2)
  - DynamoDB (db1)

## Style Analysis

### Unique Shapes Found
- mxgraph.aws4.lambda (4 instances)
- mxgraph.aws4.dynamodb (2 instances)

Task 2: Convert Image to DrawIO

Use this workflow to recreate an AWS architecture diagram from an image.

Steps

1. Analyze image - Identify all visual elements:

   • AWS service icons (shape, color, label)
   • Containers/boundaries (color, border style)
   • Connections (solid, dashed, arrows)
   • Labels and text

2. Map to library - For each identified element:

   • Look up in assets/aws-icons.json by visual signature or label
   • Match containers to assets/aws-containers.json
   • CRITICAL: Verify underscore-separated names for multi-word services (e.g., step_functions, not step functions)
   • Note any unrecognized elements

3. Estimate layout - Determine positions:

   • Identify container boundaries first
   • Place icons within containers
   • Estimate x,y coordinates and dimensions
   • Standard icon size: 64x64 pixels

4. Generate XML - Build the DrawIO structure:

   • Start with base template from assets/templates/drawio-base.xml
   • Add containers first (they become parents)
   • Add service icons with correct parent references
   • Add connections between shapes

5. Create confidence report - Document accuracy:

   • List all identified components
   • Note any uncertain matches
   • Flag potential issues

Input

• AWS architecture diagram image (PNG/JPG)

Output

1. Valid .drawio XML file
2. Confidence report (Markdown)

Confidence Report Format

# Conversion Confidence Report

## Overall Confidence: 85%

## Identified Components

### High Confidence (>90%)
- Lambda x4 - Clear icon match
- DynamoDB x2 - Clear icon match
- VPC container - Purple border, correct label

### Medium Confidence (70-90%)
- Step Functions - Icon similar, label confirms (using `step_functions` with underscores)

### Low Confidence (<70%)
- Unknown icon at position (300, 400) - Mapped to generic service

## Connection Accuracy
- 12/14 connections clearly visible
- 2 connections inferred from layout

## Notes
- VPC subnet grouping identified
- Bidirectional arrows on 3 connections

Task 3: Create DrawIO from Description

Use this workflow to generate a new AWS diagram from text specifications.

Steps

1. Parse requirements - Extract from description:

   • Required AWS services
   • Container/grouping needs
   • Connection requirements
   • Layout preferences

2. Select components - From libraries:

   • Look up services in assets/aws-icons.json
   • Choose containers from assets/aws-containers.json
   • Choose icon type: Use service icons (with background) for generic service labels, instance icons (no background) for specific resources (see Quick Reference)
   • VERIFY: Underscore-separated names for multi-word services in style strings
   • Select connection styles

3. Plan layout - Design the arrangement:

   • Determine canvas size
   • Position containers first
   • Arrange services logically (left-to-right data flow, top-to-bottom hierarchy)
   • Standard spacing: 120px between 64x64 icons

4. Generate XML - Build the diagram:

   • Use assets/templates/drawio-base.xml as starting point
   • Add elements in order: containers, services, connections
   • Assign unique IDs to all elements

5. Validate - Check the output:

   • All requested components present
   • Connections reference valid IDs
   • Layout is logical and readable

Input

• Text description of desired AWS architecture

Output

• Valid .drawio XML file

Example Input

Create an AWS serverless architecture with:
- VPC container
- API Gateway triggering Lambda
- Lambda connecting to DynamoDB and S3
- Step Functions orchestrating the workflow

Example Output Structure

<mxfile ...>
  <diagram name="AWS Architecture">
    <mxGraphModel ...>
      <root>
        <mxCell id="0" />
        <mxCell id="1" parent="0" />
        <!-- VPC Container -->
        <mxCell id="vpc" value="VPC" style="..." vertex="1" parent="1">
          <mxGeometry x="50" y="50" width="700" height="400" />
        </mxCell>
        <!-- API Gateway -->
        <mxCell id="api_gateway" value="API Gateway" style="...resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.api_gateway" vertex="1" parent="vpc">
          <mxGeometry x="50" y="100" width="64" height="64" />
        </mxCell>
        <!-- More shapes... -->
        <!-- Connections -->
        <mxCell id="conn_api_gateway_to_lambda" edge="1" source="api_gateway" target="lambda" style="..." />
      </root>
    </mxGraphModel>
  </diagram>
</mxfile>

Shape Library Reference

Looking Up an AWS Service

1. Open assets/aws-icons.json
2. Search by service_name or recognition_keywords
3. Use the drawio_shape.full_style for complete styling
4. Or construct style using: shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon;resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.{shape_name}

Service Coverage:

• 264 AWS services across 24 categories
• 96.6% validated against mxgraph.aws4 library (255/264 services)
• 9 unvalidated services (deprecated or newer than aws4.xml stencil) — see references/ICON-COMPATIBILITY.md for the list. For these, use a visually similar validated service icon or a generic shape.

Key AWS Specifications

• Icon size: 64x64 pixels
• Font color: #232F3E universally (dark gray)
• Fill color varies by category (not per-service)
• Arrow style: open arrow, 2pt stroke, #232F3E

Look up the exact category, fillColor, and full_style for any service in assets/aws-icons.json. All 24 categories with colors are listed there.

Visual Best Practices

See references/DIAGRAM-BEST-PRACTICES.md for full guidelines. Key rules:

• Connection labels — always add: labelBackgroundColor=#FFFFFF;fontSize=10;fontColor=#232F3E;
• strokeWidth — use 1 for most connections, 2 only for primary data paths (max 1–3 per diagram)
• Consolidate connections when 3+ cross the same corridor into a single labeled edge

XML Structure Quick Reference

For complete XML examples and detailed structure, see references/xml-examples.md.

The key building blocks:

• Shape: <mxCell id="api_gateway" value="Label" style="..." vertex="1" parent="1"> with <mxGeometry>
• Connection: <mxCell id="conn_api_gateway_to_lambda" edge="1" source="api_gateway" target="lambda" style="...">
• Container: Shape with container=1 in style; children set parent to container ID
• Root cells: Every diagram needs <mxCell id="0"/> and <mxCell id="1" parent="0"/>

ID Naming Rules

• Full service names — api_gateway, not apigw; step_functions, not stepfn
• Role suffixes for duplicates — lambda_api_handler, lambda_processor, not lambda1, lambda2
• Connection IDs — conn_{source}_to_{target} using full IDs

See references/DIAGRAM-BEST-PRACTICES.md for complete ID naming convention.

For XML parsing and extraction techniques, see references/xml-parser-guide.md.

Troubleshooting

Icon Not Displaying

• CRITICAL: Verify multi-word shape names use UNDERSCORES: step_functions, NOT step functions
• For service icons: verify both shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon AND resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.{name} are present
• For instance icons: verify shape=mxgraph.aws4.{name} is used directly (no resourceIcon wrapper)
• NEVER use productIcon/prIcon — always use resourceIcon/resIcon for service icons
• Check assets/aws-icons.json for exact shape name
• Ensure vertex="1" is present
• Check that <mxGeometry> has valid width/height (64x64)

Wrong Icon Type (Background vs No Background)

See the Quick Reference section for the full definition of each icon type. In summary:

• Service icon: shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon;resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.{name} — labels the AWS service itself
• Instance icon: shape=mxgraph.aws4.{name};fillColor={category_color} — represents a specific resource; fillColor is required or the icon renders white

Connection Not Rendering

• Verify source and target IDs exist
• Ensure edge="1" is set
• Check that source/target shapes are vertices

Shapes Not Inside Container

• Set child's parent attribute to container's ID
• Ensure container has container=1 in style
• Position child coordinates relative to container (not absolute)

Label Not Showing

• Check value attribute is set
• Verify fontSize is reasonable (12-14 for AWS)
• Ensure fontColor=#232F3E is set

File Won't Open in DrawIO

• Validate XML structure (proper closing tags)
• Ensure id="0" and id="1" root cells exist
• Check for special characters in labels (use 
 for newlines)

Desktop Integration

After generating a .drawio file, you can validate and preview it:

1. Validate: python scripts/validate-drawio.py output.drawio --verbose
2. Analyze: python scripts/analyze-existing.py output.drawio --markdown
3. Validate Icons: python scripts/validate-aws-icons.py
4. Export PNG: ./scripts/export-diagram.sh output.drawio png
5. Open in DrawIO: ./scripts/open-diagram.sh output.drawio

Requires DrawIO Desktop. Install on macOS: brew install drawio

Files in This Skill