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c4-architecture — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

Creates software architecture documentation and C4 model diagrams using Mermaid syntax from your codebase.

Install into Claude Code · claude-code-templates All methods and platforms ↓ 
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill creative-design/c4-architecture
Open on GitHub

What c4-architecture does

This skill inspects your project to generate structured C4 architecture documentation. It produces Mermaid diagrams embedded in markdown files alongside explanatory text.

The workflow supports multiple abstraction tiers. It covers system context (C4Context), runtime containers (C4Container), internal components (C4Component), and deployment infrastructure (C4Deployment). Numbered message flows can also be mapped with C4Dynamic. Context and container views are treated as essential, while component breakdowns remain optional.

Diagrams follow strict formatting conventions. Every relation demands a concrete technology tag, and bidirectional links are rejected to prevent ambiguity.

What it helps with

  • map system boundaries and external actors
  • document container architecture across databases and services
  • visualize sequential API request flows using dynamic diagrams
  • outline production infrastructure and deployment nodes

Example prompts for the agent

  • Generate a system context C4 diagram for this project in Mermaid format
  • Document our backend containers and local storage setup
  • Draw a C4Dynamic sequence for the authentication workflow

How to install c4-architecture

1claude-code-templates

npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill creative-design/c4-architecture

2Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill c4-architecture -a claude-code

3Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/c4-architecture/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/c4-architecture/

Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways

Questions about c4-architecture

How do I install c4-architecture in Claude Code?

Run npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill creative-design/c4-architecture in your terminal. Alternatively, install it with npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill c4-architecture -a claude-code.

What does the c4-architecture skill do?

It inspects application code and writes architecture documentation using C4 Mermaid diagrams. The output includes contextual markdown files describing components and data flows.

Which C4 diagram levels are generated?

The skill handles Context, Container, Component, and Deployment diagrams. It also includes C4Dynamic diagrams for step-by-step request tracing.

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