# react-flow-architecture

Architecture guidance for React Flow node-based UIs, covering state, integrations, scale and fit decisions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 529 installs · ★ 84
- Author: existential-birds
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/existential-birds/beagle/tree/HEAD/plugins/beagle-react/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/react-flow-architecture

## What it does

This skill helps plan applications built around React Flow nodes and edges. It covers workflow builders, visual programming tools, diagrams, data pipelines, mind maps, decision trees and state-machine editors. Before implementation, it walks through user interactions, graph scale, state placement and the choice between React Flow and listed alternatives.

The guidance includes local hooks, Zustand and Redux patterns, change handlers, nested sub-flows, viewport persistence, API loading and `dagre` layout. For 100–500 nodes, it recommends `onlyRenderVisibleElements`; above 1000 nodes, virtualization or WebGL-based tools deserve consideration. Simple static diagrams are a case for direct SVG or canvas work.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add existential-birds/beagle --skill react-flow-architecture -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/react-flow-architecture/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add existential-birds/beagle --skill react-flow-architecture -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add existential-birds/beagle --skill react-flow-architecture -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install existential-birds/beagle react-flow-architecture
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add existential-birds/beagle --skill react-flow-architecture -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/existential-birds/beagle --path plugins/beagle-react/skills/react-flow-architecture
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add existential-birds/beagle --skill react-flow-architecture -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/existential-birds/beagle/tree/HEAD/plugins/beagle-react/skills/react-flow-architecture/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- choose React Flow for a node-based UI
- place node and edge state
- design nested node groups
- persist the graph viewport
- plan scaling for large graphs

## Example prompts
- Design a workflow editor with React Flow and run the four architecture checks before implementation.
- Compare local state, Zustand and Redux for managing `nodes` and `edges`.
- Show how to save and restore `nodes`, `edges` and `viewport` with `useReactFlow`.

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 5bebb1d619f5c414
````text
---
name: react-flow-architecture
description: Architectural guidance for building node-based UIs with React Flow. Use when designing flow-based applications, making decisions about state management, integration patterns, or evaluating whether React Flow fits a use case.
---

# React Flow Architecture

## When to Use React Flow

### Good Fit

- Visual programming interfaces
- Workflow builders and automation tools
- Diagram editors (flowcharts, org charts)
- Data pipeline visualization
- Mind mapping tools
- Node-based audio/video editors
- Decision tree builders
- State machine designers

### Consider Alternatives

- Simple static diagrams (use SVG or canvas directly)
- Heavy real-time collaboration (may need custom sync layer)
- 3D visualizations (use Three.js, react-three-fiber)
- Graph analysis with 10k+ nodes (use WebGL-based solutions like Sigma.js)

### Decision workflow (gates)

Run this sequence before locking the stack or sprinting implementation. Skip only for throwaway prototypes.

1. **Name the interactions** — List the top user actions (e.g. drag, connect, delete, group). **Pass:** Each action maps to a concrete React Flow callback you will implement (`onNodesChange`, `onConnect`, …).

2. **Classify scale** — Estimate peak nodes (visible canvas or document total). **Pass:** Your range matches a row in [Node Count Guidelines](#node-count-guidelines) and you accept the listed strategy (e.g. `onlyRenderVisibleElements` when that row implies it).

3. **Place state** — Choose local hooks, an external store, or Redux/other. **Pass:** One sentence states where persistence, undo, or cross-surface sync will live, or explicitly “not needed yet.”

4. **Re-check alternatives** — If the use case matches [Consider Alternatives](#consider-alternatives), **Pass:** One sentence explains why React Flow still fits or which listed alternative you chose instead.

## Architecture Patterns

### Package Structure (xyflow)

```
@xyflow/system (vanilla TypeScript)
├── Core algorithms (edge paths, bounds, viewport)
├── xypanzoom (d3-based pan/zoom)
├── xydrag, xyhandle, xyminimap, xyresizer
└── Shared types

@xyflow/react (depends on @xyflow/system)
├── React components and hooks
├── Zustand store for state management
└── Framework-specific integrations

@xyflow/svelte (depends on @xyflow/system)
└── Svelte components and stores
```

**Implication**: Core logic is framework-agnostic. When contributing or debugging, check if issue is in @xyflow/system or framework-specific package.

### State Management Approaches

#### 1. Local State (Simple Apps)

```tsx
// useNodesState/useEdgesState for prototyping
const [nodes, setNodes, onNodesChange] = useNodesState(initialNodes);
const [edges, setEdges, onEdgesChange] = useEdgesState(initialEdges);
```
````
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