# AGENTS.md — Build guide for Creately

## Project scope
Create a diagram canvas with flowchart stencils, snapping connectors and editable node properties. Bind a selected node to an imported data row and show when that source row changes.

Catalogue verdict: kinda. The visible diagramming + whiteboard loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Creately earns its keep through interaction polish, collaboration, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.
Use the implementation prompt below to define the deliverable. Complete each phase's acceptance checks before extending the scope.

## Working agreement
- Inspect the repository and its existing instructions before choosing paths, dependencies or commands. Keep one coherent stack and explain changes to the proposed architecture.
- Plan a vertical slice that accepts a real input and produces the useful output described below. Persist only the state the prompt calls for; respect memory-only and upstream-managed workflows. Use fixtures only when they are clearly labelled.
- After scaffolding, document the actual install, development, check and build commands in README and keep them synchronized with the package or project manifest. Do not report commands as successful unless they ran.
- Work in small steps. At handoff, list implemented flows, checks actually performed, remaining blockers, and any credentials or provider setup the owner must supply.
- Do not publish, spend money, contact customers, delete source data or run irreversible migrations without the project owner's authorization.

## Prerequisites
- A supported Node release for development and a modern browser. Ship a static bundle that can work locally without an account.
- Implementation components: Vite, React and TypeScript with SVG for diagrams or a Canvas rendering adapter for raster assets. IndexedDB for projects and revisions; versioned JSON documents with stable object IDs.
- Scope boundary: large template libraries; high-fidelity import and export

## Stack and architecture
- Vite, React and TypeScript with SVG for diagrams or a Canvas rendering adapter for raster assets.
- IndexedDB for projects and revisions; versioned JSON documents with stable object IDs.
- Domain model: diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions

## Security and data integrity
- Sanitize imported SVG, reject external scripts and oversized assets, and require user selection before reading local files. Keep document contents out of telemetry.
- Correctness boundary: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
- Represent edits as reversible commands, debounce autosave, and persist a complete project snapshot before destructive structural changes.
- Export editable JSON with assets and an SVG or PNG rendering. Reopen the editable export to retain layers, relationships and IDs; image exports alone are not backups.

## Agent implementation rules
- Project rule — data model: diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions
- Project rule — preserve this invariant: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
- Project rule — acceptance evidence: Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning.

## Optional agent skills and references
- Optional external skill: [vercel-composition-patterns](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/composition-patterns/SKILL.md) — Design reusable React components with composition, context and explicit component variants. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
- Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.

Read the linked SKILL.md and its dependencies before adding a skill. Select only the skills matching this project's runtime and task; their documentation does not supply API access, credentials or approval to perform external actions. Pin the reviewed revision where the tool supports it. Follow the chosen agent's documented project-level installation mechanism.

## Distribution ideas
These are optional planning notes. Obtain the owner's approval before publishing or contacting anyone.
- Demonstrate the actual Creately-inspired workflow with owned or clearly labeled sample data: Create a diagram canvas with flowchart stencils, snapping connectors and editable node properties. Bind a selected node to an imported data row and show when that source row changes.
- Publish a reproducible walkthrough with this observable result: Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning.
- Explain who can operate this scoped tool, its setup and ongoing costs, and these remaining product gaps: large template libraries; high-fidelity import and export Avoid guaranteed savings, performance scores or implied endorsement.

## Engineering roadmap
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Create a diagram canvas with flowchart stencils, snapping connectors and editable node properties. Bind a selected node to an imported data row and show when that source row changes. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: large template libraries; high-fidelity import and export
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Represent edits as reversible commands, debounce autosave, and persist a complete project snapshot before destructive structural changes.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Sanitize imported SVG, reject external scripts and oversized assets, and require user selection before reading local files. Keep document contents out of telemetry. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export editable JSON with assets and an SVG or PNG rendering. Reopen the editable export to retain layers, relationships and IDs; image exports alone are not backups. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

## Paid-product capabilities outside this build
- large template libraries
- high-fidelity import and export
- presentation and enterprise controls
- multiplayer cursors and comments

## Implementation prompt
WORKING SLICE
Create a diagram canvas with flowchart stencils, snapping connectors and editable node properties. Bind a selected node to an imported data row and show when that source row changes.

Build this scoped Creately-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states.

Architecture
- Vite, React and TypeScript with SVG for diagrams or a Canvas rendering adapter for raster assets.
- IndexedDB for projects and revisions; versioned JSON documents with stable object IDs.

Prerequisites and limits
A supported Node release for development and a modern browser. Ship a static bundle that can work locally without an account.
Outside this release: large template libraries; high-fidelity import and export

Data model and correctness
diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions
Invariant: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
Represent edits as reversible commands, debounce autosave, and persist a complete project snapshot before destructive structural changes.

Security and privacy
Sanitize imported SVG, reject external scripts and oversized assets, and require user selection before reading local files. Keep document contents out of telemetry.

Recovery and export
Export editable JSON with assets and an SVG or PNG rendering. Reopen the editable export to retain layers, relationships and IDs; image exports alone are not backups.

Implementation order
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Create a diagram canvas with flowchart stencils, snapping connectors and editable node properties. Bind a selected node to an imported data row and show when that source row changes. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: large template libraries; high-fidelity import and export
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Represent edits as reversible commands, debounce autosave, and persist a complete project snapshot before destructive structural changes.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Sanitize imported SVG, reject external scripts and oversized assets, and require user selection before reading local files. Keep document contents out of telemetry. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export editable JSON with assets and an SVG or PNG rendering. Reopen the editable export to retain layers, relationships and IDs; image exports alone are not backups. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

Acceptance
Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning.
Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees.

Optional agent guidance
Optional external skill: [vercel-composition-patterns](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/composition-patterns/SKILL.md) — Design reusable React components with composition, context and explicit component variants. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: diagram nodes, ports, typed edges, external data references, layout bounds and revisions
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Moving a node preserves its edge endpoints; imported data updates require a preview and cannot erase manual diagram annotations.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Move and resize a connected shape without dangling edges; remove a source row and retain the diagram node with a broken-reference warning.

## Completion evidence
Demonstrate the prompt's acceptance scenarios against the scoped workflow. Include setup from a clean checkout and failure recovery. Check persistence across restart and export/restore only for the state the prompt says to store; for memory-only tools, confirm that temporary content is discarded as specified. Record actual results and remaining limitations. A detailed plan alone does not establish a working replacement.