Local-first · YAML-native · AI-powered · IaC-aware

Architecture diagramsthat think with you.

YAMLSource of truth
Zero SetupNo server needed
AIPrompt to diagram
architecture.yaml
Client AppclientAPI GatewaygatewayCore ServiceserviceDatabasedatabaseEvent Queuequeue
Data flow simulation

Built for teams who take architecture seriously

Your diagrams never leave the browser Instant render — zero compile step Export to 6+ formats Import from Terraform, Mermaid & more Free to use

Not just another
diagramming tool

Syncitect combines capabilities that no other architecture tool offers in one place.

01

Cinematic Snapshot Morphing

Take snapshots of your architecture at any point in time. Then watch the evolution as Syncitect smoothly morphs between versions — nodes glide to new positions, edges rewire, and additions glow in as deletions gracefully fade. It's version control you can see.

  • Animated transitions between any two snapshots
  • Visual diff — added, removed, and moved elements highlighted
  • Scrubable timeline with playback controls
v1.0 — BeforeAuthAPIDB
v2.0 — AfterAuthAPICache ✦DB
02

Integrated Architecture Decision Records

Every node, edge, and group can carry inline ADRs — lightweight records of why a decision was made. No more hunting through Confluence or Google Docs. The rationale lives right next to the component it describes.

  • Full lifecycle: proposed → accepted → deprecated → superseded
  • Record alternatives, rationale, and date — all inline in YAML
  • ADRs survive every export and import — they travel with the diagram
ADR-003accepted

Use Kafka over RabbitMQ

Rationale

Higher throughput for event streaming. Native partition-based ordering guarantees. Better ecosystem for exactly-once semantics.

Alternatives considered

RabbitMQ (simpler ops), AWS SQS (managed), Pulsar (multi-tenancy).

2026-01-15 Event Queue
03

Live Data Flow Simulation

Click any node and watch data packets cascade through your architecture in real-time. Packets follow edges, respect protocols (gRPC, Kafka, REST), and log every hop in a live timeline. Understand your system's behaviour before writing a single line of code.

  • BFS cascade — packets automatically follow all outgoing edges
  • Protocol-aware latency — gRPC is faster than REST, Kafka is async
  • Speed controls (0.5× – 4×) and full simulation log
GatewayAuthServiceDatabase
0ms Gateway → Auth HTTPS
12ms Gateway → Service gRPC
28ms Service → Database SQL
04

Guided Architecture Walkthroughs

Turn any diagram into a narrated presentation. Define stops anchored to nodes or groups, add narration text, and play a guided walkthrough that zooms and pans through your architecture. Perfect for onboarding, design reviews, and stakeholder demos.

  • Auto-generate walkthroughs from node order
  • Configurable auto-advance with per-stop zoom levels
  • Present directly from the canvas — no export needed
Walkthrough: System Overview
1
API Gateway

Entry point for all client requests. Handles auth and rate limiting.

2
Core Service

Orchestrates business logic and dispatches to downstream services.

3
Event Queue

Async event bus for decoupled communication between services.

05

Import from Infrastructure

Drop a Terraform folder onto the canvas and watch your entire cloud infrastructure materialize as an architecture diagram. Syncitect parses .tf files, resolves module references, infers edge semantics, and auto-layouts the result — zero configuration.

  • Terraform HCL, Mermaid, PlantUML, DOT, Docker Compose, and Kubernetes YAML
  • Smart edge inference — "routes to", "encrypts with", "secured by" labels derived from code
  • AWS, GCP & Azure icons auto-matched to resources and modules
main.tf
modules/rds/
modules/ecs/
Route53NLBECS ServiceRDSresolves toresolves toroutes toqueries
TerraformMermaidDocker ComposeKubernetesPlantUML

Everything you need to
architect at scale

From quick sketches to production-grade architecture documentation.

Split-Screen Editor

Write YAML on the left, watch the diagram render in real-time on the right. Every keystroke is instantly visualized.

AI Generation

Describe your architecture in plain English. AI generates the YAML and diagram instantly — then iterate naturally.

Smart Auto Layout

One click to auto-arrange any diagram. Hierarchical, radial, or force-directed — the algorithm picks up your intent.

Import & Export

Import from Terraform, Mermaid, PlantUML, DOT, Docker Compose, or Kubernetes YAML. Export to SVG, PNG, YAML, and more. Drop a folder of .tf files to auto-generate diagrams.

Review & Annotate

Anchor annotations to any element. Move diagrams through a review lifecycle: draft → in-review → approved → archived.

Node Types & Styling

9 node types, 4 edge styles, edge routing modes, custom icons, and groups. Make your diagram match your system's visual language.

YAML in, diagrams out

Write declarative YAML. Get a visual canvas that stays in perfect sync.

architecture.yaml
name: "Payment Service"
nodes:
  - id: api
    label: "Payment API"
    type: gateway
  - id: processor
    label: "Payment Processor"
    type: service
    decisions:
      - title: "Use Stripe SDK"
        status: accepted
  - id: ledger
    label: "Ledger DB"
    type: database
  - id: events
    label: "Event Bus"
    type: queue
edges:
  - from: api to: processor
    label: "HTTPS"
  - from: processor to: ledger
  - from: processor to: events
    style: dashed
Visual CanvasLive
Payment APIPayment ProcessorALedger DBEvent BusHTTPS

From idea to
production docs in minutes

1

Describe, draw, or import

Start with an AI prompt, hand-write YAML, or drop a Terraform folder. Define nodes, edges, groups, and decision records.

2

Simulate & validate

Fire data packets through your architecture. See where the bottlenecks are before writing code.

3

Snapshot & evolve

Capture versions. Use cinematic morph transitions to visualize how your architecture evolves.

4

Review & present

Run guided walkthroughs for stakeholders. Export to SVG, PNG, Mermaid, PlantUML, or share a permalink.

Ready to architect
your next system?

No account needed. No server required. Your diagrams stay in your browser.

Free to use. No account needed. Works offline.