ascii-visualizer

ASCII Visualizer Consistent, readable ASCII diagrams for architecture, workflows, file trees, and data visualizations. All output renders correctly in monospace terminals without external tools. Core principle: Encode information into structure, not decoration. Every diagram element should communicate something meaningful. Box-Drawing Character Reference Standard: ┌─┐ │ └─┘ ├─┤ ┬ ┴ ┼ Heavy: ┏━┓ ┃ ┗━┛ ┣━┫ ┳ ┻ ╋ Double: ╔═╗ ║ ╚═╝ ╠═╣ ╦ ╩ ╬ Rounded: ╭─╮ │ ╰─╯ Arrows: → ← ↑ ↓ ─> <─ ──> <── Blocks: █ ▓ ░ ▏▎▍▌▋▊▉ Checks: ✓ ✗ ● ○ ◆ ◇ ★ ☆ Weight Conventions Weight Characters Use For Standard ─│ Normal boxes and connectors Most diagrams Heavy ━┃ Emphasis, borders, headers Key components, outer frames Double ═║ Separation, titles Section dividers, title boxes Diagram Patterns Architecture Diagrams ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │ Frontend │─────>│ Backend │ │ React 19 │ │ FastAPI │ └──────────────┘ └───────┬──────┘ │ v ┌──────────────┐ │ PostgreSQL │ └──────────────┘ File Trees with Annotations src/ ├── api/ │ ├── routes.py [M] +45 -12 !! high-traffic path │ └── schemas.py [M] +20 -5 ├── services/ │ └── billing.py [A] +180 ** new file └── tests/ └── test_billing.py [A] +120 ** new file Legend: [A]dd [M]odify [D]elete !! Risk ** New Progress Bars [████████░░] 80% Complete + Design (2 days) + Backend (5 days) ~ Frontend (3 days) - Testing (pending) Swimlane / Timeline Diagrams Backend ===[Schema]======[API]===========================[Deploy]====> | | ^ | +------blocks------+ | | | | Frontend ------[Wait]--------[Components]=======[Integration]=+ === Active work --- Blocked/waiting | Dependency Blast Radius (Concentric Rings) Ring 3: Tests (8 files) +-------------------------------+ | Ring 2: Transitive (5) | | +------------------------+ | | | Ring 1: Direct (3) | | | | +--------------+ | | | | | CHANGED FILE | | | | | +--------------+ | | | +------------------------+ | +-------------------------------+ Comparison Tables BEFORE AFTER ┌────────────┐ ┌────────────┐ │ Monolith │ │ Service A │──┐ │ (all-in-1)│ └────────────┘ │ ┌──────────┐ └────────────┘ ┌────────────┐ ├─>│ Shared │ │ Service B │──┘ │ Queue │ └────────────┘ └──────────┘ Reversibility Timeline Phase 1 [================] FULLY REVERSIBLE (add column) Phase 2 [================] FULLY REVERSIBLE (new endpoint) Phase 3 [============....] PARTIALLY (backfill) --- POINT OF NO RETURN --- Phase 4 [........????????] IRREVERSIBLE (drop column) Key Rules Rule Description Font Always monospace — box-drawing requires fixed-width Weight Standard for normal, Heavy for emphasis, Double for titles Arrows ─> , ──> , or │ with v / ^ for direction Alignment Right-pad labels to match column widths Annotations !! for risk, ** for new, [A/M/D] for change type Width Keep under 80 chars for terminal compatibility Nesting Max 3 levels of box nesting before readability degrades When to Use Each Pattern Pattern Use Case Layered boxes System architecture, deployment topology Concentric rings Blast radius, impact analysis Timeline bars Reversibility, migration phases Swimlanes Execution order, parallel work streams Annotated trees File change manifests, directory structures Comparison tables Cross-layer consistency, before/after Progress bars Status tracking, completion metrics