Structurizr

Your software architecture documentation hub; and software architecture diagrams as code

structurizr.org - introduction and open source tooling | structurizr.com - free and paid tooling to render diagrams, documentation, and architecture decision records

Lite

Packaged as a Docker container, and designed for developers, this version of Structurizr provides a way to quickly view diagrams, documentation, and architecture decision records.

(free; no sign up required)

Cloud service

Our cloud service allows you to get started with Structurizr quickly, without needing to host and update software on your own servers.

(free and paid)

On-premises

We also have a version of Structurizr that can be run on your own infrastructure (local servers or cloud), providing the majority of the same features found in the cloud service.

(paid)

Diagrams as code 2.0

Structurizr builds upon "diagrams as code", allowing you to create multiple diagrams from a single model, using a number of tools and programming languages. This Structurizr DSL example creates two diagrams, based upon a single set of elements and relationships.

workspace {

    model {
        user = person "User"
        softwareSystem = softwareSystem "Software System" {
            webapp = container "Web Application" {
                user -> this "Uses"
            }
            container "Database" {
                webapp -> this "Reads from and writes to"
            }
        }
    }

    views {
        systemContext softwareSystem {
            include *
            autolayout lr
        }

        container softwareSystem {
            include *
            autolayout lr
        }

        theme default
    }

}

Authoring tools

In Structurizr, a "workspace" is the wrapper for your software architecture model, views and supplementary documentation. There are a number of tools for creating a workspace; including a text-based DSL and code-based client libraries.

The Structurizr DSL (as mentioned on the ThoughtWorks Tech Radar - Techniques - Diagrams as code) allows you to create multiple diagrams from a single DSL source file. The DSL is designed to be used in conjunction with the Structurizr CLI and/or Structurizr Lite. The DSL is the recommended authoring option for most teams.

Demo

Java, .NET, TypeScript, PHP, Python, and Go via the JSON web API. This authoring option is recommended for teams who want to use code to help build their software architecture model (e.g. component discovery via static analysis, parsing distributed log files, etc). See structurizr.org for the links to available libraries.

Designed for the C4 model

Structurizr is specifically designed to support the C4 model for visualising software architecture, natively supporting diagram navigation and zoom in/out. A diagram key/legend is automatically generated for each diagram too.

System Landscape diagram

System Context diagram

Container diagram

Component diagram

Dynamic diagram

Deployment diagram

Document your cloud architecture

Use themes to help document your cloud architecture; with prebuilt themes for Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Kubernetes.

Visualise

Create software architecture diagrams based upon the C4 model. Diagrams are interactive, animatable, and embeddable.

Document

Publish supplementary documentation using Markdown or AsciiDoc, all navigable and full-text searchable.

Record

Publish architecture decision records (ADRs) to capture your significant design decisions, all full-text searchable.

Review your diagrams

Structurizr's diagram review feature is designed to offer a quick and lightweight immutable review process for your diagrams; supporting general, risk-storming, and STRIDE reviews.