Kroki is a diagram-as-code API that converts textual descriptions into visual diagrams across multiple formats and syntaxes.
The tool solves the problem of managing diagrams in version control and documentation by accepting text-based diagram definitions rather than binary image files. It works by providing a unified API that translates descriptions written in various diagram languages—including PlantUML, Mermaid, Graphviz, Excalidraw, BPMN, C4, ERD, Ditaa, Blockdiag, Pikchr, Svgbob, Bytefield, and Umlet—into rendered SVG or PNG output. This approach allows diagrams to be stored as code, diffed in git, and regenerated on demand without manual image editing.
Kroki suits teams and projects that prioritize diagram maintainability and want to keep visual documentation alongside source code. It is particularly valuable for technical documentation, architecture diagrams, flowcharts, and any scenario where diagrams need to evolve with the codebase. The tool's strength lies in its support for numerous diagram syntaxes under one API, eliminating the need to integrate separate converters for different diagram types.
The project shows consistent maintenance with regular updates addressing bug fixes and feature improvements. Development activity demonstrates responsiveness to user-reported issues and pull requests. The codebase receives ongoing refinement with commits focused on stability and expanding diagram language support. The project maintains active engagement with its user community through issue tracking and collaborative development.
