adk-visualize
Category router for producing diagrams and charts from text descriptions or data - sequence/flow/architecture diagrams via mermaid/drawio/excalidraw/graphviz, and bar/line/pie/scatter charts from CSV/JSON/inline data. Use when the deliverable is a visual (image, SVG, or markdown-embedded diagram), not prose. Picks one of adk-visualize-diagram, adk-visualize-chart.
ADK Visualize (Category Router)
Routes any "make a picture from this" intent to the right visualization task. Activate one of the listed task skills below; do not draft directly from this router.
When to use this category
- A diagram is needed: sequence, flow, state, ER, architecture, dependency, class, deployment.
- A data chart is needed: bar, line, pie, scatter, histogram, stacked area, heatmap.
- An existing diagram or chart needs to be regenerated, restyled, or converted to a different format (PNG, SVG, embeddable mermaid).
When NOT to use this category
- UI mockup or component design ->
adk-frontend-design - Architectural design write-up (text-heavy) ->
adk-plan-design(which may then call this category for one diagram) - Audit visualizations as part of a report -> let the audit task call this category for specific charts
Shared workflow
Every task in this category honors the same five steps. The task skills tailor the content of each step.
- Confirm intent - identify visual type, source data or domain, destination format (markdown-embedded mermaid is the default), and whether an editable source must be kept.
- Gather - pull the source-of-truth: data file, schema, code paths to diagram, or interview questions if the picture is conceptual.
- Draft - produce the editable source first (mermaid / drawio XML / excalidraw JSON / graphviz dot / chart spec). Render only after the source is approved.
- Validate - render to the destination format and visually sanity check (no overlapping nodes, axes labeled, legend present, colors readable).
- Report - show the rendered output and the editable source path; offer to tweak.
Task selection
| Task skill | Use when | Do NOT use when |
|---|---|---|
adk-visualize-diagram | Sequence, flow, state, ER, architecture, dependency, class, deployment, or any structural picture | Numeric / categorical data plot - use chart |
adk-visualize-chart | Bar, line, pie, scatter, histogram, stacked area, heatmap from numeric or categorical data | Structural / relationship picture - use diagram |
Format defaults
| Destination | Diagram default | Chart default |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown (README, PR, issue) | Embedded mermaid block | SVG file linked from markdown |
| Confluence / GitHub wiki | Embedded mermaid (both support) | PNG attached + linked |
| Slide deck | Exported SVG | Exported SVG |
| Print / handoff PDF | PNG (300 dpi) | PNG (300 dpi) |
Always keep the editable source alongside the rendered output (e.g. architecture.mmd next to architecture.svg).
Activation
Once you have picked a task, load adk-visualize-<task> and follow it. Each task skill is fully standalone - everything it needs is in its own folder.
Anti-patterns
- Drawing inside this router. Always hand off to a task skill.
- Rendering a binary without keeping the editable source.
- Charts without labeled axes or units.
- Diagrams with more than ~12 nodes per view; split into layered diagrams instead.
Clarifying questions (default-ask)
When running without --auto, the skill asks these questions in order, one at a time. Under --auto, the skill picks the safest option for each (see references/clarifying-questions.md) and reports the choices.
- Is the goal a structural diagram (boxes + arrows showing relationships) or a data chart (numeric values plotted)? — How to pick: Diagram → adk-visualize-diagram. Chart → adk-visualize-chart.
Default report: Routed task + why.
Detailed report (on request or --verbose): (n/a — small router)
Artifact: visualize-routing-decision — Inline message.
Artifact path: (none)
Clarifying questions (default-ask)
When running without --auto, the skill asks these questions in order, one at a time. Under --auto, the skill picks the safest option for each (see references/clarifying-questions.md) and reports the choices.
- Is the goal a structural diagram (boxes + arrows showing relationships) or a data chart (numeric values plotted)? — How to pick: Diagram → adk-visualize-diagram. Chart → adk-visualize-chart.
Default vs detailed output
Default report: Routed task + why.
Detailed report (on request or --verbose): (n/a — small router)
Artifact: visualize-routing-decision — Inline message.
Artifact path: (none)
<!-- adk:references:start -->References shipped with this skill
These files live in references/ next to this SKILL.md. Read them when the skill activates; they are inlined here so the skill is fully self-contained (no cross-skill or shared sources).
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
references/anti-patterns.md | Things to avoid when running this skill. |
references/artifact-format.md | The deliverable's format and where it lives (.temp/ contract). |
references/clarifying-questions.md | The default-ask questions for this skill, with how-to-pick rubrics. |
references/constitution.md | Non-negotiable rules and working/communication discipline. |
references/interaction-contract.md | Default-ask, explained-options, --auto contract every skill must follow. |
references/output-format.md | Default vs detailed report shapes; severity labels; verbosity rules. |
references/persona.md | The agent persona that drives this skill. |