excalidraw — Setup Guide¶
Source: nousresearch/hermes-agent
Skill: excalidraw
Installs: 342
The excalidraw skill allows Hermes agents to create hand-drawn style diagrams, wireframes, flowcharts, and sketches directly from text descriptions. Uses the Excalidraw library for the distinctive sketch-like aesthetic that communicates "work in progress" and encourages collaboration.
Installation¶
npx skills add https://github.com/nousresearch/hermes-agent --skill excalidraw
After install, reload skills:
- Hermes CLI: /reload-skills or restart session
- Hermes gateway: /restart or hermes gateway restart
Prerequisites¶
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Hermes Agent | v0.20.0+ |
| Canvas | Diagram concept or architecture to visualize |
Capabilities¶
| Capability | Trigger | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture diagram | "Diagram the CorpusIQ MCP architecture" | Excalidraw file or exported PNG |
| Flowchart | "Map the user onboarding flow" | Process flowchart |
| Wireframe | "Wireframe a dashboard layout" | Low-fidelity UI wireframe |
| System diagram | "Show how services connect" | System architecture diagram |
| Mind map | "Map out the growth strategy" | Visual mind map |
| Sequence diagram | "Show the OAuth flow" | Sequence/timeline diagram |
Key Features¶
- Hand-drawn aesthetic: Sketch-like lines that signal draft status
- JSON-native: Excalidraw files are plain JSON — easy to version in git
- Export options: PNG, SVG, or embeddable links
- Library integration: Rich shape library with custom components
- Collaboration: Live multi-user editing via excalidraw.com
CLI/Command Reference¶
The skill integrates with Hermes' file and rendering tools:
- Diagrams are written as .excalidraw JSON files
- Export via Excalidraw API or browser automation
- Combine with browser_use to automate Excalidraw.com exports
- Embed in docs with markdown-viewer skill for rich rendering
CorpusIQ Use Cases¶
- Architecture documentation — System diagrams for corpusiq-docs
- Product specs — Wireframes for new features under development
- Client deliverables — Architecture diagrams for enterprise proposals
- Internal communication — Flowcharts for growth and product processes
- Pitch decks — Visual diagrams for investor and partner presentations
- Technical blog posts — Diagrams for the CorpusIQ engineering blog
Troubleshooting¶
| Issue | Likely Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| JSON parse errors | Malformed Excalidraw structure | Validate against Excalidraw schema |
| Export fails | Missing browser | Use browser_use or browser_navigate |
| Shapes misaligned | Coordinate overflow | Keep diagrams under 2000x2000 px |
Verification¶
After installation, verify the skill is loaded:
hermes skills list | grep excalidraw
Test with a diagram request:
"Create an Excalidraw diagram of the CorpusIQ system architecture showing MCP server, agents, and connectors"