Block Diagram (WIP)

Syntax suggestion for layout (paperware)

Simple block

block
  block1["Block 1"]

Blocks next to each other

block
  block1["Block 1"]
  block2["Block 2"]

Blocks in a column

block
  columns 1
  block1["Block 1"]
  block2["Block 2"]

or

block
  direction TB
  block1["Block 1"]
  block2["Block 2"]

Different widths

block
  direction TB
  block1["Block 1"]
  
  block
     block2["Block 2"]
     block3["Block 3"]
  end %% End the compound block

Block Arrows

This differs from regular edges as the arrow is really a block.

block
  direction LR
  block1["Block 1"]
  <=1,1=>
  block2["Block 2"]

or (equivalent)

block
  direction LR
  block1["Block 1"] <=1,1=>  block2["Block 2"]

Vertical arrow

block
  direction TB
  block1["Block 1"]
  <=1,1=>
  block2["Block 2"]

Auto columns

Amount of columns are automatically calculated. So specifying it is redundant unless you specifically want to set to a value. This could for instance be the case where you want a block to take half of the space. The default state is columns auto.

block-beta

block
  block app
    columns auto %% or
    columns 5 
  end
end

Layout direction

block-beta

block app["Application"]
direction LR
app --> client
app --> admin
client <--> admin
client["Client Application"]
admin["Admin Application"]
end

alt

block-beta

block app["Application"]
app 
<=0,2=>
block
  client <= 1,1 => admin
end

direction=TB

direction=LR

Direction is inspired by dot language as well as flex-direction attribute.

Layout direction auto-change

Layout direction for nested blocks must be switched automatically

block-beta
direction TB

block row1
  col1
  col2
  col3
end
block row2
  col1
  col2
  col3
end
block row3
  col1
  col2
  col3
end

The same graph with direction LR

Width

A block with a width attached will use multiple blocks. For instance:

block
   A:2 B

If you have discrepancies the missing blocks are empty. For instance in the following block diagram you have full width block followed with another row with one block, B, using 2/3 of the width:

block
   direction TB
   A
   block
     columns 3
     B:2
   end

Here you can se this rendered:

The default width for a block is 1. In the example below A will use half of the space.

block
   columns 2
   A