json-canvas
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
181 stars
Best use case
json-canvas is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
Teams using json-canvas should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/72714e33-102d-4c0a-8f9d-4790c1145f5f/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/main/skills/data/72714e33-102d-4c0a-8f9d-4790c1145f5f/SKILL.md"
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/72714e33-102d-4c0a-8f9d-4790c1145f5f/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How json-canvas Compares
| Feature / Agent | json-canvas | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# JSON Canvas Skill
This skill enables Claude Code to create and edit valid JSON Canvas files (`.canvas`) used in Obsidian and other applications.
## Overview
JSON Canvas is an open file format for infinite canvas data. Canvas files use the `.canvas` extension and contain valid JSON following the [JSON Canvas Spec 1.0](https://jsoncanvas.org/spec/1.0/).
## File Structure
A canvas file contains two top-level arrays:
```json
{
"nodes": [],
"edges": []
}
```
- `nodes` (optional): Array of node objects
- `edges` (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes
## Nodes
Nodes are objects placed on the canvas. There are four node types:
- `text` - Text content with Markdown
- `file` - Reference to files/attachments
- `link` - External URL
- `group` - Visual container for other nodes
### Z-Index Ordering
Nodes are ordered by z-index in the array:
- First node = bottom layer (displayed below others)
- Last node = top layer (displayed above others)
### Generic Node Attributes
All nodes share these attributes:
| Attribute | Required | Type | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|-------------|
| `id` | Yes | string | Unique identifier for the node |
| `type` | Yes | string | Node type: `text`, `file`, `link`, or `group` |
| `x` | Yes | integer | X position in pixels |
| `y` | Yes | integer | Y position in pixels |
| `width` | Yes | integer | Width in pixels |
| `height` | Yes | integer | Height in pixels |
| `color` | No | canvasColor | Node color (see Color section) |
### Text Nodes
Text nodes contain Markdown content.
```json
{
"id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
"type": "text",
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 400,
"height": 200,
"text": "# Hello World\n\nThis is **Markdown** content."
}
```
| Attribute | Required | Type | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|-------------|
| `text` | Yes | string | Plain text with Markdown syntax |
### File Nodes
File nodes reference files or attachments (images, videos, PDFs, notes, etc.).
```json
{
"id": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890",
"type": "file",
"x": 500,
"y": 0,
"width": 400,
"height": 300,
"file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
}
```
```json
{
"id": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
"type": "file",
"x": 500,
"y": 400,
"width": 400,
"height": 300,
"file": "Notes/Project Overview.md",
"subpath": "#Implementation"
}
```
| Attribute | Required | Type | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|-------------|
| `file` | Yes | string | Path to file within the system |
| `subpath` | No | string | Link to heading or block (starts with `#`) |
### Link Nodes
Link nodes display external URLs.
```json
{
"id": "c3d4e5f678901234",
"type": "link",
"x": 1000,
"y": 0,
"width": 400,
"height": 200,
"url": "https://obsidian.md"
}
```
| Attribute | Required | Type | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|-------------|
| `url` | Yes | string | External URL |
### Group Nodes
Group nodes are visual containers for organizing other nodes.
```json
{
"id": "d4e5f6789012345a",
"type": "group",
"x": -50,
"y": -50,
"width": 1000,
"height": 600,
"label": "Project Overview",
"color": "4"
}
```
```json
{
"id": "e5f67890123456ab",
"type": "group",
"x": 0,
"y": 700,
"width": 800,
"height": 500,
"label": "Resources",
"background": "Attachments/background.png",
"backgroundStyle": "cover"
}
```
| Attribute | Required | Type | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|-------------|
| `label` | No | string | Text label for the group |
| `background` | No | string | Path to background image |
| `backgroundStyle` | No | string | Background rendering style |
#### Background Styles
| Value | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `cover` | Fills entire width and height of node |
| `ratio` | Maintains aspect ratio of background image |
| `repeat` | Repeats image as pattern in both directions |
## Edges
Edges are lines connecting nodes.
```json
{
"id": "f67890123456789a",
"fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
"toNode": "a1b2c3d4e5f67890"
}
```
```json
{
"id": "0123456789abcdef",
"fromNode": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17",
"fromSide": "right",
"fromEnd": "none",
"toNode": "b2c3d4e5f6789012",
"toSide": "left",
"toEnd": "arrow",
"color": "1",
"label": "leads to"
}
```
| Attribute | Required | Type | Default | Description |
|-----------|----------|------|---------|-------------|
| `id` | Yes | string | - | Unique identifier for the edge |
| `fromNode` | Yes | string | - | Node ID where connection starts |
| `fromSide` | No | string | - | Side where edge starts |
| `fromEnd` | No | string | `none` | Shape at edge start |
| `toNode` | Yes | string | - | Node ID where connection ends |
| `toSide` | No | string | - | Side where edge ends |
| `toEnd` | No | string | `arrow` | Shape at edge end |
| `color` | No | canvasColor | - | Line color |
| `label` | No | string | - | Text label for the edge |
### Side Values
| Value | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `top` | Top edge of node |
| `right` | Right edge of node |
| `bottom` | Bottom edge of node |
| `left` | Left edge of node |
### End Shapes
| Value | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `none` | No endpoint shape |
| `arrow` | Arrow endpoint |
## Colors
The `canvasColor` type can be specified in two ways:
### Hex Colors
```json
{
"color": "#FF0000"
}
```
### Preset Colors
```json
{
"color": "1"
}
```
| Preset | Color |
|--------|-------|
| `"1"` | Red |
| `"2"` | Orange |
| `"3"` | Yellow |
| `"4"` | Green |
| `"5"` | Cyan |
| `"6"` | Purple |
Note: Specific color values for presets are intentionally undefined, allowing applications to use their own brand colors.
## Complete Examples
### Simple Canvas with Text and Connections
```json
{
"nodes": [
{
"id": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
"type": "text",
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 300,
"height": 150,
"text": "# Main Idea\n\nThis is the central concept."
},
{
"id": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
"type": "text",
"x": 400,
"y": -100,
"width": 250,
"height": 100,
"text": "## Supporting Point A\n\nDetails here."
},
{
"id": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
"type": "text",
"x": 400,
"y": 100,
"width": 250,
"height": 100,
"text": "## Supporting Point B\n\nMore details."
}
],
"edges": [
{
"id": "3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d",
"fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b",
"toSide": "left"
},
{
"id": "4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e",
"fromNode": "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c",
"toSide": "left"
}
]
}
```
### Project Board with Groups
```json
{
"nodes": [
{
"id": "5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f",
"type": "group",
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 300,
"height": 500,
"label": "To Do",
"color": "1"
},
{
"id": "6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a",
"type": "group",
"x": 350,
"y": 0,
"width": 300,
"height": 500,
"label": "In Progress",
"color": "3"
},
{
"id": "7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b",
"type": "group",
"x": 700,
"y": 0,
"width": 300,
"height": 500,
"label": "Done",
"color": "4"
},
{
"id": "8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c",
"type": "text",
"x": 20,
"y": 50,
"width": 260,
"height": 80,
"text": "## Task 1\n\nImplement feature X"
},
{
"id": "9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d",
"type": "text",
"x": 370,
"y": 50,
"width": 260,
"height": 80,
"text": "## Task 2\n\nReview PR #123",
"color": "2"
},
{
"id": "0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e",
"type": "text",
"x": 720,
"y": 50,
"width": 260,
"height": 80,
"text": "## Task 3\n\n~~Setup CI/CD~~"
}
],
"edges": []
}
```
### Research Canvas with Files and Links
```json
{
"nodes": [
{
"id": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
"type": "text",
"x": 300,
"y": 200,
"width": 400,
"height": 200,
"text": "# Research Topic\n\n## Key Questions\n\n- How does X affect Y?\n- What are the implications?",
"color": "5"
},
{
"id": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
"type": "file",
"x": 0,
"y": 0,
"width": 250,
"height": 150,
"file": "Literature/Paper A.pdf"
},
{
"id": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
"type": "file",
"x": 0,
"y": 200,
"width": 250,
"height": 150,
"file": "Notes/Meeting Notes.md",
"subpath": "#Key Insights"
},
{
"id": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
"type": "link",
"x": 0,
"y": 400,
"width": 250,
"height": 100,
"url": "https://example.com/research"
},
{
"id": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
"type": "file",
"x": 750,
"y": 150,
"width": 300,
"height": 250,
"file": "Attachments/diagram.png"
}
],
"edges": [
{
"id": "6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e",
"fromNode": "2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
"toSide": "left",
"label": "supports"
},
{
"id": "7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f",
"fromNode": "3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
"toSide": "left",
"label": "informs"
},
{
"id": "8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a",
"fromNode": "4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
"toSide": "left",
"toEnd": "arrow",
"color": "6"
},
{
"id": "9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b",
"fromNode": "1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d",
"toSide": "left",
"label": "visualized by"
}
]
}
```
### Flowchart
```json
{
"nodes": [
{
"id": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
"type": "text",
"x": 200,
"y": 0,
"width": 150,
"height": 60,
"text": "**Start**",
"color": "4"
},
{
"id": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
"type": "text",
"x": 200,
"y": 100,
"width": 150,
"height": 60,
"text": "Step 1:\nGather data"
},
{
"id": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
"type": "text",
"x": 200,
"y": 200,
"width": 150,
"height": 80,
"text": "**Decision**\n\nIs data valid?",
"color": "3"
},
{
"id": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
"type": "text",
"x": 400,
"y": 200,
"width": 150,
"height": 60,
"text": "Process data"
},
{
"id": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
"type": "text",
"x": 0,
"y": 200,
"width": 150,
"height": 60,
"text": "Request new data",
"color": "1"
},
{
"id": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
"type": "text",
"x": 400,
"y": 320,
"width": 150,
"height": 60,
"text": "**End**",
"color": "4"
}
],
"edges": [
{
"id": "a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3",
"fromNode": "a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7",
"fromSide": "bottom",
"toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
"toSide": "top"
},
{
"id": "b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4",
"fromNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
"fromSide": "bottom",
"toNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
"toSide": "top"
},
{
"id": "c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5",
"fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
"fromSide": "right",
"toNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
"toSide": "left",
"label": "Yes",
"color": "4"
},
{
"id": "d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6",
"fromNode": "c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9",
"fromSide": "left",
"toNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
"toSide": "right",
"label": "No",
"color": "1"
},
{
"id": "e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7",
"fromNode": "e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1",
"fromSide": "top",
"fromEnd": "none",
"toNode": "b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8",
"toSide": "left",
"toEnd": "arrow"
},
{
"id": "f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8",
"fromNode": "d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0",
"fromSide": "bottom",
"toNode": "f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2",
"toSide": "top"
}
]
}
```
## ID Generation
Node and edge IDs must be unique strings. Obsidian generates 16-character hexadecimal IDs:
```json
"id": "6f0ad84f44ce9c17"
"id": "a3b2c1d0e9f8g7h6"
"id": "1234567890abcdef"
```
This format is a 16-character lowercase hex string (64-bit random value).
## Layout Guidelines
### Positioning
- Coordinates can be negative (canvas extends infinitely)
- `x` increases to the right
- `y` increases downward
- Position refers to top-left corner of node
### Recommended Sizes
| Node Type | Suggested Width | Suggested Height |
|-----------|-----------------|------------------|
| Small text | 200-300 | 80-150 |
| Medium text | 300-450 | 150-300 |
| Large text | 400-600 | 300-500 |
| File preview | 300-500 | 200-400 |
| Link preview | 250-400 | 100-200 |
| Group | Varies | Varies |
### Spacing
- Leave 20-50px padding inside groups
- Space nodes 50-100px apart for readability
- Align nodes to grid (multiples of 10 or 20) for cleaner layouts
## Validation Rules
1. All `id` values must be unique across nodes and edges
2. `fromNode` and `toNode` must reference existing node IDs
3. Required fields must be present for each node type
4. `type` must be one of: `text`, `file`, `link`, `group`
5. `backgroundStyle` must be one of: `cover`, `ratio`, `repeat`
6. `fromSide`, `toSide` must be one of: `top`, `right`, `bottom`, `left`
7. `fromEnd`, `toEnd` must be one of: `none`, `arrow`
8. Color presets must be `"1"` through `"6"` or valid hex color
## References
- [JSON Canvas Spec 1.0](https://jsoncanvas.org/spec/1.0/)
- [JSON Canvas GitHub](https://github.com/obsidianmd/jsoncanvas)Related Skills
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