Acefy Architecture documentation

Learn C4 Architecture and System Design with guided workflows, language references, examples, and troubleshooting.

Starting from a diagram, codebase, or requirements? Prepare a prompt for your AI assistant.

C4 Architecture

Explain software structure with Context, Container, and Component diagrams.

Attach the AI instructions to your external AI assistant, describe your requirements, then copy the generated AAL into a new project. Inspect diagnostics before saving.

System Design

Map integrations, data pipelines, events, CI/CD, security, observability, and infrastructure.

Attach the AI instructions and resource dictionary to your external AI assistant, describe your requirements, then copy the generated AAL into a new project. Inspect diagnostics before saving.

Use C4 projects for software structure and System Design projects for connected systems. Start with generic elements and nesting, then add optional catalog types and icons.

C4 reference and guides

Getting started with Acefy Architecture

Create, edit, save, and export your first local-first C4 architecture project using AAL or the synchronized visual designer.

Acefy Architecture Language (AAL)

Learn the Acefy Architecture Language syntax for describing software systems, containers, components, relationships, and C4 views.

C4 model elements

Understand C4 model people, software systems, containers, and components, including their hierarchy, syntax, metadata, and examples.

Level-aware C4 semantic types

Use level-aware semantic types to describe the architectural responsibilities of systems, containers, and components in AAL.

Modeling C4 relationships

Model directional C4 relationships with descriptions, technologies, protocols, interaction modes, tags, and attachment points.

C4 views, layout, and export

Create Context, Container, and Component views, control layout and filtering, and export C4 diagrams as SVG, PNG, or project JSON.

Visual C4 diagram authoring

Create and edit C4 elements and relationships on a visual canvas while Acefy keeps the underlying AAL source synchronized.

AAL language reference

Reference AAL identifiers, metadata, object colors, hierarchy rules, and reserved keywords for valid architecture-as-code models.

C4 architecture examples

Explore complete C4 and AAL examples for banking, web platforms, event-driven systems, AI, platform engineering, and edge systems.

AAL troubleshooting

Diagnose common AAL syntax, hierarchy, relationship, semantic type, and view errors when building C4 architecture diagrams.

System Design reference and guides →