Visualizing code and architecture through diagrams is crucial for understanding complex systems, communicating ideas, and planning development. Factory can significantly streamline this process by analyzing your code and generating various types of diagrams. This guide will walk you through how to use Factory to create different types of code diagrams.

​
Getting Started

Before diving into code diagramming with Factory, ensure you have:
  1. Access to Factory
  2. Your codebase or architecture details ready
  3. Familiarity with basic diagram types (e.g., UML, flowcharts)
If you’re new to Factory, check out our Quickstart Guide to set up your environment.

​
Types of Code Diagrams

Factory can help you create various types of diagrams:

Class Diagrams

Visualize the structure of your classes and their relationships

Sequence Diagrams

Illustrate the flow of operations and interactions between objects

Entity-Relationship Diagrams

Represent the structure of databases and relationships between entities

Flowcharts

Depict the steps in a process or algorithm

Architecture Diagrams

Visualize the high-level structure of your application or system

​
Diagramming Workflow with Factory

​
1. Code Analysis

Start by asking Factory to analyze your code or system description:
1

Import Code

Use Factory’s codebase search or file upload feature to import your code.
2

Request Analysis

Ask Factory to analyze the imported code:“I’ve imported the ‘src’ directory of our project. Can you analyze the code and provide an overview of the main classes and their relationships?”
3

Clarify Requirements

Specify the type of diagram you need:“Based on your analysis, I’d like to create a class diagram. What key classes and relationships should we include?“

​
2. Diagram Generation

Use Factory to generate the diagram using Mermaid syntax:
Example of a generated Mermaid class diagram:

​
3. Diagram Refinement

Iterate on the generated diagram to improve its clarity and accuracy:
1

Review and Feedback

Analyze the generated diagram and provide feedback:“The class diagram looks good, but can we add the ‘Address’ class and its relationship to ‘User’?”
2

Request Changes

Ask Factory to make specific changes:“Please update the diagram to include the ‘Address’ class with a one-to-many relationship to ‘User’.”
3

Styling and Layout

Refine the diagram’s appearance:“Can you adjust the layout to group related classes together and add colors to distinguish between different types of classes?“

​
4. Documentation

Use Factory to help document the diagram:

​
Best Practices for Code Diagramming with Factory

  1. Start with Clear Objectives: Define what you want to visualize before asking Factory to generate a diagram.
  2. Provide Context: Give Factory as much context as possible about your system or the specific part you want to diagram.
  3. Iterate and Refine: Use an iterative approach, starting with a basic diagram and then refining it based on feedback and additional requirements.
  4. Balance Detail and Clarity: Ask Factory to focus on the most important elements to avoid cluttered diagrams.
  5. Consistent Styling: Maintain consistent styling across your diagrams. Ask Factory to use a uniform style for similar diagram types.
  6. Version Control: Consider versioning your diagrams alongside your code to keep them up-to-date.
  7. Combine Diagram Types: For complex systems, ask Factory to create multiple diagram types that complement each other.

Explore More Use Cases

Discover other ways Factory can enhance your development workflow

Learn About Fragments

Dive deeper into using fragments in Factory, including Mermaid diagrams