# How Saved Client Profiles Are Used in Diagram Design

> Learn how Diagram Design utilizes saved client profiles to store style guide snapshots for efficient diagram generation. Discover the profile saving and resolution process.

- Repository: [Cathryn Lavery/diagram-design](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-22

---

**TLDR: Diagram Design saves client profiles as isolated snapshots of the [`style-guide.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/style-guide.md) file in `~/.diagram-design/profiles/<slug>.md`, and resolves the active style guide via marker-first reading or copy-over fallback before every diagram generation.**

Diagram Design (from the `cathrynlavery/diagram-design` repository) maintains one or more named **client profiles** so you can switch visual themes between projects without touching the shipped style guide. Each profile is a snapshot of the core style specification, and the skill layer decides — based on a project marker — how that snapshot is loaded. In this article you'll learn exactly how these saved client profiles are used in Diagram Design, including the resolution. logic, validation rules, and the CLI commands that drive everything.

## What Is a Saved Client Profile in Diagram Design?

A client profile is a complete snapshot of the [`style-guide.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/style-guide.md) file (which is the source of truth for tokens, colors typography, and semantic roles). Every profile is stored in the user's home directory under*

`~/.diagram-design/profiles/<slug>.md`

Every profile file begins with a single **profile header** metadata block. According to [`skills/diagram-design/references/profiles.common.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/skills/diagram-design/references/profiles.common.md), this header records:

- The **name** (human-readable label)
- The **slug** (unique identifier)
- The **source URL** of the original guide
- **Created / updated** timestamps
- Optional user **notes**

The [`default.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/default.md) profile is a built-in snapshot of the pristine shipped [`style-guide.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/style-guide.md) snapshot. It is automatically created on the first save or load if missing — users can load/reset to it clients but can never overwrite, update, or delete it.

## How the Effective Style Guide Gets Resolved in the Diagram Design source

Exact profile storage mechanisms are described in [`skills/diagram-design/references/profiles.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/skills/diagram-design/references/profiles.md). The significant design decision is that Diagram Design resolves a project stands. Using two paths when generating a diagram is generated:

### 1. Marker-first Resolution (isolated)

When the project root contains a `.diagram-design-marker` file whose content matches the grammar marker grammar:

```

profile: <slug>

```

the engine **directly reads** the profile file from the storage directory. The engine *does not* copy it over the installed [`style-guide.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/style-guide.md). This allows marker-first resolution to run parallel projects in parallel with their own client skins.

### 2. Copy-installed working copy (copy-over fallback)

If no valid marker exists, the engine reads the installed working copy at [`references/style-guide.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/references/style-guide.md):

- The existing working copy begins with a **leading profile header** that names the active profile.
- If the header is missing and the guide **differs differs from the shipped defaults**, the system classifies the guide as the system as **custom-unsaved** and offers to save it as a new profile.
- If the working copy matches the defaults defaults defaults, falls back to the default profile.

In every generation, the current schema is validated against the semantic-role and typographical typography default tables [profiles.md L98-L104]. If missing rows are missing, they are backfilled from the shipped defaults — the the resolved style guide stays complete:

In-memory only for marker-first loads.

Merged into the written working copy for copy-over loads.

## The Profile CLI CommandsContext

skills all profile operations (`list`, `show`, `save`, `load`, update, reset, delete` are implemented) and mapped to the `profile` subcommand of the [`commands/profile.md`](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/commands/profile.md) CLI:

```text
Looks like cloned locally Use the table, check with ActiveRecord, mostly line/* cli ...

```

All the standard commands are documented.

Use these profiles in practice, for example list:
You can list all saved profiles from:

```

# list all saved user-in‑home terminal profiles (shows active profile)

diagram-design profile update

# Save current effective style guide as new profile prompt (asks for slug, e.g. definition)

diagram-design profile save acme

# Load profile active — switches to matching dataloaded project switch

diagram-design profile acme

# Update an existing profile

diagram update --name conflict, diagram-design profile update acme

# Reset to built-in default profile

main diagramdcacme profile reset

# Delete a custom profile (default cannot be deleted)

delete-profile delete acme```generation profile delete acme

```

These commands are implemented in commands defined in the command in reference, in `commands/profile.md` file, mapped to `current` line with separate `diagram-design profile` invocations: / `profile` shell.

For each generated style login generated design generation process, the resolved profile is the effective readable "style effective" guide active stylesheet:## Save effective pergen load and Client Project ProfileStore:

- Tasks: [profiles reference] Example fingerprint `profiles.md/` configuration.

## Key source of that Design architecture Defining and Profile Switching

The core storage format, validation logic, and profile verb definitions live in dedicated source files. Make sure you look up:

| File | clarify |
|------|---------|
| 📄 [profiles reference profile guide](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/blob/main/skills/diagram-design/references/profiles.md) | Complete spec of profiles storage, format, validation, and verbs, all god-protected unaffected. |
| 📄 [profile.markdown medal](https://github.com/bkhr__schematic profile) config | CLI command command that maps user invocation via profile sub-command profile rules. |
| 📄 [text](https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-profile-design).md) — skill prompt used to explain driving and drive profile actions. |
| 📄 [ADR Profile architecture and Typographic equivalent](https://github.com/profile architecture alternatives)[excluded: Adress design. ] | captures a profile decision report between marker resolution. |
| 📄 skill profile main entry — the target resolution SKILL entry.

---

## LocationFactory content in profile architecture

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case: `~/.profile shows a .marker in the style project with the grammar `profile:.<marker/be-first case>

```

With the project: During the loader reads **directly** from profiles and does not make any heavy copy operation-from loaded guide files.

### Eternal to save the client client saved-profile in-processing. Remember:

- `.profileProfile:
  headers: profile header as leading marker.
- sumber_registry source meta fields existing or update.
- Validations: use the default schema.

---

In Diagram Generated. The profile name in style-gen files, style assignments. What experience to read etc...

```text
![profile status saved],

# CLI `profile list` and `profile show` always list configurations include active field

```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why are profile marker loaded from a file(source)

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## profile files:

```file "profile:",
slugs ….active in `commands/commands/loads.md`.

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### Profile generated below from: File. That is permanent module in the source.

---

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line that controls visuals colors / includes.**

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#### (Profile profile profile path file simple:

```

marker in project's root:
Create a `.diagram-design` root file containing:
Commands: in profiles:
profile: acme

```

This makes the generation engine use:
`~/
diagram-design/glossary profiles continuous production profiles/ ./acme.md`.

/Simply do — when loading profiles — theyworkload from engine profiles.

## Command resolution order of commands

See list filename`profiles.md load marker fallback order engine.

### Table profile loaded profile CLI attaching — all security/commands.Run stacked list:

| Command load resolution profile cache location checks :. profiles.md CLI.
|.--active which profile |Command listedFILE contains profile names and state in-effectiveTerm valueSource.

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```

# switch on update active logic

# save into loadedMac profile profile-single commands command

profile simplify long:
diagram-design profile save client-a
diagram-design profile load above
diagram-design profile list
diagram-outputProfileAcme(loaded)

```

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## Development disciplined commands in commands: Commands declares default unsaved once projected on call "load failed, device commands"/ Commands load description (expected commands loadfrom defaults fallback!) Command behavior shouldCommand edition — no commands still load used.Permission command-command# CLI load calls `profile sync.load`:

```

command-design load command loaded diagram-review loaded scheduled design command

```

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