Is Diagram Design Open-Source? MIT License, Code Access, and Contribution Guide

Yes — Diagram Design is fully open-source under the permissive MIT License, making the entire codebase freely available for use, modification, and redistribution.

Diagram Design by Cathryn Lavery is a publicly accessible AI-powered diagramming project hosted on GitHub. The repository's open-source status is formally established through its MIT License, transparent development practices, and modular architecture designed for community collaboration.

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What Makes Diagram Design Open-Source

The project's open-source credentials rest on three pillars: license terms, public repository access, and community-oriented development workflows.

MIT License Terms

The LICENSE file at the repository root explicitly grants permission "to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software." This permissive approach allows commercial and personal use without restriction. The full license text resides in LICENSE【/cache/repos/github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/main/LICENSE】.

Public Repository Access

Anyone can clone, fork, or browse the complete source code at github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design. No authentication or payment is required to access the codebase, documentation, or version history.

Transparent Development Workflow

The .github/workflows/ci.yml file configures GitHub Actions to validate every code change through automated testing【/cache/repos/github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml】. This continuous integration pipeline enforces quality standards and demonstrates the project's commitment to peer review and reliability.

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Key Open-Source Files and Their Roles

File	Purpose	Location
LICENSE	MIT license establishing open-source status	Repository root
README.md	Installation, usage, and feature gallery	Repository root
SKILL.md	Core skill definition for agent request routing	skills/diagram-design/SKILL.md
commands/	Slash-command implementations (import, export, profile)	commands/ directory
prompts/	Agent prompt templates for Pi and compatible systems	prompts/ directory
scripts/	Validation and utility scripts including self_check.py	skills/diagram-design/scripts/
references/	Type specifications, style guides, and semantic patterns	skills/diagram-design/references/

This modular structure separates concerns into commands, prompts, skills, and scripts — each directory serving a distinct function in the agent ecosystem.

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Installing Diagram Design from Source

Because the project is open-source, you can install it directly via multiple AI agent platforms without proprietary marketplaces.

Claude Code Installation

/plugin marketplace add cathrynlavery/diagram-design
/plugin install diagram-design@diagram-design

Codex CLI Installation

codex plugin marketplace add cathrynlavery/diagram-design
codex plugin add diagram-design@diagram-design

Factory Droid Installation

droid plugin marketplace add https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design
droid plugin install diagram-design@diagram-design --scope user

Pi Installation

pi install https://github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design

These installation methods reference the public GitHub URL directly, confirming the codebase's unrestricted availability.

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Verifying Your Installation

The repository includes built-in validation tools. After generating a diagram, verify its integrity with the self-check script:

python3 skills/diagram-design/scripts/self_check.py path/to/diagram.html

Expected output: OK

This script demonstrates how open-source projects provide transparency into their quality assurance processes.

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Contributing to Diagram Design

The repository structure supports community contribution through:

• Clear separation of concerns: Commands, prompts, and skills are isolated in dedicated directories
• Documented interfaces: SKILL.md defines the routing contract for agent interactions
• Automated validation: The CI pipeline in .github/workflows/ci.yml runs on every pull request

Contributors can modify diagram types, add export formats, or extend agent compatibility while the existing test suite ensures changes don't break core functionality.

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Summary

• Diagram Design is open-source under the MIT License, confirmed by the LICENSE file at the repository root
• Full code access: Clone, fork, and modify from github.com/cathrynlavery/diagram-design without restrictions
• Transparent development: GitHub Actions CI validates all contributions via .github/workflows/ci.yml
• Multiple install paths: Direct GitHub URL installation supported across Claude Code, Codex, Factory Droid, and Pi
• Built-in quality tools: self_check.py and other scripts in skills/diagram-design/scripts/ enable verification

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Frequently Asked Questions

What license does Diagram Design use?

Diagram Design uses the MIT License, one of the most permissive open-source licenses available. The LICENSE file explicitly permits commercial use, modification, distribution, and even sublicensing. This contrasts with copyleft licenses like GPL that impose derivative work requirements.

Can I use Diagram Design in commercial projects?

Yes. The MIT License grants explicit permission "to sell copies of the Software" without requiring source code disclosure or license propagation. You can integrate Diagram Design into proprietary products, modify it for internal use, or offer it as part of a paid service — all without legal obligation to the original author.

How do I contribute code to Diagram Design?

Submit contributions through standard GitHub workflows: fork the repository, create a feature branch, and open a pull request. The .github/workflows/ci.yml pipeline automatically tests your changes against the existing suite. Focus your modifications on the appropriate directory — add commands to commands/, prompts to prompts/, or core logic to skills/diagram-design/.

Where can I find the technical specifications for diagram types?

Type-specific specifications live in skills/diagram-design/references/, which includes style guides and semantic patterns for each supported diagram category. The SKILL.md file at skills/diagram-design/SKILL.md documents the core routing logic that determines which diagram type to generate based on user prompts.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}