Dependency graph

Dependency Graph

Generate a Mermaid flowchart showing import and dependency relationships between modules, packages, or plugins.

When To Use

• Understanding what depends on what
• Finding circular dependencies
• Analyzing coupling between modules
• Planning refactoring by seeing dependency impact
• Answering "what breaks if I change this?"

When NOT To Use

• Runtime call paths (use cartograph:call-chain)
• Type hierarchies (use cartograph:class-diagram)

Workflow

Step 1: Explore the Codebase

Dispatch the codebase explorer agent:

Agent(cartograph:codebase-explorer)
Prompt: Explore [scope] and return a structural model.
Focus on import statements and cross-module dependencies
for a dependency graph. Track both internal and external
imports.

Step 2: Generate Mermaid Syntax

Transform the structural model into a Mermaid flowchart with directed edges representing dependencies.

Rules for dependency graphs:

• Use flowchart LR (left-right) for dependency direction
• Each node is a module or package
• Edges point from dependent to dependency (A --> B means "A depends on B")
• Color-code by dependency type:
  • Default arrows for internal dependencies
  • Dotted arrows (-.->) for external/optional deps
  • Thick arrows (==>) for critical path dependencies
• Group into subgraphs by package/plugin
• If depth parameter given, limit transitive dependencies
• Highlight circular dependencies with red styling

Example output:

flowchart LR
    subgraph sanctum[Sanctum]
        commit[commit]
        pr_prep[pr_prep]
        workspace[workspace]
    end

    subgraph leyline[Leyline]
        git[git_platform]
        errors[error_patterns]
    end

    subgraph external[External]
        subprocess[subprocess]
        json[json]
    end

    commit --> git
    commit --> json
    pr_prep --> workspace
    pr_prep --> git
    workspace --> errors
    workspace -.-> subprocess

Step 3: Render via MCP

Call the Mermaid Chart MCP to render:

mcp__claude_ai_Mermaid_Chart__validate_and_render_mermaid_diagram
  prompt: "Dependency graph of [scope]"
  mermaidCode: [generated syntax]
  diagramType: "flowchart"
  clientName: "claude-code"

If rendering fails, fix syntax and retry (max 2 retries).

Step 4: Present Results

Show the rendered diagram with analysis notes:

• Total modules and dependency count
• Most-depended-on modules (high fan-in)
• Modules with most dependencies (high fan-out)
• Circular dependencies if any detected

Exit Criteria

• Mermaid flowchart LR syntax generated with directed edges from dependent to dependency (A --> B means "A depends on B")
• mcp__claude_ai_Mermaid_Chart__validate_and_render_mermaid_diagram called and returns without error
• Analysis notes include total module count, highest fan-in modules, and highest fan-out modules
• Circular dependencies, if detected, are highlighted with red styling and listed explicitly in the analysis notes
• External dependencies use dotted arrows (-.->) distinct from internal dependency arrows