How to generate an architecture diagram from a GitHub repo
Arcobay · Architecture documentation · Aug 15 · Updated Aug 15
Connect a GitHub repository, scan the codebase, and get a grounded architecture diagram — not a generic boxes-and-arrows template.
To generate an architecture diagram from GitHub, connect the repository, run a scan, and review the resulting map of services, data stores, and edges — grounded in the code, not a stock template.
Arcobay’s connected-repo path is the default for production systems. Prompt-only diagrams are for ideas that do not have a repo yet. When both exist, the repo scan wins on structure.
Steps
- Create a project and connect GitHub (GitLab and Bitbucket work the same way).
- Pick the repository and let the scan finish. Large monorepos take longer; that is expected.
- Open the board. You should see the architecture you actually shipped, with groups for frontend, backend, data, and third parties.
- Attach decisions, then share a handoff or export a walkthrough video.
What the scan is allowed to do
It may label a node from package names, routes, and infrastructure clues. It may not invent a “Payment Service” because SaaS apps usually have one. If it is not in the repo, it should not appear as fact. That honesty is the difference between a demo and a client artifact.
Compare this to one-shot AI diagram tools in Arcobay vs CodeBoarding. Then try it on a free workspace.
FAQ
Does the diagram invent services? No. Components are grounded in the codebase. Thin evidence stays thin.
Can I start before the repo exists? Yes — prompt first, then connect GitHub and merge with the scan.