Agent skill · writing content · sickn33
json-canvas
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific JSON structure and validation procedures for creating and editing .canvas files that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 5k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 44,571 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
JSON Canvas Skill When to Use Use when creating or editing .canvas files for Obsidian. Use for mind maps, flowcharts, visual note structures, or connected canvases. Use when the user explicitly mentions JSON Canvas or Obsidian Canvas files. File Structure A canvas file (.canvas) contains two top-level arrays following the JSON Canvas Spec 1.0: nodes (optional): Array of node objects edges (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes Common Workflows 1. Create a New Canvas 1. Create a .canvas file with the base structure {"nodes": [], "edges": []} 2. Generate unique 16-character hex IDs for each node (e.g., "6f0ad84f44ce9c17") 3. Add nodes with required fields: id, type, x, y, width, height 4. Add edges referencing valid node IDs via fromNode and toNode 5. Validate: Parse the JSON to confirm it is valid. Verify all fromNode/toNode values exist in the nodes array 2. Add a Node to an Existing Canvas 1. Read and parse the existing .canvas file 2. Generate a unique ID that does not collide with existing node or edge IDs 3. Choose position (x, y) that avoids overlapping existing nodes (leave 50-100px spacing) 4. Append the new node object to the nodes array 5. Optionally add edges connecting the new node to existing nodes 6. Validate: Confirm all IDs are unique and all edge references resolve to existing nodes 3. Connect Two Nodes 1. Identify the source and target node IDs 2. Generate a unique edge ID 3. Set fromNode and toNode to the source and target IDs 4. Optionally set fromSide/toSide (top, right, bottom, left) for anchor points 5. Optionally set label for descriptive text on the edge 6. Append the edge to the edges array 7. Validate: Confirm both fromNode and toNode reference existing node IDs 4. Edit an Existing Canvas 1. Read and parse the .canvas file as JSON 2. Locate the target node or edge by id 3. Modify the desired attributes (text, position, color, etc.) 4. Write the updated JSON back to the file 5. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills sickn33/json-canvas