Introduction

What is Craft?

Craft is a domain-specific language (DSL) for modeling business use cases and domain interactions. It combines Domain-Driven Design principles with executable architecture models that generate visual diagrams automatically.

Key Features

🎯 Domain-Driven Design

Model your business domains, bounded contexts, and bounded contexts using clear, declarative syntax.

📊 Automatic Diagram Generation

Generate C4 architecture diagrams, domain flow diagrams, and sequence diagrams from your code.

⚡ Event-Driven Architecture

Define asynchronous events, domain listeners, and event-driven communication patterns.

🔧 Full IDE Support

VSCode extension with syntax highlighting, code completion, real-time diagnostics, and live preview.

🎨 Use Case Modeling

Describe business scenarios through triggers and actions in natural, readable language.

🚀 Microservices Architecture

Define services with technology stacks, deployment strategies, and data stores.

Language Overview

Craft allows you to define:

• Domains - Core business domains and bounded contexts
• Actors - Users, systems, and services that interact with your system
• Services - Deployable units with technology specifications
• Use Cases - Business scenarios with triggers and domain actions
• Architecture - Component flows and system design
• Exposures - External access points and API gateways

Simple Example

// Define actors
actors {
  user Customer
  service OrderService
}

// Define domains
domain Order {
  OrderManagement
  OrderTracking
}

// Define a use case
use_case "Place Order" {
  when Customer creates order
    OrderManagement validates items
    OrderManagement notifies "Order Created"
}

Why Use Craft?

Traditional Approach

• Architecture docs in separate tools (Visio, Lucidchart, etc.)
• Manual diagram updates when code changes
• Documentation drift and inconsistency
• Hard to keep architecture and code in sync

With Craft

• Architecture as code, living with your source
• Diagrams generated automatically
• Single source of truth
• Easy to review in pull requests
• Versioned alongside your code

Use Cases

Craft is ideal for:

• System Design - Model new systems before implementation
• Documentation - Document existing architectures
• Microservices - Define service boundaries and interactions
• Event-Driven Systems - Model async communication patterns
• Domain-Driven Design - Express bounded contexts and domain models
• Team Communication - Shared language between developers, architects, and stakeholders

Next Steps

• Install Craft to get started
• Quick Start Tutorial to write your first use case
• Language Reference for complete syntax guide
• Examples to see real-world applications