Excalidraw CLI
Excalidraw CLI renders .excalidraw files and Mermaid diagrams to PNG and SVG locally with no account, and gives agents JSON.
- 301 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Minimal access
Why this level
- Rendering runs locally, and the Excalidraw+ key opens the workspace only when it is used.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/excalidraw-cli-2Detects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewMinimal accessThe tool runs nothing and makes no network calls.
- Rendering runs locally, and the Excalidraw+ key opens the workspace only when it is used.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Excalidraw CLI is Excalidraw's official command-line program. `excalidraw render drawing.excalidraw --out drawing.png` turns a drawing into PNG or SVG, light or dark, with a transparent background and scale up to 16×. The `--all-frames` flag saves every presentation frame as its own image in presentation order. `excalidraw mermaid flow.mmd --out flow.excalidraw` converts flowcharts, sequence, class, ER and state diagrams, Gantt charts and quadrants into editable shapes. Everything runs locally in a browser you already have, nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. With an Excalidraw+ API key the program manages the workspace: scenes, collections, links, presentations and members. For scripts and agents there are JSON output, stdin and stdout, and the `EXCALIDRAW_API_KEY` variable.
Who it is for. Developers and technical writers who keep diagrams in `.excalidraw` or Mermaid and want images from the terminal and an agent.
Good fit when
- A diagram from the repository is exported to PNG for docs or a pull request.
- Mermaid from an agent's answer becomes an editable Excalidraw file.
- Slides from presentation frames are exported one image each.
- Excalidraw+ scenes are driven by a script: list, render, links.
Not a fit when
- Node.js 22 and a browser are missing on the machine that runs the program.
- You need a freehand drawing from scratch: the CLI renders existing files and does not draw.
- An Excalidraw+ workspace without an API key.
Example request
Convert flow.mmd to an Excalidraw file with excalidraw mermaid, then render it to a dark PNG.Limitations
You need Node.js 22 or newer and an installed browser: rendering goes through it. Drawing and editing a scene happen elsewhere, since the CLI turns existing files and Mermaid into images. Workspace features need a paid Excalidraw+ account and an `EXCALIDRAW_API_KEY`. The free render and Mermaid commands run without signing in. `excalidraw update` updates the program. The last commit dates from November 2026.
How to disable. Remove the package with `npm uninstall -g @excalidraw/cli`. Remove `EXCALIDRAW_API_KEY` from the environment if you set it.
FAQ
How do I install it?
With `npm install -g @excalidraw/cli`. To run without installing, use `npx @excalidraw/cli --help`.
Is an account needed for rendering?
No. `render` and `mermaid` work locally with no account, and Excalidraw+ is needed only for workspace features.
Which Mermaid diagrams are supported?
Flowcharts, sequence, class, ER and state diagrams, Gantt charts, quadrant charts and timelines.
How do I export all slides?
Run `excalidraw render deck.excalidraw --all-frames --out slides/`: each frame goes into its own file in order.
How do I use it in an agent script?
Use JSON output, stdin and stdout, and set the Excalidraw+ key in `EXCALIDRAW_API_KEY`. The scripting guide is in the Scripting and agents documentation.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excalidraw CLI (this card) | no | 301 | |
| excalidraw-cli | no | 319 | an unofficial CLI for Excalidraw diagrams; this is the project's official CLI with rendering and Excalidraw+ scenes |
| Mermaid CLI | no | 5,163 | renders Mermaid to SVG inside Markdown; Excalidraw CLI turns Mermaid into editable shapes and PNG |
README in short
The program renders drawings and diagrams locally while Excalidraw+ cloud features connect by key. Each command has `--help` with examples.