CanvasAnvil plugin
Four local skills for Codex: draw.io diagrams, interior plans, presentations and image work on a whiteboard.
- 185 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The skills run local scripts and MCP bundles and write to the project folders `diagram/`, `cad/` and `canvas/`.
- Image generation sends requests to the provider you configure with your key.
Install
- Works in
Manual install
codex plugin marketplace add .Run from the clone root; then `codex plugin add canvasanvil-canvas@canvasanvil-local` and restart Codex.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The skills run local scripts and MCP bundles and write to the project folders `diagram/`, `cad/` and `canvas/`.
- Image generation sends requests to the provider you configure with your key.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
CanvasAnvil brings diagrams, interior design, presentations and free-form image work into one workspace. For an agent the repository holds four separate skills, one per canvas: `diagram-skill`, `cad-skill`, `ppt-skill` and `canvas-skill`. `diagram-skill` opens the draw.io editor in Codex, with chat edits and manual changes synchronized through MCP and exports to drawio, SVG and PNG. `cad-skill` goes from a home description to an editable plan with checks and exports a quote, drawings, DXF and renders. `ppt-skill` runs from an idea and outline to PDF, image PPTX or editable PPTX. `canvas-skill` attaches an Excalidraw board with annotations and image versions. The skills use the host text model. Only image generation needs an explicitly configured provider.
Who it is for. Designers and renovation contractors who need diagrams, floor plans and slide decks driven by Codex without assembling them by hand in separate apps.
Good fit when
- An architecture diagram should be sketched from text and then refined in draw.io.
- A client sent a floor plan and you need a quote, drawings and DXF from one model.
- A rough idea has to become a deck: structure, outline review, slide drawing and export.
- An image needs rework on a board with annotations and saved versions.
Not a fit when
- You do not work in Codex: the README describes installation only for it.
- You want a ready web service without installing Node.js.
- One diagram is enough and installing four skills with MCP bundles is not worth it.
Example request
Using $diagram-skill, draw an exchange diagram between three services and export it to SVG and PNG.Limitations
Skill installation is described for Codex: `codex plugin marketplace add .` and `codex plugin add canvasanvil-canvas@canvasanvil-local` from the clone root, then a restart. Node.js 20 or newer is required. The draw.io editor works over the network. Editable PPTX export uses PowerPoint on Windows and LibreOffice elsewhere, plus the Python packages in `editable/requirements.txt`. Floor plan upload needs Python with OpenCV and Chrome, Edge or Chromium. The repository is large, about 550 MB, so cloning takes a while.
How to disable. Remove the plugin with `codex plugin remove canvasanvil-canvas` or through the Codex plugin manager. Delete the `diagram/`, `cad/` and `canvas/` folders in your projects by hand.
FAQ
Which skills are included?
`diagram-skill`, `cad-skill`, `ppt-skill` and `canvas-skill`. The first three cover diagrams, interiors and decks, the fourth handles image work on a board.
How do I run the web app?
Run `npm install` and then `npm run dev`. The app opens at `http://127.0.0.1:8001`.
Do I need a key for generation?
The host supplies the text model. A provider key is needed only for image generation and is set in the presentation skill `config/image-provider.json`.
Which export formats do presentations have?
PDF, image-based PPTX and editable PPTX. For the last one the agent rebuilds slides step by step following `editable-pptx-workflow.md`.
Does `cad-skill` work offline?
The reconstruction and delivery scripts remain available offline. Designing from a brief needs Node.js 18, and uploading an existing plan adds Python dependencies.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The project offers one interface for four canvases in Chinese or English, and the repository ships a skill per canvas for an agent. The web version starts through `npm run dev` and deploys as one service. Detailed settings live in the skill folders.