by jgraph · jgraph/drawio-mcp
First-party draw.io MCP — Claude authors and edits .drawio diagrams as XML, validates against the schema, and exports to PNG/SVG.
draw.io's official MCP lets Claude work with its native XML diagram format. Use it to generate architecture diagrams from prose, edit existing diagrams via instructions, validate XML, and export to SVG/PNG for embedding in PRs and docs.
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json{
"mcpServers": {
"drawio-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
}
}Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config. Restart after saving.
{
"mcpServers": {
"drawio-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
}
}Cursor uses the same mcpServers schema as Claude Desktop. Project config wins over global.
{
"mcpServers": {
"drawio-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
}
}Click the MCP Servers icon in the Cline sidebar, then "Edit Configuration".
{
"mcpServers": {
"drawio-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
}
}Same shape as Claude Desktop. Restart Windsurf to pick up changes.
{
"mcpServers": [
{
"name": "drawio-mcp",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
]
}Continue uses an array of server objects rather than a map.
{
"context_servers": {
"drawio-mcp": {
"command": {
"path": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jgraph/drawio-mcp"
]
}
}
}
}Add to context_servers. Zed hot-reloads on save.
claude mcp add drawio-mcp -- npx -y @jgraph/drawio-mcpOne-liner. Verify with claude mcp list. Remove with claude mcp remove.
When to use: PR adds a new service; you want a diagram for the design doc.
Outcome: Diagram lives in repo as both .drawio (editable) and .svg (renderable).
Save .drawio + .svg next to the doc that references them
| Tool | Inputs | When to call | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| generate_diagram | (see docs) | NL → drawio XML | 1 call |
| edit_diagram | (see docs) | Apply instructions to existing XML | 1 call |
| validate | (see docs) | Schema-check XML | 1 call |
| export | (see docs) | Render to PNG / SVG / PDF | 1 call |
Validation fails on generated XMLAsk the model to regenerate citing the schema; common issues: missing geometry parents
Exported SVG hugeUse --simplify; flatten transforms before export
| Alternative | When to use it instead | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Mermaid (text-only) | Simple flow / sequence diagrams | Less control over layout |
| Excalidraw MCP | You prefer hand-drawn aesthetic | Different file format |