An MCP server that generates professional diagrams using the Python diagrams package DSL, with first-class Azure support
Project description
Azure Diagram MCP Server
An MCP server for generating professional infrastructure diagrams using the Python diagrams DSL — with first-class Azure support and GitHub Copilot SDK integration for natural language diagram generation.
graph LR
A[AI Assistant] -->|Natural Language| B[MCP Server]
B -->|Python DSL| C[Diagrams + Graphviz]
C -->|PNG| D[MCP Apps Viewer]
B -->|Security Scan| E[AST + Bandit]
E -->|Pass| C
Getting Started
Step 1 — Install Prerequisites
| Dependency | Install | Verify |
|---|---|---|
| uv | astral.sh/uv | uv --version |
| Python 3.12+ | uv python install 3.12 |
python3 --version |
| Graphviz | brew install graphviz / apt install graphviz / graphviz.org |
dot -V |
⚠️ Graphviz is required. Without it the MCP server will fail to start. Verify with
dot -Vbefore proceeding.
Step 2 — Verify the Server Starts
Run the server directly to confirm everything works:
uvx microsoft.azure-diagram-mcp-server
You should see the server start and wait for MCP connections. Press Ctrl+C to stop it. If it crashes, check that Graphviz is installed (dot -V).
Step 3 — Connect to Your AI Host
Pick one of the methods below to register the server with your AI host.
Copilot CLI
-
Start a Copilot CLI session:
copilot
-
Inside the session, run the slash command:
/mcp add -
Fill in the form (use Tab to move between fields):
Field Value Name azure-diagramType LocalCommand uvx microsoft.azure-diagram-mcp-server -
Press Ctrl+S to save.
-
Verify with
/mcp show azure-diagram— status should show ✓ Connected.
The config is saved to
~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. You can also edit that file directly:{ "servers": { "azure-diagram": { "type": "local", "command": "uvx microsoft.azure-diagram-mcp-server", "tools": ["*"] } } }
VS Code (one-click)
Or add manually to your VS Code settings.json:
{
"mcp": {
"servers": {
"azure-diagram": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["microsoft.azure-diagram-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"FASTMCP_LOG_LEVEL": "ERROR"
}
}
}
}
}
Docker
docker build -t microsoft/azure-diagram-mcp-server .
{
"mcp": {
"servers": {
"azure-diagram": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "--env", "FASTMCP_LOG_LEVEL=ERROR",
"microsoft/azure-diagram-mcp-server:latest"]
}
}
}
}
Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| ☁️ Azure-First | 100+ Azure service icons — App Service, Functions, Cosmos DB, AKS, and more |
| 🌐 Multi-Cloud | AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, on-premises, and custom icon support |
| 📊 Multiple Types | Architecture, sequence, flow, class, K8s, and custom diagrams |
| 🔒 Security Scanning | AST + Bandit code analysis before every execution |
| 🖼️ MCP Apps Viewer | Interactive diagram viewer with pan, zoom, download, and dark/light theme |
| 🤖 Copilot SDK | Natural language diagram generation via GitHub Copilot SDK |
Architecture
graph TB
subgraph "GitHub Copilot"
CLI[Copilot CLI]
VS[VS Code Copilot]
end
subgraph "MCP Server"
S[server.py<br/>FastMCP]
DT[diagram_tools.py<br/>Generation + Examples]
SC[scanner.py<br/>AST + Bandit]
V[viewer/app.html<br/>MCP Apps Viewer]
end
subgraph "Copilot SDK Layer"
CC[copilot_client.py<br/>DiagramCopilotClient]
AG[Custom Agent<br/>azure-diagram-architect]
end
CLI & VS -->|MCP stdio| S
CC -->|MCP local| S
AG --> CC
S --> DT
S --> V
DT --> SC
SC -->|Pass| DT
DT -->|Python DSL| GV[Graphviz → PNG]
MCP Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
generate_diagram |
Execute Python diagram code with security scanning and timeout. Pre-imports all providers — just start with with Diagram(...). |
refresh_diagram |
Regenerate a diagram from updated code (app-only, used by the MCP Apps viewer). |
get_diagram_examples |
Get example code by type: azure, sequence, flow, class, k8s, onprem, custom, or all. |
list_icons |
Discover available icons by provider and service. Filter with provider_filter and service_filter. |
Recommended Workflow
sequenceDiagram
participant User
participant Copilot as GitHub Copilot
participant MCP as MCP Server
participant App as MCP Apps Viewer
User->>Copilot: "Create an Azure web app diagram"
Copilot->>MCP: list_icons(provider_filter="azure")
MCP-->>Copilot: Available icons
Copilot->>MCP: get_diagram_examples(diagram_type="azure")
MCP-->>Copilot: Example code
Copilot->>MCP: generate_diagram(code="...")
MCP-->>Copilot: PNG + structuredContent
Copilot->>App: Render diagram in viewer
App-->>User: Interactive diagram with pan/zoom
MCP Apps Viewer
The server includes an interactive MCP Apps viewer that renders diagrams inline in VS Code and the Copilot CLI. When generate_diagram returns a result, the viewer is automatically displayed.
graph LR
subgraph "MCP Server"
GD[generate_diagram] -->|CallToolResult| SC[structuredContent<br/>status + imageData]
SC --> META["_meta.ui.resourceUri<br/>ui://diagram-viewer/app.html"]
end
subgraph "MCP Apps Viewer"
META --> V[Interactive Viewer]
V --> PAN[Pan & Drag]
V --> ZOOM[Zoom In/Out]
V --> DL[Download PNG]
V --> THEME[Dark/Light Theme]
V --> FIT[Fit to View]
end
| Feature | Control |
|---|---|
| Pan | Click and drag |
| Zoom | Mouse wheel, + / - keys |
| Fit to view | 0 key or toolbar button |
| Download | Toolbar download button |
| Theme | Toggle dark/light in toolbar |
The viewer is served as an MCP resource at ui://diagram-viewer/app.html and receives the diagram as base64-encoded PNG via structuredContent.imageData.
Quick Example
from diagrams import Diagram
from diagrams.azure.compute import AppServices, FunctionApps
from diagrams.azure.database import CosmosDb
from diagrams.azure.network import ApplicationGateway
with Diagram("Azure Web Architecture", show=False):
gateway = ApplicationGateway("Gateway")
app = AppServices("App Service")
functions = FunctionApps("Functions")
db = CosmosDb("Cosmos DB")
gateway >> app >> db
gateway >> functions >> db
Copilot SDK Integration
The server includes a GitHub Copilot SDK client that provides a natural language interface to diagram generation — describe what you want and the Copilot-powered architect generates it.
graph LR
U[User Prompt] --> CC[DiagramCopilotClient]
CC -->|Creates Session| CS[CopilotClient]
CS -->|Connects| MCP[Diagram MCP Server]
CS -->|Uses| AG[azure-diagram-architect<br/>Custom Agent]
MCP -->|Returns| IMG[PNG Diagram]
Interactive CLI
uv run microsoft.azure-diagram-copilot
Programmatic Usage
import asyncio
from microsoft.azure_diagram_mcp_server.copilot_client import DiagramCopilotClient
async def main():
async with DiagramCopilotClient(model="gpt-4.1") as client:
client.on_delta(lambda delta: print(delta, end="", flush=True))
client.on_idle(lambda: print())
await client.generate(
"Create a 3-tier Azure architecture with App Gateway, "
"App Service, and Cosmos DB"
)
asyncio.run(main())
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)
Use your own LLM provider — no Copilot subscription required:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_PROVIDER_TYPE |
openai, azure, or anthropic |
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_BASE_URL |
API endpoint URL |
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_API_KEY |
API key |
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_WIRE_API |
completions or responses |
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_MODEL |
Model override (default: gpt-4.1) |
DIAGRAM_COPILOT_AZURE_API_VERSION |
Azure API version (default: 2024-10-21) |
export DIAGRAM_COPILOT_PROVIDER_TYPE=azure
export DIAGRAM_COPILOT_BASE_URL=https://your-resource.openai.azure.com
export DIAGRAM_COPILOT_API_KEY=your-api-key
uv run microsoft.azure-diagram-copilot
Resumable Sessions
client = DiagramCopilotClient(session_id="my-project-diagrams")
await client.start()
await client.generate("Create an Azure web app diagram")
# Resume later
await client.resume("my-project-diagrams")
await client.generate("Add a Redis cache to the previous diagram")
await client.stop()
Development
# Setup
uv sync --group dev
# Test (140 tests, 9 skip without Graphviz)
uv run pytest tests/ -v
# Lint + format
uv run ruff check microsoft/ tests/
uv run ruff format --check microsoft/ tests/
# Type check
uv run pyright
# Coverage
uv run pytest --cov=microsoft --cov-report=term-missing tests/
See AGENTS.md for comprehensive contributor documentation covering architecture, conventions, testing patterns, CI/CD, and the GitHub Pages docs site.
Documentation
📖 microsoft.github.io/diagrams-mcp-server — Full documentation built with VitePress, deployed via GitHub Pages.
cd docs-site && npm install && npm run docs:dev # Local dev server
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License — see the LICENSE file for details.
Contributing
This project welcomes contributions and suggestions. See AGENTS.md for the full development guide.
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