install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install likec4

provider-native install command

overview

Package summary

Architecture modeling tool with live diagrams from code

Project links

Homepage

Commands and aliases

likec4

history

Project history and usage

LikeC4 is an architecture-as-code toolkit for describing software architecture in a textual DSL and generating live, interactive diagrams from that model. Its name reflects its relationship to the C4 model while deliberately allowing custom notation, element types, and nesting beyond the strict C4 levels.

Project history

The project appeared publicly with early 0.x tags in 2024 and grew as a TypeScript/Node-based toolchain around a domain-specific language, CLI, web viewer, editor support, and generated artifacts. The README describes LikeC4 as inspired by the C4 Model and Structurizr DSL, but aimed at more flexible notation and model depth.

Adoption history

LikeC4's adoption has followed the broader move from hand-edited architecture diagrams to diagrams-as-code workflows. Its CLI supports preview, static-site builds, image and data exports, and generated React/Web Component artifacts, which made it easy to put architecture diagrams into repositories, documentation sites, CI, and IDE workflows.

How it is used

Users write architecture models in LikeC4 files, run the CLI to preview or build diagrams, and keep those models under version control with the rest of the system. The package is most relevant to teams that want architecture documentation to change through code review instead of through separate drawing tools.

Why package nerds care

For package nerds, LikeC4 is a modern example of a documentation tool distributed like a developer CLI: a fast-moving npm-centered project that also lands in Homebrew so architecture modeling can be installed next to compilers, formatters, and static-site tooling.

Timeline

2024-04-20: The v0.6.0 tag was published in the public GitHub repository.
2025: Discussions and releases show LikeC4 expanding around multi-project workflows and Vite-style integration.
2026: The LikeC4 site described a toolkit for modeling, visualizing, validating, exporting, and embedding architecture from code.

Related projects

LikeC4 is closely related to Simon Brown's C4 model, Structurizr DSL, Mermaid, D2, PlantUML/C4-PlantUML, and documentation systems that embed generated diagrams. Its generated component workflow also connects it to React and web-component publishing.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: .likec4rc.likec4.config.jsonlikec4.config.jsonlikec4.config.jslikec4.config.mjslikec4.config.tslikec4.config.mts

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`likec4`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-08-03

manager version1.59.2

manager updated2026-07-23

local dataunknown

upstreamnot available

latest detectednot detected

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:likec4
Version	1.59.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Homepage	https://likec4.dev
Last updated	2026-07-23T21:47:02Z
Pulse	updated
Bottle	not recorded
Service	none declared

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/likec4.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install likec4 with Homebrew