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ContextFlow

Map reality, not aspiration.

Visual DDD context mapper for analyzing bounded contexts, their relationships, and code ownership across two synchronized views

ContextFlow Screenshot

What is ContextFlow?

ContextFlow helps teams map and edit their system architecture as it actually exists — not as the slide deck says it should be. It captures:

  • Bounded contexts with strategic classification (core/supporting/generic), boundary integrity (strong/moderate/weak), and visual properties
  • DDD relationship patterns between contexts (customer-supplier, conformist, anti-corruption layer, open-host service, shared kernel, partnership, etc.)
  • Code ownership linking repositories to contexts and teams via drag-and-drop
  • Team topology connecting teams to their boards and responsibilities
  • Capability groups as visual clusters of related contexts

The key differentiator: two views of the same system.

Flow View

Shows how value and data move left-to-right through your system. Stages are configurable per project: e.g., "Discovery → Selection → Purchase → Fulfillment → Post-Sale" for e-commerce, or "Ingest → Normalize → Analyze → Publish" for data pipelines.

Flow View
Strategic View

Strategic View

Shows where each capability sits on the Wardley evolution axis:

  • Genesis - Novel, uncertain
  • Custom-built - Bespoke solutions
  • Product/Rental - Productized offerings
  • Commodity/Utility - Standardized services

Switch between views live. Same contexts, same relationships — different conversations.

Why ContextFlow?

Map reality, not aspiration

Most architecture diagrams show the system you wish you had. ContextFlow helps you map bounded contexts as they actually exist in your codebase, with DDD strategic patterns, ownership clarity, and boundary integrity.

Two views of the same system

Flow View resonates with delivery teams: "Here's how work moves across our pipeline."

Strategic View resonates with leadership: "Here's what's core vs commodity."

Both use the same underlying model. That's the unlock.

Built for practitioners

  • Browser-based, no backend required
  • Import/export as JSON
  • Drag repos onto contexts, link teams to boards
  • Full editing with undo/redo
  • Light/dark theme support

Open Source & Free

MIT licensed. No registration, no paywalls. Designed for DDD facilitators, platform architects, and teams doing strategic design.

Features

Current

  • Visual canvas with pan/zoom and fit-to-map
  • Bounded context nodes with strategic classification
  • DDD relationship patterns as directed edges
  • Flow View with configurable value stream stages
  • Strategic View with Wardley evolution bands
  • Live view switching with animated transitions
  • Full editing (drag, create, delete, multi-select)
  • Repo sidebar with drag-to-assign
  • Team and ownership details
  • Undo/redo for structural changes
  • Theme toggle (light/dark mode)
  • Import/export project JSON

Planned

  • Multi-project picker (Miro-style recent boards)
  • IndexedDB persistence for better performance
  • Enhanced import/export options

Getting Started

$ npm install
$ npm run dev

License: MIT - Free to use, modify, and distribute