# OpenMMD

**Website: [https://www.openmmd.com](https://www.openmmd.com)**

OpenMMD provides flowcharts that are better for AI to read, and easy for humans to edit. 

It solves a very practical problem: often we need to draw flowcharts. When drawn as images, humans understand them perfectly, but if we send these images to AI for coding or logic analysis, the AI often fails to grasp the full picture.

## What is Mermaid?

You might not be familiar with Mermaid. Simply put, Mermaid is a technology that uses text-based code to generate flowcharts.

**Why do we need it?**

Because AI struggles with image flowcharts. Humans can understand an image at a glance, but AI can only "guess" the boxes and lines through image recognition, often misunderstanding their logical relationships.

However, AI excels at reading Mermaid flowcharts. Since Mermaid is essentially structured text code, it clearly defines nodes, branches, and connections. AI reads this code like its native language, accurately and fully comprehending the diagram's structure.

## How OpenMMD Works

While Mermaid is great for AI, forcing humans to write code to draw diagrams is counter-intuitive. Humans are much better at dragging and dropping with a mouse.

That's why OpenMMD works on a simple principle:

1. **Humans draw the way they prefer**: Create flowcharts using a graphical drag-and-drop interface, with zero coding required.
2. **Export images for humans**: Export a clear PNG image to share with colleagues or insert into documents.
3. **Export code for AI**: Export the underlying Mermaid code to send to AI, enabling the AI to truly understand your logic and work for you.

## What OpenMMD Does

OpenMMD gives you a visual editing experience for flowcharts while handling the Mermaid generation behind the scenes.

It is designed for people who want:

- a visual Mermaid editor
- Mermaid code that AI can read
- image export for humans
- Markdown export for documentation and repos
- local-first storage
- GitHub-based sync
- compatibility with Obsidian workflows

## Supported workflow

1. Create a diagram visually.
2. Adjust it until it looks right.
3. Export an image when humans need a quick visual.
4. Export Mermaid when AI needs structured input.
5. Export Markdown when you want both in one file.

## Export options

OpenMMD supports:

- PNG image export
- Mermaid code export
- Markdown export containing:
  - an SVG preview for human reading
  - a Mermaid code block for AI and future editing

This is especially useful when you want documentation that still stays editable and prompt-friendly.

## Local-first storage

By default, OpenMMD stores diagram data locally in your browser.

That gives you:

- speed
- privacy
- ownership
- zero-friction persistence

## GitHub sync and Obsidian workflow

OpenMMD is also designed to fit a GitHub-based workflow.

You can store your diagram data in your own GitHub repository and use that repository as part of a broader documentation setup.

This is useful if you:

- already keep notes in Git
- use Obsidian with a synced repository
- want diagrams, Markdown notes, and Mermaid code to live together

A practical pattern is:

1. Keep OpenMMD exports in a GitHub repository you control.
2. Use the same repository as part of your Obsidian knowledge base.
3. View and manage Mermaid-related notes, exports, and supporting documents in one place.

## Who this is for

### Product managers

Map flows, user journeys, and system behavior visually, then hand Mermaid to AI to refine requirements or edge cases.

### Developers

Keep architecture and interaction diagrams in a format that works well with repos, pull requests, AI coding tools, and documentation systems.

### Indie hackers and solo founders

Use one lightweight workflow to think, diagram, document, and prompt AI without maintaining a large design stack.

### People who want better AI coding results

If you want AI-generated code and implementation plans to match the real flow of your product, giving AI Mermaid is often far better than giving it an image.

## Core idea

OpenMMD is built around one simple belief:

Visual diagrams are great for people.
Structured Mermaid code is great for AI.

You should not have to choose.