json-canvas
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
Profile →npx skills add kepano/obsidian-skills --skill json-canvas --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# JSON Canvas Skill ## File Structure A canvas file (`.canvas`) contains two top-level arrays following the [JSON Canvas Spec 1.0](https://jsoncanvas.org/spec/1.0/): ```json { "nodes": [], "edges": [] } ``` - `nodes` (optional): Array of node objects - `edges` (optional): Array of edge objects connecting nodes ## Common Workflows ### 1. Create a New Canvas 1. Create a `.canvas` file with the base structure `{"nodes": [], "edges": []}` 2. Generate unique 16-character hex IDs for each node (e.g., `"6f0ad84f44ce9c17"`) 3. Add nodes with required fields: `id`, `type`, `x`, `y`, `width`, `height` 4. Add edges referencing valid node IDs via `fromNode` and `toNode` 5. **Validate**: Parse the JSON to confirm it is valid. Verify all `fromNode`/`toNode` values exist in the nodes array ### 2. Add a Node to an Existing Canvas 1. Read and parse the existing `.canvas` file 2. Generate a unique ID that does not collide with existing node or edge IDs 3. Choose position (`x`, `y`) that avoids overlapping existing nodes (leave 50-100px spacing) 4. Append the new node object to the `nodes` array 5. Optionally add edges connecting the new node to existing nodes 6. **Validate**: Confirm all IDs are uni
- File Structure
- Common Workflows
- 1. Create a New Canvas
- 2. Add a Node to an Existing Canvas
- 3. Connect Two Nodes
- 4. Edit an Existing Canvas
- Nodes
- Generic Node Attributes
- Text Nodes
- File Nodes
- Link Nodes
- Group Nodes
- Edges
- Colors
What does the json-canvas skill do?
Create and edit JSON Canvas files (.canvas) with nodes, edges, groups, and connections. Use when working with .canvas files, creating visual canvases, mind maps, flowcharts, or when the user mentions Canvas files in Obsidian.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add kepano/obsidian-skills --skill json-canvas --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From kepano/obsidian-skills, a repository with 44,064 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.