Using AI to create Flowcharts - In a more customisable format - Claude and Draw.io
Why Claude + Draw.io?
Most people either struggle with complex flowchart software or end up with messy hand-drawn diagrams. I use Claude.ai (think ChatGPT's competitor) because it has native support for something called Mermaid - basically a text-based programming language that creates flowcharts.
Here's the beautiful part: Claude understands what you want and writes the Mermaid code for you. No coding required on your end.
How Mermaid Works
When you ask Claude to create a flowchart, it generates text that looks like code but actually represents your entire flowchart structure. The language is intuitive:
Square shapes = processes
Diamond shapes = decision points
Arrows show the flow between steps
Claude builds comprehensive flowcharts with proper logic flow, but here's where it gets even better.
The Draw.io Integration
While Claude creates amazing flowcharts, editing them can be tedious if you want to make visual changes, add comments, or share them with your team. That's where Draw.io comes in.
Here's my exact process:
Get Claude to create the flowchart using Mermaid
Copy the generated code
Go to Draw.io (it's free!)
Click Arrange → Insert → Scroll to Mermaid
Paste the code and hit Insert
Boom! Your AI-generated flowchart is now in a visual editor where you can:
Make styling changes
Edit text easily
Adjust anchor points
Add more details
Share with your team
Why This Combination Works
The magic is in combining AI's logical thinking with visual editing tools. Claude handles the heavy lifting of structure and logic, while Draw.io gives you the visual control you need.
For someone like me who doesn't know Mermaid programming but needs professional flowcharts regularly, this workflow is perfect. Draw.io also connects directly to Google Drive, making collaboration seamless.
The Bottom Line
Stop wrestling with flowchart software from scratch. Let AI do the thinking, then use visual tools for the finishing touches. This Claude + Draw.io combination has helped me create detailed, professional flowcharts in minutes instead of hours.
Try it out and let me know how it works for your projects!