Archyl – The modern platform for C4 model documentation

https://www.archyl.com/

by eko • 6 months ago

21 9 6 months ago

archyl.com

eko2• 6 months ago

Visualize your systems, discover architecture from code, and keep everything in sync.

Terretta2• 6 months ago

Visualize your systems, discover architecture from code, and keep everything in sync.

Not everything.

Lock up your c4 models in a proprietary platform instead of a diagrams-as-code.

Connect to git not to bidirectionally sync c4 models in a preservable text format, but to slurp more info into the golden-handcuffs source of truth.

Avoid detailing how invention intellectual property disclosure and platform security reconnaissance are protected against.

(On the outbound sync, see Structurizer or plant uml c4 for text portable examples, or icepanel.io for JSON metadata export of full models.)

It's a beautiful product and we'd authorize our teams to use it instantly, except for the philosophical and practical non-starters, and we'd need to have a deep understanding for the security model around keys-to-the-kingdom systems.

eko2• 6 months ago

Fair points, thanks for laying them out clearly.

A few clarifications:

1. We don't aim to replace diagrams-as-code or lock teams out of portable formats. Archyl focuses on discovering and keeping architecture in sync with reality: export and text-based representations are on the roadmap because portability matters.

2. Git integration today is read-only by design. We intentionally avoid bidirectional mutation of source or models until we can guarantee determinism and auditability.

3. We do not treat Archyl as a "golden source of truth" for code or IP. The goal is derived metadata and visualization, not ownership of your system definition.

4. Security is taken seriously: scoped access, least-privilege credentials, and no persistence of sensitive source artifacts beyond what's required for analysis. We're working on publishing a deeper security model to make this more explicit.

The philosophy tension you're pointing out is real, and we're trying to earn trust there rather than hand-wave it away. Appreciate the thoughtful critique.

Leynos2• 6 months ago

Trying to sign up with GitHub gives me 404 error.

fuzzy2• 6 months ago

First thought: Looks very similar to IcePanel. I wish you luck, this space is in desperate need of competition.

I wasn't able to find information about the company and where it is registered, might want to add that.

evanjrowley• 6 months ago

Has anyone created a set of C4 diagrams for fundamental things, like the various processes that might all be running on an idle Debian/CentOS/Alpine system?

Archyl – The modern platform for C4 model documentation

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