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The slicerflow language

A diagram is a short YAML document: items are the pieces, arrows connect them, and a timeline reveals them step by step. Here's the reference — the full, always-current version lives in the studio's Docs tab.

The basics

The smallest animation is a title, an animation style and a couple of items. Every keystroke re-renders live in the Code tab.

title: Ship it 🚀 animation: pop items: idea: { text: Idea, show: 0 } build: { text: Build, show: 1 } ship: { text: Ship, show: 2 } arrows: - { from: idea, to: build } - { from: build, to: ship }
  • show: — the reveal order on the timeline (0, 1, 2 …).
  • animation: — how items enter (see below). static shows everything at once.
  • Layout and arrow routing are automatic — you never place coordinates by hand (unless you want layout: free).

Items & looks

Each item has a look and content. Common fields:

FieldMeaning
text / subMain label and an optional sub-label.
lookcard, pill, circle, oval, node, note, image, star, text
iconOne of 33 built-in icons (user, db, server, cloud, lambda …) or your own uploaded image.
colorA palette name — blue, green, purple, orange, pink
showReveal step; motion adds a looping wiggle (pulse, float …).

Use look: text for a plain, borderless text label — great for titles and annotations.

Arrows

Arrows connect items by name and route themselves around other shapes.

arrows: - { from: user, to: api, say: login } - { from: api, to: db, style: dashed }
  • say: — a label on the arrow.
  • style: dashed, head: none, from-side / to-side to fine-tune.
  • Flowing (animated) arrows follow the reveal order automatically.

Components & the scene

Group items into named components (titled, tinted containers), then order the whole picture with a scene timeline.

components: frontend: title: Frontend items: { web: { icon: globe } } backend: title: Backend items: { api: { icon: lambda } } scene: - { use: frontend, show: 0 } - { use: backend, show: 1 }

Components can nest, and can be saved to your local Studio library and reused across diagrams.

Animations & timing

Set a document-wide animation:, or override per item / component. There are 30+ entrances and looping motions.

  • Entrances: pop, fade, rise, slide, draw, typewriter, motion, static.
  • Motions (looping): pulse, float, spin, jello, shake — with loop, ping-pong or play-once.
  • Speed & timing: control the overall pace and stagger; reveal items one-by-one or all together.

Diagram one-liners

Whole diagram types compile from a compact syntax — no manual layout:

  • Sequenceuser -> api: login, one message per line.
  • Flowchart, class, ER, state, mind map, journey, pie, bar/line charts, venn, timeline, gantt.
  • Or import them from mermaid or draw.io and edit here.

Themes & export

Four built-in themes — light, dark, midnight, cream — plus per-item colors and custom backgrounds.

  • Diagrams: export an animated GIF (supersampled) or a PNG / JPEG still at 3× resolution.
  • Video studio: export MP4 or WebM.
  • An optional slicerflow corner mark can be toggled on; it's off by default.

Full reference

The complete, always-current language reference — every look, icon, field and diagram type, with a searchable icon gallery — lives in the studio's Docs tab. Open it alongside your canvas so examples render live as you read.