Diagram Color System
Objective: Define the canonical color palette and visual encoding rules for Coherosphere diagrams. Note: Ensures consistent semantics across all C4 layers — components, domains, and states. This document standardizes visual communication and CI compliance for architecture diagrams.
Color Semantics Overview
| Category | Mermaid Class | Color | Meaning | Typical Components |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟧 Core Logic / Compute | :::compute | #ff8b00 | Central algorithmic or resonance logic. Responsible for calculating systemic impact, coherence, or alignment. | Resonance Engine, KPI Aggregator, SRI Engine, CP Calculator |
| 🟨 Control / API / Validation | :::control | #fde68a | Manages flow, orchestrates logic, or validates inputs. Often the gateway layer of a service. | API Controller, Schema Guard, Parameter Versioning |
| 🟦 Storage / Persistence | :::store | #0ea5e9 | Stores state, metrics, or historical data for traceability. | Ledger, Database, Snapshot Store, Graph Store |
| 🟪 User Interface / Presentation | :::ui | #8b5cf6 | Human-facing surfaces for interaction or transparency. | Resonance Board UI, Developer Portal |
| 🟩 Event / Publishing | :::event | #22c55e | Emits events, metrics, or signals to the ecosystem. | Event Publisher, Feed Service, Federation Client |
| 🟥 Security / Risk / Guard | :::risk | #ef4444 | Protects integrity, prevents abuse, or ensures compliance. | Security Layer, Sybil Guard, Compliance Checks |
| 🟫 Worker / Batch / Job | :::worker | #fb923c | Performs background or scheduled processing (decay, sync, recompute). | Recompute Worker, Snapshotter, Sync Agent |
| ⚪ External System / Integration | :::ext | #e5e7eb | External entities interacting with the system. | Bitcoin Layer, External DAO, AI Agent, Oracles |
| ⚫ Container Boundary | :::container | #111827 | Visual boundary grouping all components of a service. | C2 or C3 subgraph header |
Reading a Diagram
Color in Coherosphere diagrams isn’t arbitrary — it’s functional.
It lets you instantly recognize what kind of thing a node represents:
- 🟨 Controls guard or route flows.
- 🟧 Computes generate resonance, value, or insight.
- 🟦 Stores persist systemic memory.
- 🟩 Events propagate influence outward.
- 🟥 Risk nodes protect coherence.
- 🟫 Workers maintain temporal processes.
- 🟪 UI visualizes coherence to humans.
- ⚪ External nodes connect to the wider world.
Mnemonic:
Yellow steers, Orange computes, Blue stores, Green emits, Red guards, Brown works, Purple shows, Gray connects.
Prepared by: the coherosphere collective