visualization

Each of the Ten Views of a digital solution has a natural diagram type and a tool that produces it well. This post maps them one view at a time — using PlantUML, Mermaid, BPMN.io, and DBML, with a consistent running example of a small online bookshop and source included for every diagram. A cross-reference matrix summarises the full mapping at the end.

Every team has that diagram — the one that was accurate once, then quietly fell behind as the system moved on. Diagrams as code is the practice that makes visual documentation reviewable, versioned, and maintainable — not by adding process, but by changing the file format.

Most digital solutions are documented partially — the technical parts get captured, the rest is assumed. The Ten Views provide a framework for what complete solution documentation looks like: Current State, Domain, Requirements, Customer, Information, Organizational, Process, System, Interaction, and Operational.

Strategic visualization transforms team alignment, decision-making, and delivery outcomes. Learn key principles and practices that drive measurable business results through effective visual communication.