Structurizr CLI vs C4-PlantUML: Which Tool Keeps Architecture Docs Accurate?
Architecture diagrams in most production environments quickly become outdated because they are stored as static image files rather than living alongside the codebase. A developer tested two self-hostable, code-based alternatives — Structurizr CLI and C4-PlantUML — on a real system to compare their practicality. Structurizr CLI generates all three C4 diagram levels from a single DSL file in about one second, while C4-PlantUML requires no installation but roughly triples the size of the model file. Both tools enable version control workflows such as diffs, pull request reviews, and CI integration, keeping diagrams in sync with code changes. The author outlines specific scenarios where each tool is the better choice, based on hands-on measurements.
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