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Mermaid Diagram Syntax Error Fix
Bug report - Mermaid flowchart failing to render in kontask card
Output
🐛 Mermaid Diagram Syntax Error
The gvShell Component Diagram kontask is showing a Mermaid.js syntax error. The diagram definition is too complex for Mermaid's flowchart parser.
📸 What You're Seeing
- Image 1: Bottom of kontask showing "Syntax error in text" with Mermaid v11.12.2
- Image 2: Diagram container stuck on "Rendering diagram..."
- Image 3: ASCII data flow diagram rendered correctly (not Mermaid)
❌ Root Cause
The flowchart definition has too many subgraphs and connections for Mermaid to parse reliably. Specific issues:
- 11 subgraphs with 40+ nodes
- Complex cross-subgraph connections
- Node labels with special characters (slashes, brackets)
- Mermaid's parser has known issues with large flowcharts
✅ What Worked
The ASCII art data flow diagram at the bottom of the kontask rendered correctly. ASCII diagrams are more reliable for complex architectures because they don't depend on external JS parsing.
🔧 Fix Options
| Option 1 | Split into multiple smaller diagrams One per layer: Entry, REPL, Providers, Commands, Hub, etc. |
| Option 2 | Use ASCII art instead More reliable, no external dependencies |
| Option 3 | Simplify the Mermaid diagram Fewer subgraphs, high-level only |
| Option 4 | Use a static image Pre-render with draw.io or Excalidraw |
📋 Mermaid Complexity Limits
Based on this failure, here are practical limits for Mermaid in kontasks:
| ✓ Works | 3-5 subgraphs, 15-20 nodes, simple connections |
| ⚠ Risky | 6-8 subgraphs, 25-35 nodes |
| ✗ Fails | 10+ subgraphs, 40+ nodes, complex cross-links |
What's Next?
Choose an action:
Quick Actions
Original Request
No layout configured
Details
Type
General
Status
Completed
Scope
vibetools
Tags
kontasksuibug
Created
7 Jan 2026, 11:18 pm
Updated
7 Jan 2026, 11:18 pm
Timing
⏱️ 98.2s
0 tools
● TTFE 0%
● Thinking 100%
● Tools 0%
Created By
claude
Raw Data
{
"id": "0eddf6ff-d0cc-4fd7-8d87-ca6ff348d08a",
"type": "general",
"status": "completed",
"title": "Mermaid Diagram Syntax Error Fix",
"description": "Bug report - Mermaid flowchart failing to render in kontask card",
"context": {
"output": "<div style=\"background:#1e1e1e;color:#e0e0e0;padding:20px;border-radius:8px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#ef4444;margin:0 0 16px 0;\">🐛 Mermaid Diagram Syntax Error</h2>\n\n<p style=\"color:#9ca3af;margin-bottom:20px;\">The gvShell Component Diagram kontask is showing a Mermaid.js syntax error. The diagram definition is too complex for Mermaid's flowchart parser.</p>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#f59e0b;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">📸 What You're Seeing</h3>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;color:#e0e0e0;\">\n<li><strong>Image 1:</strong> Bottom of kontask showing \"Syntax error in text\" with Mermaid v11.12.2</li>\n<li><strong>Image 2:</strong> Diagram container stuck on \"Rendering diagram...\"</li>\n<li><strong>Image 3:</strong> ASCII data flow diagram rendered correctly (not Mermaid)</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#ef4444;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">❌ Root Cause</h3>\n<p style=\"color:#e0e0e0;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">The flowchart definition has <strong>too many subgraphs and connections</strong> for Mermaid to parse reliably. Specific issues:</p>\n<ol style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;color:#9ca3af;\">\n<li>11 subgraphs with 40+ nodes</li>\n<li>Complex cross-subgraph connections</li>\n<li>Node labels with special characters (slashes, brackets)</li>\n<li>Mermaid's parser has known issues with large flowcharts</li>\n</ol>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#1e3a5f;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;border:1px solid #3b82f6;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#3b82f6;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">✅ What Worked</h3>\n<p style=\"color:#e0e0e0;margin:0;\">The <strong>ASCII art data flow diagram</strong> at the bottom of the kontask rendered correctly. ASCII diagrams are more reliable for complex architectures because they don't depend on external JS parsing.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#22c55e;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">🔧 Fix Options</h3>\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\">\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #4b5563;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#22c55e;font-weight:bold;\">Option 1</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#e0e0e0;\"><strong>Split into multiple smaller diagrams</strong><br><span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">One per layer: Entry, REPL, Providers, Commands, Hub, etc.</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #4b5563;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#f59e0b;font-weight:bold;\">Option 2</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#e0e0e0;\"><strong>Use ASCII art instead</strong><br><span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">More reliable, no external dependencies</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #4b5563;\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#8b5cf6;font-weight:bold;\">Option 3</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#e0e0e0;\"><strong>Simplify the Mermaid diagram</strong><br><span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">Fewer subgraphs, high-level only</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#06b6d4;font-weight:bold;\">Option 4</td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 0;color:#e0e0e0;\"><strong>Use a static image</strong><br><span style=\"color:#7f848e;\">Pre-render with draw.io or Excalidraw</span></td>\n</tr>\n</table>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-bottom:16px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#fff;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">📋 Mermaid Complexity Limits</h3>\n<p style=\"color:#9ca3af;margin:0 0 12px 0;\">Based on this failure, here are practical limits for Mermaid in kontasks:</p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;font-size:0.9rem;\">\n<tr><td style=\"color:#22c55e;padding:4px 0;\">✓ Works</td><td style=\"color:#7f848e;\">3-5 subgraphs, 15-20 nodes, simple connections</td></tr>\n<tr><td style=\"color:#f59e0b;padding:4px 0;\">⚠ Risky</td><td style=\"color:#7f848e;\">6-8 subgraphs, 25-35 nodes</td></tr>\n<tr><td style=\"color:#ef4444;padding:4px 0;\">✗ Fails</td><td style=\"color:#7f848e;\">10+ subgraphs, 40+ nodes, complex cross-links</td></tr>\n</table>\n</div>\n\n<div style=\"background:#2d2d2d;padding:16px;border-radius:6px;margin-top:16px;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin:0 0 8px 0;color:#fff;\">What's Next?</h4>\n<p style=\"color:#9ca3af;margin:0;\">Choose an action:</p>\n</div>\n</div>",
"choices": [
{
"label": "Regenerate (Simpler)",
"value": "Regenerate the gvShell component diagram using a simpler Mermaid diagram with fewer subgraphs (max 5)",
"primary": true
},
{
"label": "ASCII Version",
"value": "Create an ASCII art version of the gvShell architecture diagram that will always render reliably"
},
{
"label": "Split Diagrams",
"value": "Create multiple smaller Mermaid diagrams - one for each layer (providers, commands, hub, core)"
}
],
"requestedAt": "2026-01-07T07:40:00Z",
"requestId": "3296196e-c5c5-4dd5-b190-39887ff4fe52",
"turnTiming": {
"totalMs": 98237,
"ttfeMs": 49,
"thinkingMs": 98188,
"toolExecutionMs": 0,
"toolCallCount": 0,
"thinkingPct": 100,
"toolsPct": 0,
"ttfePct": 0
}
},
"createdBy": "claude",
"createdAt": "2026-01-07T13:18:48.522Z",
"updatedAt": "2026-01-07T13:18:56.710Z",
"requestId": "3296196e-c5c5-4dd5-b190-39887ff4fe52",
"scope": "vibetools",
"tags": [
"kontasks",
"ui",
"bug"
],
"targetUser": "claude"
}