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Quick Reference

OnlineWardleyMaps uses a Domain Specific Language (DSL) to define Wardley Maps in a concise, readable format. This DSL allows you to create, edit, and share maps as plain text, enabling version control and easy collaboration.

Wardley Mapping is a framework for visualizing your environment so you can make better decisions. The DSL captures key concepts such as components, pipelines, evolution stages, and relationships.

Basic Syntax​

Components​

Define components with optional visibility and maturity values:

component Customer [1, 0.4]
component Server [0.5, 0.8]

Pipelines​

Define pipelines to group components and show maturity boundaries:

pipeline PaymentSystem [0.15, 0.65]

Evolve​

Mark components as evolving or evolved with maturity and optional labels:

component Foo [0.9, 0.1]
evolve Foo 0.9 label [66, 99]

Create links between components with optional flow and context:

Customer->Server
Customer+>Server
Customer->Server; Additional context
  • -> creates a link from one component to another.
  • +> indicates a flow direction in the link.
  • You can add additional context or notes to a link using a semicolon ; followed by the context text.

Example:

Customer->Server; Additional context

This creates a link from Customer to Server with the note "Additional context" attached to the link.

Notes and Annotations​

Add notes and annotations with visibility and maturity:

note This is a note [0.9, 0.1]
annotation 1 [.38, .4] Standardising power allows Kettles to evolve faster

Submaps​

Define submaps with optional coordinates, labels, and URLs:

submap Order [0.11, 0.31] label [-15, 30]
submap Order url(urlId)

Accelerators​

Define accelerators and deaccelerators:

accelerator randomkey [0.9, 0.1]
deaccelerator randomkey [0.9, 0.1]

URLs and Anchors​

Define URLs and anchors:

url Foo [https://example.com]
anchor Foo []

Map Size and Style​

Set map size and style:

size [1024, 768]
style wardley

Positioning Elements​

You can specify label positions for elements using the label keyword:

component Foo [0.9, 0.1] label [66, 99]

Decorators​

Use decorators like build, buy, outsource to add metadata to components:

evolve Foo 0.9 (buy)

Renaming Elements​

When you rename a component, related elements such as pipelines, evolves, markets, and ecosystems are automatically updated.

Tips​

  • Whitespace and comments are ignored.
  • Pipelines without boundaries are hidden by default.
  • Use flow (+>) in links to indicate flow direction.

For more detailed examples, see the Examples page.