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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.

The OnlineWardleyMaps (*.owm) DSL has become the most widely adopted format for Wardley Maps, powering multiple tools across the ecosystem including:

  • VS Code Extension - Full syntax highlighting and auto-completion
  • Obsidian.md Plugin - Embedded maps within your notes
  • Large Language Models - AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and others can generate OWM format maps

This widespread adoption means maps created in OnlineWardleyMaps can be seamlessly used across different tools and workflows, making it the de facto standard for maps-as-code.

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.