# SVG-Based Wireframe Generation - Integration Guide
This guide explains how to implement and integrate the SVG-based wireframe generation system that converts natural language prompts into precise, scalable vector graphics.
## ๐ฏ **Why SVG Instead of JSON?**
### **Advantages of SVG Approach:**
1. **Precise Positioning**: Exact coordinates and dimensions
2. **Better Performance**: Direct rendering without parsing overhead
3. **Scalable Graphics**: Vector-based, resolution-independent
4. **Rich Styling**: Colors, gradients, shadows, and effects
5. **Standard Format**: Widely supported across platforms
### **Comparison:**
| Aspect | JSON Approach | SVG Approach |
|--------|---------------|--------------|
| **Precision** | Approximate positioning | Exact positioning |
| **Performance** | Slower (parsing + generation) | Faster (direct rendering) |
| **Styling** | Limited color options | Full CSS styling support |
| **Complexity** | Simple shapes only | Complex paths and effects |
| **Maintenance** | Frontend logic heavy | Backend logic heavy |
## ๐๏ธ **System Architecture**
```
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ Frontend โ โ Backend โ โ Claude AI โ
โ (React) โโโโโบโ (Flask) โโโโโบโ (API) โ
โ โ โ โ โ โ
โ โข tldraw Canvas โ โ โข Prompt โ โ โข Natural โ
โ โข SVG Parser โ โ Processing โ โ Language โ
โ โข Response โ โ โข SVG Generation โ โ Analysis โ
โ Handler โ โ โข Response โ โ โข Layout โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โ Routing โ โ Generation โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
```
## ๐ **Data Flow**
### **1. User Input**
```
User types: "Dashboard with header, sidebar, and 3 stats cards"
```
### **2. Frontend Request**
```typescript
const response = await fetch('/generate-wireframe', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ prompt: userPrompt })
})
```
### **3. Backend Processing**
```python
# Flask backend receives prompt
@app.route('/generate-wireframe', methods=['POST'])
def generate_wireframe():
prompt = request.json.get('prompt')
# Send to Claude AI
claude_response = call_claude_api(prompt)
# Generate SVG from AI response
svg_content = generate_svg_wireframe(claude_response)
# Return SVG with proper content type
return svg_content, 200, {'Content-Type': 'image/svg+xml'}
```
### **4. SVG Response**
```xml
```
### **5. Frontend Rendering**
```typescript
// Check response type
const contentType = response.headers.get('content-type')
if (contentType && contentType.includes('image/svg+xml')) {
// Handle SVG response
const svgString = await response.text()
await parseSVGAndRender(editor, svgString)
} else {
// Fallback to JSON
const data = await response.json()
await generateWireframeFromSpec(editor, data.wireframe)
}
```
## ๐ง **Implementation Steps**
### **Step 1: Backend SVG Generation**
#### **1.1 Install Dependencies**
```bash
pip install flask flask-cors anthropic
```
#### **1.2 Create SVG Generator**
```python
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
def generate_svg_wireframe(layout_spec):
"""Generate SVG wireframe from layout specification"""
# Create SVG root element
svg = ET.Element('svg', {
'width': '800',
'height': '600',
'viewBox': '0 0 800 600',
'xmlns': 'http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'
})
# Add definitions (filters, gradients)
defs = ET.SubElement(svg, 'defs')
shadow_filter = ET.SubElement(defs, 'filter', {
'id': 'shadow',
'y': '-40%', 'x': '-40%',
'width': '180%', 'height': '180%'
})
ET.SubElement(shadow_filter, 'feDropShadow', {
'dx': '1', 'dy': '1',
'stdDeviation': '1.2',
'flood-opacity': '.5'
})
# Create main group
main_group = ET.SubElement(svg, 'g')
# Generate layout elements
generate_header(main_group, layout_spec.get('header', {}))
generate_sidebar(main_group, layout_spec.get('sidebar', {}))
generate_main_content(main_group, layout_spec.get('main_content', {}))
generate_footer(main_group, layout_spec.get('footer', {}))
return ET.tostring(svg, encoding='unicode')
def generate_header(group, header_spec):
"""Generate header section"""
if not header_spec.get('enabled', False):
return
# Header background
ET.SubElement(group, 'rect', {
'x': '0', 'y': '0',
'width': '800', 'height': '60',
'fill': '#f0f0f0'
})
# Header text
ET.SubElement(group, 'text', {
'x': '20', 'y': '35',
'font-family': 'Arial',
'font-size': '16',
'fill': '#333333'
}).text = header_spec.get('title', 'Header')
```
#### **1.3 Update Flask Endpoint**
```python
@app.route('/generate-wireframe', methods=['POST'])
def generate_wireframe():
try:
prompt = request.json.get('prompt')
if not prompt:
return jsonify({'error': 'Prompt is required'}), 400
# Call Claude AI
claude_response = call_claude_api(prompt)
# Parse AI response and generate SVG
layout_spec = parse_claude_response(claude_response)
svg_content = generate_svg_wireframe(layout_spec)
# Return SVG with proper headers
response = make_response(svg_content)
response.headers['Content-Type'] = 'image/svg+xml'
response.headers['Cache-Control'] = 'no-cache'
return response
except Exception as e:
logger.error(f"Error generating wireframe: {str(e)}")
return jsonify({'error': 'Internal server error'}), 500
```
### **Step 2: Frontend SVG Parsing**
#### **2.1 SVG Parser Functions**
```typescript
const parseSVGAndRender = async (editor: Editor, svgString: string) => {
try {
// Parse SVG string
const parser = new DOMParser()
const svgDoc = parser.parseFromString(svgString, 'image/svg+xml')
const svgElement = svgDoc.querySelector('svg')
if (!svgElement) {
throw new Error('Invalid SVG content')
}
// Get dimensions
const viewBox = svgElement.getAttribute('viewBox')?.split(' ').map(Number) || [0, 0, 800, 600]
const [, , svgWidth, svgHeight] = viewBox
// Create main frame
editor.createShape({
id: createShapeId(),
type: "frame",
x: 50, y: 50,
props: {
w: Math.max(800, svgWidth),
h: Math.max(600, svgHeight),
name: "SVG Wireframe",
},
})
// Render SVG elements
await renderSVGElements(editor, svgElement, 50, 50, svgWidth, svgHeight)
} catch (error) {
console.error('SVG parsing error:', error)
// Fallback to basic wireframe
await generateFallbackWireframe(editor, "SVG parsing failed")
}
}
```
#### **2.2 Element Renderers**
```typescript
const renderSVGRect = async (editor: Editor, element: SVGElement, offsetX: number, offsetY: number) => {
const x = parseFloat(element.getAttribute('x') || '0') + offsetX
const y = parseFloat(element.getAttribute('y') || '0') + offsetY
const width = parseFloat(element.getAttribute('width') || '100')
const height = parseFloat(element.getAttribute('height') || '100')
const fill = element.getAttribute('fill') || 'none'
const stroke = element.getAttribute('stroke') || 'black'
editor.createShape({
id: createShapeId(),
type: "geo",
x, y,
props: {
w: Math.max(10, width),
h: Math.max(10, height),
geo: "rectangle",
fill: fill === 'none' ? 'none' : 'semi',
color: mapColorToTldraw(stroke),
},
})
}
```
## ๐จ **SVG Styling and Effects**
### **Shadows and Filters**
```xml
```
### **Gradients**
```xml
```
### **Text Styling**
```xml
Dashboard Header
```
## ๐ **Response Type Detection**
### **Content-Type Based Routing**
```typescript
const generateFromPrompt = async (prompt: string) => {
try {
const response = await fetch('/generate-wireframe', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ prompt })
})
// Detect response type
const contentType = response.headers.get('content-type')
if (contentType && contentType.includes('image/svg+xml')) {
// SVG response - parse and render
const svgString = await response.text()
await parseSVGAndRender(editor, svgString)
} else {
// JSON response - fallback processing
const data = await response.json()
await generateWireframeFromSpec(editor, data.wireframe)
}
} catch (error) {
console.error('Generation error:', error)
await generateFallbackWireframe(editor, prompt)
}
}
```
## ๐งช **Testing and Validation**
### **Backend Testing**
```python
def test_svg_generation():
"""Test SVG generation functionality"""
# Test layout specification
layout_spec = {
'header': {'enabled': True, 'title': 'Test Header'},
'sidebar': {'enabled': True, 'width': 200},
'main_content': {'sections': []},
'footer': {'enabled': True, 'height': 60}
}
# Generate SVG
svg_content = generate_svg_wireframe(layout_spec)
# Validate SVG structure
assert '