Mermaid Quick Start Guide

Mermaid is a powerful diagram generation tool that lets you create various types of visual diagrams using simple text syntax. This tutorial will help you quickly master using Mermaid in your blog.

🚀 Basic Syntax

Mermaid uses concise text syntax to define diagram structures. Each diagram type has its own syntax rules, but the basic concepts are consistent.

📊 Flowchart

Flowcharts show steps and decision processes:

flowchart TD
    A[Start Writing] --> B{Know the Syntax?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Write Diagram Directly]
    B -->|No| D[Check Documentation]
    D --> E[Learn Basic Syntax]
    E --> C
    C --> F[Test Rendering]
    F --> G{Diagram Correct?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Done!]
    G -->|No| I[Debug & Fix]
    I --> F

⏱️ Sequence Diagram

Sequence diagrams show the interaction order between different components or users:

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant Blog System
    participant Mermaid Renderer
    participant Browser
 
    User->>Blog System: Visit article with diagram
    Blog System->>Mermaid Renderer: Parse Mermaid code
    Mermaid Renderer->>Mermaid Renderer: Generate SVG diagram
    Mermaid Renderer->>Browser: Return rendered result
    Browser->>User: Display visual diagram

🥧 Pie Chart

Pie charts show proportional relationships in data:

pie
    title Learning Time Distribution
    "Reading Documentation" : 25
    "Practice Exercises" : 40
    "Debugging Issues" : 20
    "Completing Projects" : 15

📈 Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are used for project progress management:

gantt
    title Blog Development Progress
    dateFormat  YYYY-MM-DD
    section Preparation
    Requirements Analysis   :a1, 2024-10-01, 3d
    Technology Selection    :a2, after a1, 2d
    section Development
    Core Feature Development :b1, 2024-10-06, 5d
    UI Optimization          :b2, after b1, 3d
    section Testing
    Feature Testing          :c1, after b2, 2d
    Performance Optimization :c2, after c1, 2d

🏗️ Architecture Diagram (Graph)

Architecture diagrams show system structure:

graph TB
    subgraph "Frontend Architecture"
        A[React] --> B[Next.js]
        B --> C[Tailwind CSS]
        C --> D[shadcn/ui]
    end
 
    subgraph "Content Management"
        E[MDX Files] --> F[Markdown Processing]
        F --> G[Mermaid Rendering]
        G --> H[Static Generation]
    end
 
    subgraph "Deployment"
        H --> I[Vercel]
        I --> J[CDN Distribution]
    end
 
    A --> E

💡 Usage Tips

1. Choose the Right Diagram Type

• Flowchart: Best for showing decision flows and algorithm steps
• Sequence Diagram: Best for showing interaction processes and time sequences
• Pie Chart: Best for showing proportions and percentage data
• Gantt Chart: Best for project timeline management
• Architecture Diagram: Best for showing system structure and relationships

2. Syntax Key Points

• Use meaningful node names
• Use connector arrow directions appropriately
• Add subgraphs to organize complex structures
• Use comments to explain complex logic

3. Common Issues

• Syntax Errors: Check if brackets and quotes match
• Messy Layout: Use different layout directions (TD, LR, TB, RL)
• Overlapping Nodes: Increase node spacing or adjust layout

🎯 Best Practices

1. Start Simple: Create basic diagrams first, then gradually add details
2. Test Rendering: Frequently check if the diagram displays correctly
3. Add Comments: Use comments to explain complex logic structures
4. Keep It Clean: Organize nodes and connections layout appropriately

🔄 Compatibility Notes

Our blog system supports:

• ✅ All mainstream Mermaid diagram types
• ✅ Automatic adaptation for dark/light themes
• ✅ Responsive design, mobile-friendly
• ✅ Error handling and user-friendly prompts

Now you can easily create professional diagrams in your blog posts! Start creating your first Mermaid diagram!