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How To Use Excalidraw For HLD

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147 views3 pages

How To Use Excalidraw For HLD

Uploaded by

suresh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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How to Use Excalidraw for High-Level

Design (HLD)
Excalidraw is a versatile, open-source whiteboarding tool that is particularly useful for
creating High-Level Designs (HLDs) in software architecture, system design, and process
workflows. This guide will walk you through the process of using Excalidraw for HLD
design effectively.

1. Getting Started with Excalidraw


Installation and Access

• Online Use: Visit Excalidraw to use the tool in your browser.


• Desktop App: Download the desktop application from the Excalidraw GitHub
repository.

Key Features

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.


• Hand-drawn style for visual clarity.
• Collaboration support via shared links.
• Library of pre-built shapes and connectors.
• Option to import/export designs in various formats (e.g., PNG, SVG, JSON).

2. Creating an HLD in Excalidraw


Step 1: Define Your Design Scope

• Clearly outline the objectives of your High-Level Design.


• Identify the key components, modules, or systems to be represented.

Step 2: Set Up Your Workspace

• Open a blank canvas in Excalidraw.


• Use the grid settings to align your design elements.

Step 3: Add Shapes and Components

• Use the shapes menu to draw rectangles, circles, and custom shapes to represent
modules, databases, and other elements.
• Label each shape with descriptive text (e.g., "Web Server", "Database").

Ashish Mishra
Step 4: Connect Components

• Use lines or arrows to connect components and depict relationships or data flow.
• Add labels to connectors for clarity (e.g., "API Call", "Data Sync").

Step 5: Annotate Your Diagram

• Use text boxes to add notes or explanations.


• Highlight critical paths or components using color coding or emphasis.

Step 6: Review and Refine

• Check for completeness and alignment with your design goals.


• Share the diagram with stakeholders for feedback using the collaboration link.

3. Advanced Tips
Leverage the Shape Libraries

• Use pre-built libraries available in Excalidraw for common design elements like
servers, cloud components, and data storage icons.

Use Layers and Groups

• Group related elements for easier manipulation.


• Use layers to separate different aspects of the design (e.g., infrastructure vs. data
flow).

Collaborate in Real-Time

• Share a live link with teammates for real-time collaboration.


• Use comments to discuss specific components or changes.

Export and Integrate

• Export your design as an image or SVG for inclusion in documentation.


• Save in JSON format to allow future edits.

4. Best Practices for HLD Design in Excalidraw


• Keep it Simple: Avoid clutter by focusing on key components and interactions.
• Use Consistent Notation: Standardize symbols, colors, and labels for better
readability.
• Iterate and Validate: Regularly update the design based on feedback.

Ashish Mishra
• Align with Stakeholders: Ensure the HLD meets the needs of all stakeholders,
including developers, architects, and business teams.

5. Example HLD
To illustrate an HLD design, consider the following example:

System Overview

• A web-based application with the following components:


o Frontend: React-based UI hosted on AWS.
o Backend: Node.js server with REST APIs.
o Database: PostgreSQL for data storage.
o Cache: Redis for session management.
o External Service: Payment gateway integration.

Steps to Create

1. Draw rectangles for each component.


2. Connect components using labeled arrows (e.g., "API Request", "Query").
3. Annotate with notes like "Handles user authentication".
4. Highlight external services with different colors.

6. Resources
• Excalidraw Documentation
• HLD Best Practices
• System Design Templates

By following this guide, you can efficiently use Excalidraw to create clear, collaborative, and
visually appealing High-Level Designs that meet your project requirements.

Ashish Mishra

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