ArcKit
Transform architecture chaos into systematic, audit-ready governance.
44 AI-assisted commands that generate complete governance documents. From stakeholder analysis and risk registers to design reviews and traceability matrices—each command produces template-driven, audit-ready artifacts. Navigate discovery to delivery with built-in UK Government compliance: GDS Service Manual, Technology Code of Practice, Secure by Design.
Features
Systematic
Follow GDS Agile Delivery phases (Discovery → Alpha → Beta → Live) with structured command workflow ensuring complete, auditable project artifacts.
Compliant
Built-in compliance with Technology Code of Practice (TCoP), Secure by Design principles, GDS Service Standard, and UK Government procurement frameworks.
Auditable
Every artifact includes version control, traceability matrices, design review checklists, and comprehensive gap analysis for audit readiness.
AI-Assisted
Works with Claude Code, OpenAI Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI. AI generates first drafts following templates; architects review and refine.
Traceable
Complete traceability chains from stakeholder goals through risks and requirements to design decisions. Every artifact links back to business drivers and outcomes.
Open Source
Free and open under MIT licence. Full transparency, community contributions welcome, and no vendor lock-in. Adapt and extend for your organisation's needs.
What ArcKit Does
Transform scattered documents into systematic, auditable architecture governance across six key areas:
Governance & Strategy
- Architecture principles enforcement
- Stakeholder analysis with RACI matrices
- Risk management (HM Treasury Orange Book)
- Business case justification (Green Book SOBC)
- Strategic planning with Wardley Mapping
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
- Multi-year roadmap planning
Requirements & Data
- Comprehensive requirements documentation
- Data modelling with ERD diagrams
- GDPR compliance and data governance
- Complete requirements traceability
- Data mesh contracts for federated architectures
Procurement & Vendors
- Technology research with build vs buy analysis
- RFP statement of work generation
- Vendor evaluation and selection
- G-Cloud service search and clarification
- Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS)
Design & Quality
- Visual architecture diagrams (Mermaid)
- Formal design reviews (HLD/DLD)
- Secure by Design compliance checks
- Platform design for multi-sided ecosystems
- ServiceNow service management integration
Compliance & Assurance
- Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) review
- GDS Service Standard assessment
- Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
- AI Playbook compliance
- Algorithmic Transparency (ATRS)
- MOD JSP-936 AI assurance
Operations & Delivery
- DevOps and CI/CD pipelines
- MLOps model lifecycle management
- FinOps cloud cost optimization
- Operational readiness (runbooks, DR/BCP)
- Agile backlog generation
GDS Agile Delivery Workflow
ArcKit follows the UK Government's GDS Service Manual Agile Delivery framework:
Planning
ArcKit Command Workflow
Commands flow from governance through requirements to delivery:
flowchart TD
subgraph Foundation[Foundation]
plan[plan]
principles[principles]
end
subgraph Discovery[Discovery]
stakeholders[stakeholders]
risk[risk]
sobc[sobc]
end
subgraph Alpha[Alpha]
requirements[requirements]
data-model[data-model]
research[research]
wardley[wardley]
end
subgraph Beta[Beta]
sow[sow]
evaluate[evaluate]
hld-review[hld-review]
backlog[backlog]
trello[trello]
diagram[diagram]
end
subgraph Live[Live]
servicenow[servicenow]
traceability[traceability]
story[story]
end
plan --> principles
principles --> stakeholders
stakeholders --> risk
risk --> sobc
sobc --> requirements
requirements --> data-model
requirements --> research
research --> wardley
wardley --> sow
data-model --> diagram
sow --> evaluate
evaluate --> hld-review
hld-review --> backlog
backlog --> trello
backlog --> servicenow
servicenow --> traceability
traceability --> story
style Foundation fill:#1d70b8,color:#fff
style Discovery fill:#f47738,color:#fff
style Alpha fill:#912b88,color:#fff
style Beta fill:#00703c,color:#fff
style Live fill:#d4351c,color:#fff
44 ArcKit Commands
Complete command reference with descriptions, example outputs, and maturity status:
| Command ↕ | Description ↕ | Category ↕ | Examples | Status ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
/arckit.plan |
Create project plan with timeline, phases, gates, and Mermaid diagrams | Foundation | v3/001 v3/002 v3/004 v3/005 v8 v9 v10 v11 v14 v17 v18 | Live |
/arckit.principles |
Create or update enterprise architecture principles | Foundation | v1 v2 v3 v6 v8 v9 v10 v11 v7 v14 v16 v17 v18 v19 | Live |
/arckit.stakeholders |
Analyze stakeholder drivers, goals, and measurable outcomes | Strategic Context | v1 v2 v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v3/005 v3/006 v3/007 v6 v8 v9 v10 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 v19 | Live |
/arckit.risk |
Create comprehensive risk register following HM Treasury Orange Book principles | Strategic Context | v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v3/005 v3/006 v3/007 v8 v9 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 | Live |
/arckit.sobc |
Create Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) using UK Government Green Book 5-case model | Strategic Context | v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v3/005 v3/007 v8 v9 | Live |
/arckit.requirements |
Create comprehensive business and technical requirements | Requirements & Data | v1 v2 v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v3/005 v3/006 v3/007 v6 v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 v19 | Live |
/arckit.data-model |
Create comprehensive data model with entity relationships, GDPR compliance, and data governance | Requirements & Data | v3/001 v3/002 v8 v9 v10 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 | Live |
/arckit.data-mesh-contract |
Create federated data product contracts for mesh architectures with SLAs, governance, and interoperability guarantees | Requirements & Data | — | Alpha |
/arckit.dpia |
Generate Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for UK GDPR Article 35 compliance | Requirements & Data | v3 v8 v9 v14 v16 v17 v18 | Beta |
/arckit.platform-design |
Create platform strategy using Platform Design Toolkit (8 canvases for multi-sided ecosystems) | Research & Strategy | v8 v10 | Experimental |
/arckit.research |
Research technology, services, and products to meet requirements with build vs buy analysis | Research & Strategy | v3/001 v3/002 v14 v17 v18 | Beta |
/arckit.wardley |
Create strategic Wardley Maps for architecture decisions and build vs buy analysis | Research & Strategy | v3 v6 v11 v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.roadmap |
Create strategic architecture roadmap with multi-year timeline, capability evolution, and governance | Research & Strategy | v3 | Beta |
/arckit.adr |
Document architectural decisions with options analysis and traceability | Research & Strategy | v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v3/005 v3/007 v14 | Beta |
/arckit.azure-research |
Research Azure services and architecture patterns using Microsoft Learn MCP for authoritative guidance | Cloud Research (MCP) | v3/001 v3/002 v14 v17 v18 v19 | Experimental |
/arckit.aws-research |
Research AWS services and architecture patterns using AWS Knowledge MCP for authoritative guidance | Cloud Research (MCP) | v14 v17 v18 v19 | Experimental |
/arckit.gcp-research |
Research Google Cloud services and architecture patterns (pending GCP documentation MCP server) | Cloud Research (MCP) | — | Planned |
/arckit.datascout |
Discover external data sources (APIs, datasets, open data portals) to fulfil project requirements | Data Source Discovery | v17 v18 v19 | Experimental |
/arckit.sow |
Generate Statement of Work (SOW) / RFP document for vendor procurement | Procurement | v1 v2 v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v6 | Live |
/arckit.dos |
Generate Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) procurement documentation for UK Digital Marketplace | Procurement | — | Experimental |
/arckit.gcloud-search |
Find G-Cloud services on UK Digital Marketplace with live search and comparison | Procurement | v3 v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.gcloud-clarify |
Analyze G-Cloud service gaps and generate supplier clarification questions | Procurement | — | Experimental |
/arckit.evaluate |
Create vendor evaluation framework and score vendor proposals | Procurement | v1 v2 v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/005 v6 | Live |
/arckit.diagram |
Generate architecture diagrams using Mermaid for visual documentation | Design & Architecture | v1 v3/001 v3/005 v3/007 v10 v14 v17 v19 | Live |
/arckit.hld-review |
Review High-Level Design (HLD) against architecture principles and requirements | Design & Architecture | v3 v14 | Beta |
/arckit.dld-review |
Review Detailed Design (DLD) for implementation readiness | Design & Architecture | — | Beta |
/arckit.backlog |
Generate prioritised product backlog from ArcKit artifacts - convert requirements to user stories, organise into sprints | Operations | v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v3/004 v9 v14 v17 v19 | Beta |
/arckit.trello |
Export product backlog to Trello - create board, lists, cards with labels and checklists from backlog JSON | Operations | — | Experimental |
/arckit.servicenow |
Create comprehensive ServiceNow service design with CMDB, SLAs, incident management, and change control | Operations | v3 | Beta |
/arckit.devops |
Create DevOps strategy with CI/CD pipelines, IaC, container orchestration, and developer experience | Operations | v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.mlops |
Create MLOps strategy with model lifecycle, training pipelines, serving, monitoring, and governance | Operations | v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.finops |
Create FinOps strategy with cloud cost management, optimization, governance, and forecasting | Operations | v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.operationalize |
Create operational readiness pack with support model, runbooks, DR/BCP, on-call, and handover documentation | Operations | v14 | Experimental |
/arckit.traceability |
Generate requirements traceability matrix from requirements to design to tests | Operations | v1 v2 v3/001 v3/002 v3/003 v6 v9 v14 | Live |
/arckit.analyze |
Perform comprehensive governance quality analysis across architecture artifacts (requirements, principles, designs, assessments) | Quality & Governance | v6 v9 v11 v14 | Beta |
/arckit.principles-compliance |
Assess compliance with architecture principles and generate scorecard with evidence, gaps, and recommendations | Quality & Governance | v3 v14 | Live |
/arckit.service-assessment |
Prepare for GDS Service Standard assessment - analyze evidence against 14 points, identify gaps, generate readiness report | UK Government | v16 | Beta |
/arckit.tcop |
Generate a Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) review document for a UK Government technology project | UK Government | v6 v8 v9 v11 v14 | Beta |
/arckit.secure |
Generate a Secure by Design assessment for UK Government projects (civilian departments) | UK Government | v8 v9 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 v19 | Beta |
/arckit.ai-playbook |
Assess UK Government AI Playbook compliance for responsible AI deployment | UK Government | v9 v14 | Alpha |
/arckit.atrs |
Generate Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) record for AI/algorithmic tools | UK Government | v2 v9 v14 | Alpha |
/arckit.mod-secure |
Generate a MOD Secure by Design assessment for UK Ministry of Defence projects using CAAT and continuous assurance | UK MOD | v3/001 v3/006 | Experimental |
/arckit.jsp-936 |
Generate MOD JSP 936 AI assurance documentation for defence AI/ML systems | UK MOD | — | Experimental |
/arckit.pages |
Generate GitHub Pages documentation site with Mermaid diagram support | Documentation | v1 v2 v3 v6 v7 v8 v9 v10 v11 v14 v16 v17 v18 v19 | Alpha |
/arckit.story |
Generate comprehensive project story with timeline analysis, traceability, and governance achievements | Quality & Governance | v3 v8 v9 v14 | Live |
Multi-AI System Support
ArcKit works with three major AI development environments:
Claude Code
PrimaryOfficial CLI from Anthropic. Slash commands in .claude/commands/ plus autonomous agents in .claude/agents/ for research-heavy tasks.
Best for: Complex reasoning, architecture design, comprehensive documentation generation. Agents isolate web research context automatically.
Installation: brew install claude
OpenAI Codex CLI
SupportedCodex CLI for GPT-4. Commands in .codex/prompts/ directory.
Best for: Code generation, technical implementation, API integration.
Installation: npm install -g @openai/codex-cli
Gemini CLI
SupportedGoogle Gemini CLI. Commands in .gemini/commands/ directory (TOML format).
Best for: Multi-modal analysis, data processing, rapid prototyping.
Installation: pip install gemini-cli
Why commands, not skills?
Claude Code automatically exposes ArcKit commands as skills (they appear in the skills list and can be matched by natural language). ArcKit intentionally uses slash commands rather than standalone skills because:
- Deliberate invocation required — Every command generates a heavyweight governance document (requirements spec, risk register, DPIA, etc.). Auto-triggering from conversational intent would waste significant time and tokens.
- Dependency ordering — Commands follow a deliberate sequence (principles → stakeholders → requirements → data-model → etc.). Skills that auto-trigger could run out of order.
- User input via
$ARGUMENTS— Most commands accept context from the user (project name, scope, constraints). The command system handles this with$ARGUMENTSsubstitution. - Best of both worlds — Since Claude Code exposes commands as skills automatically, users get explicit
/arckit.requirementsinvocation AND natural language matching when Claude recognises intent — no restructuring needed.
Real-World Use Cases
ArcKit generates complete architecture documentation. Browse actual outputs from these UK Government scenarios:
NHS Appointment Booking
Digital health platform with patient portal, NHS Spine integration, IG Toolkit compliance, accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), GDPR data handling.
View example outputs →M365 GCC-H Migration
Government cloud migration from on-premise to Microsoft 365 GCC High with data sovereignty, compliance mapping, user training, rollback planning.
View example outputs →HMRC Tax Assistant
Conversational AI for tax guidance with PII handling, HMRC integration, compliance with Government Security Classification, Welsh language support.
View example outputs →Windows 11 Deployment
Enterprise OS upgrade with hardware compatibility assessment, Group Policy migration, security baseline configuration, pilot testing framework.
View example outputs →Patent Application System
Intellectual property platform with document management, workflow automation, GOV.UK Pay integration, Notify for status updates.
View example outputs →ONS Data Platform
Official statistics analytics environment with secure data pipelines, Five Safes governance, reproducible research workflows, and cross-government data sharing.
View example outputs →Cabinet Office GenAI Platform
Cross-government generative AI service with multi-tenant architecture, AI Playbook compliance, ATRS publication, responsible AI governance, departmental isolation for OFFICIAL to OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE data.
View example outputs →Scottish Courts GenAI Strategy
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service GenAI programme with comprehensive MLOps, FinOps, DevOps strategies, AI Playbook compliance, and ATRS transparency records.
View example outputs →Doctors Appointment System
Online appointment booking system with GDS Service Standard assessment, Secure by Design compliance, NHS integration patterns, and DPIA for patient data handling.
View example outputs →UK Fuel Price Transparency
UK Government fuel price transparency service with real-time pricing data, stakeholder analysis, comprehensive risk register, data model, and technology research.
View example outputs →UK Smart Meter Consumer App
UK smart meter data consumer mobile app with architecture principles, stakeholder analysis, requirements specification, risk register, and technology research.
View example outputs →UK Government API Aggregator
Unified platform aggregating 240+ UK Government APIs across 34+ departments with data source discovery, cloud research (AWS & Azure), Secure by Design assessment, and architecture diagrams.
View example outputs →Documentation
Comprehensive guides for every aspect of ArcKit usage:
Command Guides
- Analysis Guide - Gap analysis across artifacts
- Design Review Guide - 10-section assessment checklist
- Architecture Diagrams - C4 Model visualization
- Platform Design Guide - Multi-sided platform strategy using PDT methodology
- Roadmap Guide - Multi-year capability evolution with funding and governance gates
- Architecture Decision Records - MADR v4.0 decisions with approvals
- Traceability Guide - Requirements traceability matrix
- Wardley Mapping - Strategic analysis and build vs buy
- Procurement Guide - Digital Marketplace frameworks
Technical Documentation
- README - Quick start and overview
- Changelog - Release history and updates
- Contributing - How to contribute to ArcKit
- Release Notes - Detailed version information
- Command Reference - All 44 commands documented
Workflow & Dependencies
- Workflow Diagrams - Visual Mermaid diagrams for all 5 project paths (Standard, UK Gov, UK Gov AI, MOD, MOD AI) with Gantt charts and decision trees
- Dependency Structure Matrix - Complete 44×44 command dependency matrix showing mandatory, recommended, and optional relationships
Getting Started (5 Minutes)
1. Install Claude Code
macOS & Linux (Homebrew):
macOS, Linux & WSL (Shell script):
Windows (PowerShell):
2. Install ArcKit CLI
3. Initialize Your Project
arckit init my-project --ai claude
cd my-project
claude