ArcKit
Transform architecture chaos into systematic, audit-ready governance.
30 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 four 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
Requirements & Data
- Comprehensive requirements documentation
- Data modelling with ERD diagrams
- GDPR compliance and data governance
- Complete requirements traceability
Procurement & Vendors
- Technology research with build vs buy analysis
- RFP statement of work generation
- Vendor evaluation and selection
- Digital Marketplace compliance
Design & Quality
- Visual architecture diagrams (Mermaid)
- Formal design reviews (HLD/DLD)
- Secure by Design compliance checks
- ServiceNow service management integration
GDS Agile Delivery Workflow
ArcKit follows the UK Government's GDS Service Manual Agile Delivery framework:
Phase 0
Planning
→
Discovery
→
Alpha
→
Beta
→
Live
30 ArcKit Commands
Organized by workflow phase for systematic project execution:
Foundation
- /arckit.plan - Create comprehensive project plan with GDS phases, Mermaid Gantt charts, and workflow diagrams
- /arckit.principles - Establish architecture principles (Security, Performance, Scalability, Interoperability)
Strategic Context
- /arckit.stakeholders - Analyze stakeholder drivers and goals (RACI matrix, power/interest grid)
- /arckit.risk - Create comprehensive risk register (HM Treasury Orange Book methodology)
- /arckit.sobc - Generate Strategic Outline Business Case (Green Book 5-case model: Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial, Management)
Requirements & Data
- /arckit.requirements - Define comprehensive requirements (Business, Functional, Non-Functional, Data, Integration)
- /arckit.data-model - Design entity-relationship data model with GDPR compliance
- /arckit.dpia - Generate Data Protection Impact Assessment for UK GDPR Article 35 compliance with ICO 9-criteria screening
Research & Strategy
- /arckit.research - Internet research with cited sources for technical decisions and build vs buy analysis
- /arckit.wardley - Create Wardley Map for strategic planning and evolution analysis
Procurement
- /arckit.sow - Generate Statement of Work (SOW) / RFP document for vendor procurement
- /arckit.dos - Generate Digital Outcomes and Specialists procurement documentation for UK Digital Marketplace
- /arckit.gcloud-search - Find G-Cloud services on UK Digital Marketplace with live search
- /arckit.gcloud-clarify - Analyze G-Cloud service gaps and generate supplier clarification questions
- /arckit.evaluate - Create vendor evaluation framework and score vendor proposals
Design & Architecture
- /arckit.diagram - Generate architecture diagrams using Mermaid (C4 Model: Context, Container, Component, Deployment)
- /arckit.hld-review - Review High-Level Design (HLD) against architecture principles and requirements
- /arckit.dld-review - Review Detailed Low-Level Design (DLD) for implementation readiness
Implementation Planning
- /arckit.backlog - Generate prioritized product backlog - convert requirements to GDS user stories, organize into sprints
Operations
- /arckit.servicenow - Generate ServiceNow CMDB design with CIs, relationships, and service management integration
- /arckit.traceability - Generate requirements traceability matrix from requirements → design → tests
Quality & Governance
- /arckit.analyze - Perform comprehensive governance quality analysis across all architecture artifacts
UK Government Compliance
- /arckit.service-assessment - Prepare for GDS Service Standard assessment (14 points, RAG ratings, evidence mapping)
- /arckit.tcop - Generate Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) review document (13 points)
- /arckit.secure - Generate Secure by Design assessment for UK Government projects (NCSC CAF, Cyber Essentials, UK GDPR)
- /arckit.ai-playbook - Assess UK Government AI Playbook compliance for responsible AI deployment
- /arckit.atrs - Generate Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) record for AI/algorithmic tools
UK MOD (Ministry of Defence)
- /arckit.mod-secure - Generate MOD Secure by Design assessment using CAAT and continuous assurance
- /arckit.jsp-936 - Generate MOD JSP 936 AI assurance documentation for defence AI/ML systems
Reporting
- /arckit.story - Generate comprehensive project story with timeline analysis, traceability, and governance achievements
Multi-AI System Support
ArcKit works with three major AI development environments:
Claude Code
Primary
Official CLI from Anthropic. Commands in .claude/prompts/ directory.
Best for: Complex reasoning, architecture design, comprehensive documentation generation.
Installation: brew install claude
OpenAI Codex CLI
Supported
Codex 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
Supported
Google Gemini CLI. Commands in .gemini/prompts/ directory (TOML format).
Best for: Multi-modal analysis, data processing, rapid prototyping.
Installation: pip install gemini-cli
All commands work identically across AI systems. Choose based on your organisation's AI platform preference.
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 →
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 →
Documentation
Comprehensive guides for every aspect of ArcKit usage:
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 30×30 command dependency matrix showing mandatory, recommended, and optional relationships
Getting Started (5 Minutes)
1. Install Claude Code
macOS & Linux (Homebrew):
brew install --cask claude-code
macOS, Linux & WSL (Shell script):
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows (PowerShell):
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
2. Install ArcKit CLI
pip install arckit-cli
3. Initialize Your Project
arckit init my-project --ai claude
cd my-project
claude
4. Run Your First Command
/arckit.plan Create project plan for NHS appointment booking system
5. Follow GDS Phases
Discovery
/arckit.stakeholders Analyze stakeholders for appointment system
/arckit.risk Create risk register
/arckit.sobc Generate Strategic Outline Business Case
Alpha
/arckit.requirements Define requirements
/arckit.principles Establish architecture principles
/arckit.wardley Create Wardley Map for build vs buy decisions
Beta
/arckit.hld-review Review High-Level Design
/arckit.diagram Create C4 architecture diagrams
/arckit.analyze Comprehensive gap analysis
!
Warning
AI generates first drafts following templates. Always review, validate, and refine AI output with human expertise.