Canvas A2UI - Visual Workspace for Agents

A powerful visual workspace skill inspired by OpenClaw's Canvas/A2UI system. Enables PopeBot agents to create, manipulate, and capture visual content using HTML5 Canvas with a headless browser backend.

Purpose

Use Canvas A2UI when you need to:

• Generate diagrams - Flowcharts, architecture diagrams, mind maps

• Create visualizations - Charts, graphs, data visualizations

• Draw mockups - UI wireframes, layout designs

• Annotate images - Add labels, arrows, highlights to screenshots

• Interactive visuals - Clickable areas, tooltips, animations

• Visual reports - Combine text, charts, and graphics

• Educational content - Step-by-step visual explanations

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Canvas A2UI System │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Agent │───>│ A2UI │───>│ Headless Browser │ │ │ │ Request │ │ Protocol │ │ (Puppeteer/Playwright) │ │ │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────────┬────────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ ▼ │ │ ┌──────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ HTML5 Canvas │ │ │ │ ┌────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ Drawing API │ │ │ │ │ │ • Shapes │ │ │ │ │ │ • Text │ │ │ │ │ │ • Images │ │ │ │ │ │ • Charts │ │ │ │ │ │ • Annotations │ │ │ │ │ └────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ Screenshot │ │ │ │ │ │ Export (PNG) │ │ │ │ │ └────────────────┘ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

A2UI Protocol Commands

The Agent-to-UI protocol defines how agents communicate with the canvas:

Command Description Example

push

Send drawing commands to canvas Draw shapes, text, images

reset

Clear canvas to blank state Start fresh

eval

Execute JavaScript on canvas Custom drawing logic

snapshot

Capture canvas as PNG Save/export result

query

Get canvas state info Dimensions, layers

config

Set canvas properties Size, background

Setup

cd /job/.pi/skills/canvas-a2ui npm install

This installs Puppeteer for headless browser automation.

Tools Added

canvas_create

Create a new canvas instance with specified dimensions and configuration.

canvas_create({ name: "architecture-diagram", width: 1200, height: 800, backgroundColor: "#ffffff", deviceScaleFactor: 2 // Retina quality })

Returns: Canvas instance ID for subsequent operations.

canvas_draw

Draw elements on the canvas using the A2UI push protocol.

// Draw a flowchart box canvas_draw({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", commands: [ { type: "rect", x: 100, y: 100, width: 200, height: 80, fill: "#4A90D9", stroke: "#2E5C8A", strokeWidth: 2 }, { type: "text", x: 200, y: 140, text: "Gateway", font: "16px Arial", fill: "white", align: "center" }, { type: "arrow", fromX: 200, fromY: 180, toX: 200, toY: 250 } ] })

canvas_chart

Generate charts using Chart.js integration.

canvas_chart({ canvasId: "performance-chart", type: "bar", // bar, line, pie, doughnut, radar data: { labels: ["Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May"], datasets: [{ label: "API Calls", data: [65, 78, 90, 81, 96], backgroundColor: "#4A90D9" }] }, options: { title: { text: "Monthly API Usage", display: true }, responsive: false } })

canvas_text

Add styled text with markdown-like formatting.

canvas_text({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", x: 50, y: 50, text: "# System Architecture\n\nGateway → Agent → Tools", maxWidth: 1100, fontSize: 14, lineHeight: 1.5 })

canvas_image

Load and display images on the canvas.

canvas_image({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", src: "/path/to/image.png", x: 100, y: 200, width: 300, height: 200, opacity: 0.9 })

canvas_screenshot

Capture the current canvas state as a PNG file.

canvas_screenshot({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", outputPath: "/job/tmp/diagram.png", format: "png", // png, jpeg, webp quality: 0.95 // For JPEG/WebP })

Returns: Path to saved screenshot.

canvas_grid

Create grid layouts for organized diagrams.

canvas_grid({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", rows: 3, cols: 4, cellWidth: 280, cellHeight: 120, gap: 20, items: [ { row: 0, col: 0, type: "component", title: "Gateway", color: "#4A90D9" }, { row: 0, col: 1, type: "component", title: "Router", color: "#5CB85C" }, { row: 1, col: 0, type: "component", title: "Memory", color: "#F0AD4E" }, { row: 1, col: 1, type: "component", title: "Cache", color: "#D9534F" } ] })

canvas_flowchart

Create flowcharts with automatic layout.

canvas_flowchart({ canvasId: "flow-diagram", nodes: [ { id: "start", label: "Start", type: "terminator", x: 400, y: 50 }, { id: "process1", label: "Parse Input", type: "process", x: 400, y: 150 }, { id: "decision", label: "Valid?", type: "decision", x: 400, y: 250 }, { id: "end", label: "End", type: "terminator", x: 400, y: 400 } ], edges: [ { from: "start", to: "process1" }, { from: "process1", to: "decision" }, { from: "decision", to: "end", label: "Yes" }, { from: "decision", to: "process1", label: "No", style: "dashed" } ] })

canvas_diagram

Create technical diagrams (UML, ERD, network).

canvas_diagram({ canvasId: "system-diagram", type: "architecture", // architecture, uml, erd, network title: "Microservices Architecture", components: [ { name: "Load Balancer", type: "gateway", tier: "edge" }, { name: "API Gateway", type: "gateway", tier: "edge" }, { name: "Auth Service", type: "service", tier: "app" }, { name: "User Service", type: "service", tier: "app" }, { name: "PostgreSQL", type: "database", tier: "data" }, { name: "Redis", type: "cache", tier: "data" } ], connections: [ { from: "Load Balancer", to: "API Gateway" }, { from: "API Gateway", to: "Auth Service" }, { from: "API Gateway", to: "User Service" }, { from: "User Service", to: "PostgreSQL" }, { from: "Auth Service", to: "Redis" } ] })

canvas_query

Get information about canvas state.

canvas_query({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", query: "bounds" // bounds, dimensions, layers })

canvas_eval

Execute arbitrary JavaScript on the canvas for custom operations.

canvas_eval({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", code: const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d'); ctx.save(); ctx.strokeStyle = '#FF0000'; ctx.setLineDash([5, 5]); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.moveTo(0, 0); ctx.lineTo(canvas.width, canvas.height); ctx.stroke(); ctx.restore(); return 'Drew diagonal line'; })

canvas_reset

Clear canvas to start fresh.

canvas_reset({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", backgroundColor: "#fafafa" // Optional new background })

canvas_list

List all active canvases.

canvas_list({})

canvas_close

Close and cleanup a canvas instance.

canvas_close({ canvasId: "architecture-diagram", saveScreenshot: "/job/tmp/final-diagram.png" })

Interactive Canvas Server Mode

For real-time visual updates during agent execution:

// Start canvas server canvas_server_start({ port: 3456, autoRefresh: true })

// All canvas operations stream to browser // Access at http://localhost:3456/canvas/<canvasId>

Usage in Agent Prompt

When this skill is active, include this context:

Canvas A2UI - Visual Workspace

You have access to a visual canvas system (Canvas A2UI) for creating diagrams, charts, and visual content.

Quick Start

1. Create canvas: canvas_create({ name: "my-diagram", width: 1200, height: 800 })
2. Draw content: canvas_draw({ canvasId: "my-diagram", commands: [...] })
3. Save result: canvas_screenshot({ canvasId: "my-diagram", outputPath: "..." })

Drawing Commands

• Shape: { type: "rect|circle|line|arrow|polygon", x, y, ... }
• Text: { type: "text", x, y, text, font, fill }
• Image: { type: "image", src, x, y, width, height }
• Style: { fill, stroke, strokeWidth, opacity, shadow }

High-Level Tools

• canvas_flowchart - For flowcharts and decision trees
• canvas_diagram - For architecture diagrams
• canvas_chart - For data visualizations
• canvas_grid - For organized layouts

Color Palette (Recommended)

• Primary: #4A90D9 (blue)
• Success: #5CB85C (green)
• Warning: #F0AD4E (orange)
• Danger: #D9534F (red)
• Neutral: #777777 (gray)
• Backgrounds: #F5F5F5, #FFFFFF

When to Use Canvas

• System architecture visualization
• Data flow diagrams
• UI mockups and wireframes
• Process documentation
• Performance charts
• Annotated screenshots
• Educational illustrations

Best Practices

1. Use consistent colors and fonts
2. Add labels for clarity
3. Use appropriate spacing
4. Export at 2x scale for retina displays
5. Keep diagrams focused (one concept per canvas)

Example Workflows

Create Architecture Diagram

// Step 1: Create canvas const canvas = await canvas_create({ name: "system-architecture", width: 1200, height: 900, backgroundColor: "#f8f9fa" });

// Step 2: Use diagram helper await canvas_diagram({ canvasId: canvas.id, type: "architecture", title: "PopeBot System Architecture", components: [ { name: "Event Handler", type: "service", tier: "api" }, { name: "GitHub Actions", type: "service", tier: "ci" }, { name: "Docker Agent", type: "service", tier: "compute" }, { name: "Telegram", type: "channel", tier: "ui" }, { name: "Web UI", type: "channel", tier: "ui" } ], connections: [ { from: "Telegram", to: "Event Handler" }, { from: "Web UI", to: "Event Handler" }, { from: "Event Handler", to: "GitHub Actions" }, { from: "GitHub Actions", to: "Docker Agent" } ] });

// Step 3: Export const path = await canvas_screenshot({ canvasId: canvas.id, outputPath: "/job/tmp/architecture.png" });

await canvas_close({ canvasId: canvas.id });

Create Data Visualization

const canvas = await canvas_create({ name: "metrics", width: 800, height: 600 });

await canvas_chart({ canvasId: canvas.id, type: "line", data: { labels: ["Mon", "Tue", "Wed", "Thu", "Fri"], datasets: [{ label: "Job Success Rate", data: [98, 97, 99, 96, 98], borderColor: "#4A90D9", fill: true, backgroundColor: "rgba(74, 144, 217, 0.1)" }] } });

await canvas_screenshot({ canvasId: canvas.id, outputPath: "/job/tmp/metrics.png" });

File Structure

.pi/skills/canvas-a2ui/ ├── SKILL.md # This documentation ├── package.json # Dependencies ├── index.js # Skill exports ├── server.js # Canvas server (optional) ├── lib/ │ ├── canvas.js # Core Canvas class │ ├── browser-manager.js # Puppeteer management │ ├── drawing-api.js # Drawing command processor │ ├── chart-renderer.js # Chart.js integration │ ├── diagram-templates.js # Pre-built diagrams │ └── exports.js # PNG/JPEG export ├── bin/ │ ├── canvas-create.js │ ├── canvas-draw.js │ ├── canvas-chart.js │ ├── canvas-screenshot.js │ └── canvas-server.js ├── templates/ │ └── example-diagrams/ # Sample diagrams └── test/ └── canvas-a2ui.test.js

Performance

Metric Expected

Canvas creation 2-4s (browser startup)

Simple draw <100ms

Complex diagram 500ms-1s

Screenshot export 200-500ms

Chart rendering 1-2s (includes Chart.js load)

Server mode Real-time (<50ms updates)

Dependencies

• puppeteer

• Headless Chrome control

• chart.js

• Chart rendering

• canvas

• Canvas API polyfill (if needed)

Integration with Other Skills

With browser-tools

// Take screenshot of web, then annotate on canvas const webShot = await browser_screenshot("https://example.com"); await canvas_image({ canvasId: "analysis", src: webShot }); await canvas_draw({ canvasId: "analysis", commands: [/* annotations */] });

With multi-agent-orchestrator

// Parallel diagram generation await parallel_delegates({ tasks: [ { agent: "ux-agent", task: "Create wireframe canvas" }, { agent: "data-agent", task: "Create chart canvas" }, { agent: "arch-agent", task: "Create system diagram" } ] });

Security Considerations

• Canvas runs in isolated browser context

• No network access from canvas scripts (unless explicitly allowed)

• Eval commands sandboxed to canvas only

• Screenshots saved to configured paths only

License

MIT - See repository LICENSE file