Maintain Architecture Map Skill

Maintain a living architecture document that shows the system's big picture: modules, data flows, entry points, and dependencies.

Goal

Keep ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md and related architecture docs synchronized with the actual codebase, providing:

1. Module Overview: What modules exist and what they do
2. Data Flows: How data moves through the system (Instance → Solver → Solution → Visualizer)
3. Entry Points: Where to start when using the toolkit
4. Dependencies: How modules depend on each other

Relationship to Other Skills

Complementary to maintain-data-structures:

• maintain-data-structures: Focuses on what (data structure definitions, attributes, methods, formats)
• maintain-architecture-map: Focuses on how (module structure, data flows, system pipelines)

Example:

• maintain-data-structures

  documents:

  PDPTWInstance

  has attributes

  n

  ,

  order_table

  ,

  distance_matrix

• maintain-architecture-map

  documents:

  PDPTWInstance

  is created in Data layer, consumed by Algorithm layer, visualized by Visualization layer

When to Use This Skill

Trigger this skill when:

• New module added (e.g., new problem type, new algorithm)
• Module structure changes (files moved, packages reorganized)
• New entry point created (new public API)
• Data flow changes (new pipeline stage added)
• Major refactoring completed (architecture evolution)
• Preparing for playground development (need system overview)
• User asks "how does the system work?"

Workflow

Step 1: Scan Project Structure

Identify current module organization:

Reference:

references/scanning_scripts.md

for automation ideas

Key directories to scan:

vrp_toolkit/
├── problems/          # Problem definitions (PDPTW, VRP, etc.)
├── algorithms/        # Solving algorithms (ALNS, GA, etc.)
├── data/             # Data generation and loading
├── visualization/    # Plotting and visualization
└── utils/            # Common utilities

For each module, extract:

• Module purpose (from

  __init__.py

  docstring or README)
• Public classes (classes exported in

  __init__.py

  )
• Public functions (functions exported in

  __init__.py

  )
• Dependencies (imports from other modules)

Step 2: Identify Entry Points

Entry points are where users start using the toolkit:

Common entry point types:

1. Problem creation:

   • PDPTWInstance(order_table)

     - Create problem from data

   • generate_pdptw_instance(...)

     - Generate synthetic problem

2. Algorithm execution:

   • ALNSSolver.solve(problem)

     - Solve using ALNS

   • greedy_insertion_initial_solution(...)

     - Generate initial solution

3. Data generation:

   • OrderGenerator.generate()

     - Generate order data

   • RealMap(...)

     - Create synthetic map

4. Visualization:

   • PDPTWVisualizer.visualize(solution)

     - Plot routes

Document in ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md with:

• Function signature
• One-sentence purpose
• Example usage (1-2 lines)

Step 3: Map Data Flows

Trace how data moves through the system:

Primary data flow (Problem → Solution):

1. Data Layer:      Generate/load data
                    ↓
2. Problem Layer:   Create Instance (PDPTWInstance)
                    ↓
3. Algorithm Layer: Solve Instance → Solution (ALNSSolver.solve())
                    ↓
4. Visualization:   Visualize Solution (PDPTWVisualizer.visualize())

Secondary data flows:

• Configuration: User params → ALNSConfig → ALNSSolver
• Evaluation: Solution → Objective function → Cost metric
• Validation: Solution → Feasibility checker → Constraint violations

Reference: Create

.claude/docs/data_flows.md

for detailed flow diagrams

Step 4: Document Module Dependencies

Map which modules depend on which:

Dependency rules (VRP-Toolkit architecture):

• ✅ Algorithm can depend on Problem (solvers need instances)
• ✅ Visualization can depend on Problem and Algorithm (visualizers need instances and solutions)
• ✅ Data can depend on Problem (generators create instances)
• ❌ Problem should NOT depend on Algorithm (instances are algorithm-agnostic)

Create dependency graph:

Data ────────┐
             ↓
Problem ←────┘
   ↓
Algorithm
   ↓
Visualization

Reference: Create

.claude/docs/module_dependencies.md

for full dependency map

Step 5: Update ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md

Use the template from

references/architecture_template.md

:

Required sections:

1. System Overview - 2-3 paragraph summary
2. Three-Layer Architecture - Problem/Algorithm/Data layer descriptions
3. Module Guide - One subsection per module with purpose and key exports
4. Entry Points - How to start using the toolkit
5. Data Flows - Visual diagram + text description
6. Key Abstractions - VRPProblem, VRPSolution, Solver interfaces
7. Extension Guide - How to add new problems/algorithms
8. Quick Reference - Cheat sheet of common operations

Formatting guidelines:

• Keep it concise (aim for <500 lines total)
• Use diagrams (ASCII art or mermaid)
• Include code examples (1-3 lines each)
• Link to detailed docs (maintain-data-structures references)

Step 6: Update Supporting Docs

Create/update

.claude/docs/

as needed:

data_flows.md - Detailed data flow diagrams

• Problem creation flow
• Algorithm execution flow
• Visualization flow
• Configuration flow

module_dependencies.md - Dependency graph

• Import graph (module → imported modules)
• Circular dependency checks
• Layer violations (if any)

extension_guide.md - How to extend the system

• Adding a new problem type
• Adding a new algorithm
• Adding a new operator
• Adding a new visualization

Architecture Template

Minimal ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md Structure

# VRP-Toolkit Architecture Map

**Last Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Version:** 0.1.0

## System Overview

[2-3 paragraphs describing the toolkit]

## Three-Layer Architecture

### 1. Problem Layer (vrp_toolkit/problems/)
[Description + key classes]

### 2. Algorithm Layer (vrp_toolkit/algorithms/)
[Description + key classes]

### 3. Data Layer (vrp_toolkit/data/)
[Description + key classes]

### 4. Visualization Layer (vrp_toolkit/visualization/)
[Description + key classes]

## Module Guide

### problems/
**Purpose:** [One sentence]
**Key Exports:**
- `PDPTWInstance` - [Purpose]
- `VRPProblem` - [Purpose]

[Repeat for each module]

## Entry Points

### 1. Create a Problem
```python
from vrp_toolkit.problems.pdptw import PDPTWInstance
instance = PDPTWInstance(order_table=df)

2. Solve the Problem

from vrp_toolkit.algorithms.alns import ALNSSolver
solver = ALNSSolver(config)
solution = solver.solve(instance)

[Continue for main workflows]

Data Flows

[ASCII diagram or mermaid]

Key Abstractions

[Describe VRPProblem, VRPSolution, Solver interfaces]

Extension Guide

[How to add new problems/algorithms]

Quick Reference

[Cheat sheet table]

Full template: `references/architecture_template.md`

## Automation Helpers

### Script: Scan Module Structure

```python
# scripts/scan_modules.py
from pathlib import Path
import importlib

def scan_module(module_path):
    """Scan a module and extract public API."""
    init_file = module_path / "__init__.py"

    if not init_file.exists():
        return None

    # Read __init__.py
    content = init_file.read_text()

    # Extract __all__ if present
    if "__all__" in content:
        # Parse __all__ list
        pass

    # Extract docstring
    # Extract classes/functions

    return {
        'name': module_path.name,
        'docstring': '...',
        'exports': [...]
    }

def scan_all_modules():
    """Scan all vrp_toolkit modules."""
    toolkit_path = Path("vrp-toolkit/vrp_toolkit")
    modules = []

    for module_dir in toolkit_path.iterdir():
        if module_dir.is_dir() and not module_dir.name.startswith('_'):
            info = scan_module(module_dir)
            if info:
                modules.append(info)

    return modules

Reference: See

references/scanning_scripts.md

for full scripts

Quality Checklist

Before marking ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md as up-to-date:

• Accuracy: All listed modules/classes exist in codebase
• Completeness: All major modules documented
• Entry points: At least 3-5 entry points with examples
• Data flows: At least 1 visual diagram
• Dependencies: Dependency graph present
• Layer compliance: No violations of three-layer architecture
• Links: Cross-references to maintain-data-structures docs work
• Freshness: "Last Updated" date is current
• Brevity: Total length < 500 lines (main file)

Integration with Other Skills

Works with:

• maintain-data-structures: Link to data structure references for details
• create-playground: Playground references ARCHITECTURE_MAP for integration patterns
• migrate-module: After migration, update architecture docs
• build-session-context: Reads ARCHITECTURE_MAP for project overview

Maintains:

• .claude/ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md

  - Main architecture document

• .claude/docs/data_flows.md

  - Data flow diagrams

• .claude/docs/module_dependencies.md

  - Dependency graph

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Document a New Module

When adding a new module (e.g.,

vrp_toolkit/algorithms/genetic/

):

1. Add entry to "Module Guide" section:

   ### algorithms/genetic/
   **Purpose:** Genetic algorithm solver for VRP problems
   **Key Exports:**
   - `GeneticSolver` - Main GA solver implementing Solver interface
   - `GAConfig` - Configuration for genetic parameters
   

2. Update "Entry Points" if new public API:

   ### 3. Solve with Genetic Algorithm
   ```python
   from vrp_toolkit.algorithms.genetic import GeneticSolver
   solver = GeneticSolver(config)
   solution = solver.solve(instance)
   

3. Update dependency graph if needed

Pattern 2: Document Data Flow

When documenting a new data flow (e.g., "How does configuration work?"):

1. Create ASCII diagram:

   User Input
      ↓
   UI Widgets (Streamlit)
      ↓
   ALNSConfig (dataclass)
      ↓
   ALNSSolver.__init__(config)
      ↓
   ALNS.run() uses config params
   

2. Add text explanation

3. Link from ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md to detailed docs

Pattern 3: Update After Refactoring

When architecture changes (e.g., "Split ALNS into solver.py and operators.py"):

1. Update module structure in "Module Guide"
2. Update imports in code examples
3. Update dependency graph
4. Verify no broken cross-references

References

• references/architecture_template.md

  - Full ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md template

• references/scanning_scripts.md

  - Automation scripts for module scanning

• maintain-data-structures/

  skill - For detailed data structure docs

---

Remember: ARCHITECTURE_MAP.md is for the big picture. For detailed class/function documentation, use maintain-data-structures skill.