# AI use cases for Auto Illustrate (SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) Repo: [SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate](https://github.com/SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) | Use cases: 4 | Page: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/ AutoIllustrate is a command-line tool that turns a methods section or system description into an editable draw.io figure, then restyles it into a publication-style PNG with an image model. This file holds every use case of this repo. Each one starts with a "## " heading and ends with its URL. - Draft a method figure from a paper's methods section: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/draft-paper-method-figure/ - Hand-edit a generated diagram before the final restyle: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/hand-edit-figure-before-restyle/ - Resume an earlier figure run from the compose step: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/resume-interrupted-figure-run/ - Diagram a code architecture from a project directory: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/diagram-code-architecture-from-project/ ## How to draft a method figure from a paper's methods section with Auto Illustrate Repo: [SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate](https://github.com/SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1 hour | Basis: From the README Generate an editable draw.io figure and a restyled PNG from a LaTeX methods section in one command. **Who it is for:** A researcher preparing a paper who needs a front-page or method diagram and has the methods text in a .tex file. **The problem:** Drawing a clear method diagram by hand in draw.io takes hours, and a figure that is not editable is hard to revise after feedback. **The outcome:** A run folder with an editable full_figure.drawio, a deterministic full_figure.png, and a restyled full_figure_enhanced.png. ### Steps 1. Install the draw.io desktop app so the drawio command is on PATH, and install the Claude Code CLI so claude is on PATH. (inferred, check the README) 2. `npm install -g autoillustrate` 3. `autoillustrate doctor` 4. `autoillustrate examples/ai_scientist_method.tex --prompt "Please make a diagram illustrating the method of our scientific research paper in a single panel. We intend to use it as front-page diagram in our research paper."` (replace the path with your own .tex file and edit the prompt to describe your method) (inferred, check the README) 5. Open the newest folder under runs/ and read the files in its figures/ folder. Use full_figure.drawio for edits and full_figure_enhanced.png for the restyled image. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the repo SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate, run autoillustrate on with a prompt asking for a single-panel front-page method diagram. Confirm that the newest runs/ folder contains figures/full_figure.drawio, figures/full_figure.png and figures/full_figure_enhanced.png, and report that folder path. ``` ### Caveat Matplotlib subplots and placeholder boxes are not directly editable in draw.io, and a default medium run takes about 15 minutes. Risk, credentials: Coding agents launched by the tool inherit your environment, including OPENAI_API_KEY, so run it on trusted papers and preferably inside a container or VM. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/draft-paper-method-figure/ ## How to hand-edit a generated diagram before the final restyle with Auto Illustrate Repo: [SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate](https://github.com/SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1 hour | Basis: From the README Open the draft diagram in diagrams.net in your browser, fix it, then continue the run to produce the enhanced PNG. **Who it is for:** A paper author who received a generated draft that is mostly right but needs manual layout or label fixes before the final image. **The problem:** Automated layouts can misplace a box or label, and the final restyle step should only run once the structure is correct. **The outcome:** An edited full_figure.drawio and an enhanced PNG that reflects the manual changes. ### Steps 1. Install the draw.io desktop CLI and Claude Code CLI as in the install section, and set OPENAI_API_KEY. (inferred, check the README) 2. `autoillustrate examples/ai_scientist_method.tex --prompt "Please make a diagram illustrating the method of our scientific research paper in a single panel. We intend to use it as front-page diagram in our research paper." --interactive` (replace the path and prompt with your own) (inferred, check the README) 3. When the run opens full_figure.drawio in the diagrams.net editor in your browser, make your changes there. 4. Press Enter in the terminal to re-export the PNG and continue to the enhance phase. 5. On a remote machine, add `--editor-port ` and use `ssh -L :127.0.0.1:` to reach the editor. (inferred, check the README) ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the repo SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate, start an interactive run on with -i and wait for the editor step. After the user confirms edits, press Enter and verify that figures/full_figure_enhanced.png is written in the run folder. ``` ### Caveat The editor runs on 127.0.0.1, so remote use needs the SSH port forward described in the README. Risk, credentials: The interactive run keeps agents running with your inherited environment, including API keys, so use trusted source files only. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/hand-edit-figure-before-restyle/ ## How to resume an earlier figure run from the compose step with Auto Illustrate Repo: [SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate](https://github.com/SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1 hour | Basis: From the README Restart a stopped Auto Illustrate run from the compose phase instead of starting over. **Who it is for:** A user whose figure run stopped partway through and who already has the run directory with earlier phase output. **The problem:** Restarting a long run from scratch wastes time and model calls when the earlier phases already finished. **The outcome:** The run continues from the compose step in the existing directory and writes the figure files again. ### Steps 1. Locate the existing run folder under runs/ that you want to continue. (inferred, check the README) 2. `autoillustrate --workdir runs/2026-05-20-101010 --resume-from compose` (replace the folder name with your run folder) 3. Check the figures/ folder inside that run for full_figure.drawio, full_figure.png and full_figure_enhanced.png. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the repo SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate, resume the run in from the compose phase with --resume-from compose. Verify that figures/full_figure.drawio is updated and report any error from the terminal output. ``` ### Caveat The README gives the resume example for the compose step only, and logs under the run folder can echo document contents, so review them before sharing. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/resume-interrupted-figure-run/ ## How to diagram a code architecture from a project directory with Auto Illustrate Repo: [SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate](https://github.com/SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1 hour | Basis: From the README Point the tool at a folder of .tex, .md, .py and .txt files to draw a scoped architecture figure. **Who it is for:** A developer or research engineer who needs an architecture figure for a README, report or paper and has the source files in one folder. **The problem:** Architecture diagrams go stale quickly, and drawing them by hand from a large codebase is slow. **The outcome:** An editable architecture diagram of the scoped subsystem, plus a restyled PNG, in a new run folder. ### Steps 1. Install the draw.io desktop CLI, the Claude Code CLI, and set OPENAI_API_KEY. (inferred, check the README) 2. `npm install -g autoillustrate` 3. `autoillustrate ./sources_bundle/ --prompt "Please make a diagram illustrating the code architecture."` (replace the folder with your project directory and narrow the prompt to one subsystem) (inferred, check the README) 4. Open the newest run folder and review figures/full_figure.drawio before sharing the PNG. ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Using the repo SakanaAI/AutoIllustrate, run autoillustrate on the project directory with a prompt naming one subsystem to diagram. Verify that the run's figures/ folder contains full_figure.drawio and report which files were read and any missing components. ``` ### Caveat The README describes the tool as reading .tex, .md, .py and .txt files, so other file types are not covered by the stated behavior. Risk, credentials: The tool reads your project files and launches coding agents with your inherited environment, so point it only at code you trust and keep secrets out of the folder. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sakanaai-autoillustrate/diagram-code-architecture-from-project/