Mindmaps

What are Mind Maps?

Mermaid's mind maps help you visually organize ideas into hierarchical structures. For data teams, they're excellent for brainstorming project requirements, planning data models, documenting processes, and organizing complex concepts. Each mind map starts with a central idea, with related concepts branching out in a hierarchical structure.

Creating Your First Mind Map

1. From the Code IDE, Click Apps and Agents from the lefthand panel

2. Select Mermaid. Paradime will automatically start a new mermaid project

3. In the terminal that appears, use the arrow keys to select "Mind Maps"

4. A new mindmap.mmd file will be created in your editor with this starter template:

mindmap
  root((mindmap))
    Origins
      Long history
      ::icon(fa fa-book)
      Popularisation
        British popular psychology author Tony Buzan
    Research
      On effectiveness<br/>and features
      On Automatic creation
        Uses
            Creative techniques
            Strategic planning
            Argument mapping
    Tools
      Pen and paper
      Mermaid

1. Click the eye icon (👁️) in the top right corner of your Mermaid file to preview the diagram

2. Edit and update your .mmd file as needed - the preview will update automatically

Diagram Syntax Guide

Basic Structure

Mind maps use indentation to create hierarchy:

mindmap
    Root Topic
        Subtopic 1
            Detail A
            Detail B
        Subtopic 2
            Detail C

Node Shapes

You can use different shapes for nodes:

• Square: id[text]

• Rounded Square: id(text)

• Circle: id((text))

• Cloud: id)text(

• Bang: id))text((

• Hexagon: id{{text}}

• Default: Just text

Text Formatting

Use Markdown syntax for text formatting:

mindmap
    root["`**Bold Text**
    With *italic* words
    🔍 Emojis work too!`"]

Data Team Examples

Project Planning

mindmap
    Data Warehouse((Data Warehouse Project))
        Requirements
            Business Needs
            Technical Specs
            Timeline
        Architecture
            Source Systems
            ETL Pipeline
            Storage Layer
        Implementation
            Phase 1
            Phase 2
            Phase 3

Data Model Documentation

mindmap
    Sales Model((Sales Analytics))
        Fact Tables
            Transactions
            Orders
            Returns
        Dimensions
            Customer
            Product
            Time
        Metrics
            Revenue
            Profit
            Units Sold

Best Practices

1. Start with a clear central concept

2. Use consistent indentation

3. Group related ideas together

4. Limit hierarchy depth for clarity

5. Use shapes to differentiate concept types

6. Keep node text concise

Advanced Features

Icons

Add icons to nodes (when configured):

mindmap
    Root
        Node A
        ::icon(fa fa-database)
        Node B
        ::icon(fa fa-chart-bar)

CSS Classes

Apply custom styling:

mindmap
    Root
        Important Topic
        :::urgent
        Regular Topic

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Additional Resources

For more syntax options and advanced features, visit the official Mermaid documentation

Mind Maps are an experimental feature in Mermaid. While the basic syntax is stable, some features like icon integration may change in future releases.