Skill: /system-roadmap

Generate a visual system lifecycle roadmap from System notes in the vault.

Trigger

• /system-roadmap - Generate default roadmap
• /system-roadmap --list - List systems without generating
• /system-roadmap --svg - Generate SVG format
• /system-roadmap --theme GREENTURTLE - Use different colour theme

Description

This skill generates a PNG or SVG roadmap visualisation showing system lifecycles grouped by Gartner TIME category (Invest, Tolerate, Migrate, Eliminate). It reads System notes from the vault and uses their lifecycle frontmatter fields.

Prerequisites

The following Python packages must be installed:

pip3 install roadmapper python-frontmatter

Execution Steps

1. Run the script with appropriate options:

# Default - generates PNG to +Attachments/
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py

# List systems found (dry run)
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py --list

# Generate SVG format
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py --format svg

# Custom output location
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py --output +Attachments/custom-roadmap.png

# Different theme (DEFAULT, GREYWOOF, ORANGEPEEL, GREENTURTLE, BLUEMOUNTAIN)
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py --theme GREENTURTLE

# Custom timeline
python3 scripts/system_roadmap.py --start-year 2020 --years 15

2. Report the output location to the user

3. Provide embed syntax for Obsidian:

   ![[system-lifecycle-roadmap.png]]
   

System Frontmatter Fields

The script reads these fields from System notes:

Field	Purpose	Example
type	Must be "System"	type: System
title	System display name	title: Core ERP
status	Current status	status: active
timeCategory	TIME classification	timeCategory: migrate
launchDate	When system went live	launchDate: 2005-01-01
sunsetDate	Planned retirement	sunsetDate: 2030-06-01
replacedBy	Successor system	replacedBy: "[[System - New ERP]]"
criticality	Business criticality	criticality: critical

TIME Category Inference

If timeCategory is not set, the script infers it:

• status: planned → invest
• status: deprecated or retired → eliminate
• Has sunsetDate → migrate
• Default → tolerate

Output

• Default location: +Attachments/system-lifecycle-roadmap.png
• Grouped by TIME category (Invest, Tolerate, Migrate, Eliminate)
• Shows launch dates and sunset milestones
• Current date marker indicated

Example Output

The roadmap shows:

• Strategic Investment - Systems we are actively growing (New CRM, Data Platform)
• Maintain (Tolerate) - Stable systems (Core ERP, Identity Platform)
• Transition (Migrate) - Systems being replaced (Legacy HR System)
• Retire (Eliminate) - Systems being decommissioned (Old Reporting Tool)

Troubleshooting

No systems found:

• Ensure System notes have type: System in frontmatter
• Check notes are in vault root (not archived)

Roadmapper not installed:

pip3 install roadmapper python-frontmatter

Image not rendering in Obsidian:

• Ensure file is in +Attachments/ folder
• Use correct embed syntax: ![[filename.png]]

Related

• [[MOC - Systems]]