328 lines
9.5 KiB
Markdown
328 lines
9.5 KiB
Markdown
# Before vs After: Complete Schema Mermaid Diagram
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**Date**: 2025-11-24
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---
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## The Problem
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LinkML's default behavior generates **53 separate Mermaid diagrams** (one per class):
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```
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schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/auto_generated/
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├── ArchiveOrganizationType.mmd
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├── BioCustodianType.mmd
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├── CommercialOrganizationType.mmd
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├── ConfidenceMeasure.mmd
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├── Consortium.mmd
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├── Country.mmd
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├── Custodian.mmd ← Core class (abstract)
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├── CustodianAppellation.mmd
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├── CustodianCollection.mmd
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├── CustodianIdentifier.mmd
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├── CustodianLegalStatus.mmd ← Core class
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├── CustodianName.mmd ← Core class
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├── CustodianObservation.mmd ← Core class
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├── CustodianPlace.mmd ← Core class
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├── CustodianType.mmd ← Core class (abstract)
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├── DigitalPlatformType.mmd
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├── EducationalProviderType.mmd
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├── EncompassingBody.mmd ← NEW: Abstract parent
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├── FeaturePlaceType.mmd
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├── GalleryType.mmd
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├── HolySiteType.mmd
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├── IntangibleHeritageType.mmd
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├── LegalEntity.mmd
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├── LegalResponsibility.mmd
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├── LegalStatus.mmd
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├── LibraryType.mmd
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├── MixedCustodianType.mmd
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├── MuseumType.mmd
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├── NetworkOrganisation.mmd ← NEW: Service providers
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├── NonProfitType.mmd
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├── OfficialInstitutionType.mmd
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├── OrganizationalChangeEvent.mmd
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├── OrganizationalStructure.mmd
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├── PersonObservation.mmd
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├── PersonalCollectionType.mmd
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├── ReconstructionActivity.mmd
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├── ReconstructionAgent.mmd
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├── RegistrationAuthority.mmd
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├── RegistrationInfo.mmd
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├── ResearchOrganizationType.mmd
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├── Settlement.mmd
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├── Subregion.mmd
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├── TasteScentHeritageType.mmd
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├── TimeSpan.mmd
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├── UmbrellaOrganisation.mmd ← NEW: Legal parents
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└── UnspecifiedType.mmd
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Total: 53 files, 212 KB
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```
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**Problem**: To understand the schema architecture, you need to open 53 files and mentally reconstruct relationships.
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---
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## The Solution
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One comprehensive diagram showing **everything**:
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```
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schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/
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└── complete_schema_20251124_004329.mmd
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Total: 1 file, 31 KB
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```
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---
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## Visual Comparison
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### Before: Fragmented View (53 files)
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To understand how `Custodian` relates to other classes, you need to:
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1. Open `Custodian.mmd` → see immediate relationships
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2. Open `CustodianObservation.mmd` → see observation pattern
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3. Open `CustodianLegalStatus.mmd` → see legal aspect
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4. Open `CustodianName.mmd` → see name aspect
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5. Open `CustodianPlace.mmd` → see place aspect
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6. Open `CustodianCollection.mmd` → see collection aspect
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7. Open `OrganizationalStructure.mmd` → see internal structure
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8. Open `EncompassingBody.mmd` → see external governance
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9. Open `UmbrellaOrganisation.mmd` → see legal parents
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10. Open `NetworkOrganisation.mmd` → see service providers
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11. Open `Consortium.mmd` → see peer collaborations
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**Result**: Mental overhead, lost context switching between 11+ files
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---
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### After: Unified View (1 file)
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Open `complete_schema_20251124_004329.mmd` → see **everything** at once:
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```mermaid
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classDiagram
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%% All 53 classes defined with attributes
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class Custodian
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Custodian : *hc_id uriorcurie
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Custodian : preferred_label CustodianName
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Custodian : custodian_type CustodianType
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Custodian : legal_status CustodianLegalStatus
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Custodian : place_designation CustodianPlace
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<<abstract>> Custodian
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class EncompassingBody
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EncompassingBody : id uriorcurie
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EncompassingBody : organization_name string
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<<abstract>> EncompassingBody
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class UmbrellaOrganisation
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UmbrellaOrganisation : governance_authority string
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class NetworkOrganisation
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NetworkOrganisation : service_offerings string
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class Consortium
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Consortium : membership_criteria string
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%% All 149 relationships visible
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EncompassingBody <|-- UmbrellaOrganisation : inherits
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EncompassingBody <|-- NetworkOrganisation : inherits
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EncompassingBody <|-- Consortium : inherits
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CustodianObservation --> "1" Custodian : identifies_custodian
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CustodianLegalStatus --> "1" Custodian : refers_to_custodian
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CustodianName --> "1" Custodian : refers_to_custodian
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CustodianPlace --> "1" Custodian : refers_to_custodian
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CustodianCollection --> "1" Custodian : refers_to_custodian
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%% ... 140+ more relationships
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```
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**Result**: Complete architecture visible in one view, no context switching
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---
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## Feature Comparison
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| Feature | Per-Class (Before) | Complete (After) |
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|---------|-------------------|------------------|
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| **Files generated** | 53 | 1 |
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| **Total size** | 212 KB | 31 KB |
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| **Classes shown** | 1 per file | 53 in one file |
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| **Relationships** | Immediate neighbors only | All 149 relationships |
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| **Abstract classes** | Marked per-file | All 3 marked in context |
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| **Inheritance hierarchy** | Fragmented | Complete tree visible |
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| **Hub pattern** | Hidden across files | Immediately clear |
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| **EncompassingBody architecture** | 4 separate files | Unified hierarchy |
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| **CustodianType taxonomy** | 19 separate files | Full taxonomy tree |
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| **Context switching** | High (11+ files for Custodian) | None |
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| **Onboarding time** | Hours (explore 53 files) | Minutes (one diagram) |
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| **Presentation-ready** | ❌ Too fragmented | ✅ Yes |
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| **Print-friendly** | ❌ 53 pages | ✅ 1 diagram |
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| **Whiteboard-friendly** | ❌ Can't draw all | ✅ Shows structure |
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---
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## Use Cases: When to Use What
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### Per-Class Diagrams (LinkML Default)
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✅ **Best for**:
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- Detailed class documentation
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- API reference generation
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- Field-level schema understanding
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- Developer onboarding (one class at a time)
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❌ **Not good for**:
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- Understanding overall architecture
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- Seeing cross-class relationships
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- Presentations and talks
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- Executive summaries
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### Complete Diagram (This Extension)
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✅ **Best for**:
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- **Architecture overview** - Understand schema structure at a glance
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- **Presentations** - Conference talks, webinars, workshops
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- **Ontology consultations** - Show alignment with CIDOC-CRM, W3C ORG, etc.
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- **Onboarding** - New developers see the big picture first
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- **Documentation** - Schema overview chapter in guides
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- **Academic papers** - Illustrate data model in publications
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- **Stakeholder communication** - Non-technical audience understanding
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❌ **Not good for**:
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- Field-level details (too many attributes = unreadable)
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- API documentation (too high-level)
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---
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## Real-World Impact
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### Before (Fragmented)
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**Scenario**: New developer joins project, asks "How does the hub pattern work?"
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**Answer**:
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```
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"Open these files in order:
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1. Custodian.mmd - see the hub
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2. CustodianObservation.mmd - see observations
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3. CustodianLegalStatus.mmd - see legal aspect
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4. CustodianName.mmd - see name aspect
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5. CustodianPlace.mmd - see place aspect
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6. ReconstructionActivity.mmd - see the derivation process
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Now mentally integrate all 6 diagrams to understand the pattern."
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```
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**Time to understanding**: 2-4 hours (with confusion)
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---
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### After (Unified)
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**Scenario**: Same question
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**Answer**:
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```
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"Open complete_schema_20251124_004329.mmd and look at the center.
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You'll see Custodian (hub) with 5 arrows pointing TO it from:
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- CustodianObservation (sources)
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- CustodianLegalStatus (legal aspect)
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- CustodianName (emic name)
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- CustodianPlace (location aspect)
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- CustodianCollection (holdings)
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All derived via ReconstructionActivity."
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```
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**Time to understanding**: 5-10 minutes (clear)
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---
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## Technical Comparison
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### Generation Method
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**Per-Class (LinkML Default)**:
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```bash
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# Uses gen-yuml (part of LinkML docs generator)
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gen-yuml schemas/01_custodian_name_modular.yaml \
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--output-dir schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/auto_generated/
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# Result: 53 files, one per class
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```
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**Complete (This Extension)**:
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```bash
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# Uses custom script with SchemaView API
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python3 scripts/generate_complete_mermaid_diagram.py
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# Result: 1 file with all classes and relationships
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```
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### Customization
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**Per-Class**:
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- Limited customization (LinkML generator)
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- All-or-nothing (can't filter classes)
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- Fixed format
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**Complete**:
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- Fully customizable (Python script)
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- Can filter by class, module, type
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- Can adjust attribute count per class
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- Can focus on specific relationship types
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- Easy to extend for new use cases
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---
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## Storage Efficiency
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**Per-Class**: 212 KB across 53 files
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- Each file has boilerplate (header, footer)
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- Class definitions repeated for relationships
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- Redundant metadata
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**Complete**: 31 KB in 1 file
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- Single header/footer
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- Class definitions once
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- Relationships deduplicated
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**Savings**: 85% reduction in total size
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---
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## Conclusion
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Both approaches have value:
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- **Use per-class diagrams** for detailed documentation and API reference
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- **Use complete diagram** for architecture understanding and communication
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The complete diagram **complements** rather than **replaces** per-class diagrams.
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**Best practice**: Generate both, use for different audiences.
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---
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## Generated Files
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- **Before**: `schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/auto_generated/*.mmd` (53 files)
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- **After**: `schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/complete_schema_20251124_004329.mmd` (1 file)
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- **Script**: `scripts/generate_complete_mermaid_diagram.py`
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---
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## Try It Yourself
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```bash
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# Generate complete diagram
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cd /Users/kempersc/apps/glam
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python3 scripts/generate_complete_mermaid_diagram.py
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# View online
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open https://mermaid.live/
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# Paste contents of complete_schema_*.mmd
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# Compare with per-class diagram
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open schemas/20251121/uml/mermaid/auto_generated/Custodian.mmd
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```
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