Initialize yFiles Application

Creates a complete yFiles application following package conventions.

Quick Start

/yfiles-init [demo-name]

Creates in current directory if no name specified.

Setup Checklist

Copy this checklist and track progress:

Setup Progress:
- [ ] Verify GraphComponent API with yFiles MCP
- [ ] Create HTML entry point
- [ ] Create main TypeScript/JavaScript file
- [ ] Adjust import paths for license
- [ ] Configure ESLint with yFiles plugin (recommended)
- [ ] Test in browser

Implementation

Step 1: Verify APIs

Use yFiles MCP server to confirm current API:

yfiles:yfiles_get_symbol_details(name="GraphComponent")
yfiles:yfiles_list_members(name="GraphComponent", includeInherited=true)

Step 2: Create files

See examples.md for complete file templates.

Essential pattern:

import { GraphComponent, GraphEditorInputMode, License } from '@yfiles/yfiles'
import licenseData from '../../lib/license.json'

License.value = licenseData  // MUST come first

const graphComponent = new GraphComponent('#graphComponent')
graphComponent.inputMode = new GraphEditorInputMode()

Step 3: Adjust import paths

License path depends on demo location:

• demos-ts/category/demo/: Use ../../../lib/license.json
• Adjust depth as needed

Step 4: Configure ESLint (Recommended)

The official @yfiles/eslint-plugin helps catch common mistakes and ensures yFiles 3.0 best practices:

npm i -D eslint typescript typescript-eslint @yfiles/eslint-plugin

See reference.md for complete ESLint configuration.

Step 5: Test

npm start
# Navigate to http://localhost:4242/demos-ts/your-demo/

Key Rules

• License first: License.value = licenseData before any yFiles API
• Use CSS selectors: new GraphComponent('#id') or new GraphComponent(element)
• Access graph via: graphComponent.graph
• Set defaults before creating: Configure graph.nodeDefaults.style before createNode()

Reference Files

• examples.md: Complete code templates
• reference.md: API patterns and options

MCP Tools for Reference

• yfiles:yfiles_get_symbol_details - Get API details
• yfiles:yfiles_search_symbols - Find classes/interfaces
• yfiles:yfiles_search_documentation - Find tutorials