Archi Consulting
jArchi scripting, plugin development, collaborative modeling setup, and architecture automation for teams using the open-source Archi tool.
Archi is one of the most capable open-source architecture modeling tools available — but most teams use a fraction of what it can do. The difference between a team that produces disposable diagrams and one that maintains a coherent, queryable, automated architecture model often comes down to scripting, structure, and governance — not the tool itself.
NILUS provides specialist Archi consulting for architecture teams that want to move beyond basic diagram creation. We build the jArchi automation, coArchi governance, and model structures that make Archi a serious architecture practice platform — not just a drawing tool.
Our work is tool-focused and implementation-oriented: working sessions alongside your team, scripts your team can maintain, and governance your team can run.
What We Deliver
jArchi Scripting & Automation
Custom jArchi scripts for model validation, automated diagram generation, bulk element operations, report generation, and integration with external data sources. We build scripts that teams can own and extend — not black boxes.
Plugin Development
Custom Eclipse-based plugins for Archi that extend its native functionality — custom views, specialized export formats, integration bridges to external repositories, and workflow automation hooks.
coArchi & Collaborative Workflows
Setting up and governing coArchi for distributed teams — repository structure, branching conventions, merge conflict prevention, review workflows, and integration with Git-based version control.
Model Structure & Governance
Designing Archi model structures that scale — view hierarchies, element reuse patterns, folder conventions, naming standards, and the governance cadences that keep models coherent as teams grow.
Migration & Interoperability
Moving models between Archi and other tools — Sparx EA, BizzDesign, and others. ARCHIMATE exchange format validation, import pipeline design, and delta migration strategies that preserve model semantics.
Reporting & Visualization
HTML report customisation, custom viewpoint templates, heatmap generation, metrics dashboards, and stakeholder-facing architecture portals built on top of Archi model content.
Model Integrity & Validation
Automated constraint checking, relationship validation, completeness rules, and anti-pattern detection — enforced through jArchi scripts that run as part of team review workflows.
Team Enablement
Hands-on working sessions where your team learns to use Archi effectively — modeling conventions, scripting basics, coArchi workflows, and practical exercises grounded in your real architecture context.
Typical Engagements
Where Archi consulting delivers the most concentrated value.
Architecture Automation for Large Landscapes
Generating and maintaining views for application landscapes with hundreds of elements — where manual diagram maintenance is not feasible.
Regulated Environment Documentation
Producing audit-ready architecture evidence from Archi models — structured reports, traceability matrices, and compliance-oriented views for regulatory submissions.
Open-Source EA for Budget-Constrained Teams
Helping teams get serious architectural value from Archi without commercial tooling spend — through better structure, scripting, and governance rather than tool procurement.
Archi as Integration Hub
Using jArchi and the Open Exchange Format to connect Archi with CI/CD pipelines, configuration management databases, and infrastructure catalogues.
Multi-Team Collaboration at Scale
Designing coArchi workflows and model partitioning strategies that allow multiple architecture teams to work in parallel without model fragmentation.
Sparx EA Complement or Migration
Using Archi alongside Sparx EA for teams with mixed tooling — or designing a migration path between the two, preserving model content and governance practices.
Archi or Sparx EA?
Both are mature tools with distinct strengths. Archi excels at lightweight, open-source, Git-friendly modeling — ideal for smaller teams, open-source environments, or organisations that want full model portability. Sparx EA offers deeper multi-tool integration, formal MDG customisation, and Pro Cloud Server for large enterprise deployments.
NILUS consults on both and can help you choose the right tool for your context — or design a hybrid approach where teams use both with clear handoffs and shared governance conventions.
Technologies & Tools
Related Articles
- Enhancing Data Modeling in Archi with jArchi Scripts →
- Automating ArchiMate Modeling in Archi with jArchi →
- Collaborative Modeling in Archi →
- Best Practices for Maintaining Model Integrity in Archi →
- Resolving Merge Conflicts in Archi's Model Repository Plugin →
- Visualizing Architecture Metrics and Heatmaps in Archi →
- Archi vs Sparx EA: A Deep Dive into Scripting →
- Best ArchiMate Tool in 2026: Sparx EA vs Archi →
Ready to Get More from Archi?
Whether you need jArchi automation, coArchi governance design, plugin development, or a team enablement session — let's talk about what your team actually needs.
Archi is an open-source tool developed by Phillip Beauvoir and Jean-Baptiste Sarrodie, distributed under the MIT License. ArchiMate® is a registered trademark of The Open Group. NILUS SPRL is an independent consulting company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Archi project, The Open Group, or any certification body.