Work Breakdown Structure (engine gap — use the alternatives below)
Best for: deliverables and ownership in a strict hierarchy — but not with @startwbs in this engine
Avoid when: you need free-form idea exploration (use topic-mindmap.md)
Answers: what the work is made of and who owns each part
⚠️ Engine limitation (verified 2026-09-21):
@startwbs … @endwbsparses without error but renders an empty diagram. Use one of the two supported forms below instead.
Option A — hierarchy as a mind map (recommended)
@startmindmap
title Platform Programme — Work Breakdown
* Platform Programme
** 1. Discovery
*** 1.1 Current-state assessment
*** 1.2 Stakeholder interviews
*** 1.3 Target architecture draft
** 2. Core Platform
*** 2.1 Identity and access
**** 2.1.1 SSO integration
**** 2.1.2 Role model
*** 2.2 Service runtime
**** 2.2.1 Container platform
**** 2.2.2 CI/CD pipelines
*** 2.3 Data layer
**** 2.3.1 Schema migration
**** 2.3.2 Reconciliation tooling
** 3. Adoption
*** 3.1 Migration playbook
*** 3.2 Team enablement
*** 3.3 Support model
** 4. Governance
*** 4.1 Architecture review board
*** 4.2 Security and compliance sign-off
*** 4.3 Cost reporting
@endmindmapOption B — hierarchy as a boxed top-down tree
@startuml
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top to bottom direction
rectangle "Platform Programme" as programme #dfe5fb;line:334155
rectangle "1. Discovery" as d1
rectangle "2. Core Platform" as c1
rectangle "3. Adoption" as a1
rectangle "4. Governance" as g1
rectangle "1.1 Assessment" as d11
rectangle "1.2 Interviews" as d12
rectangle "1.3 Target architecture" as d13
rectangle "2.1 Identity" as c11
rectangle "2.2 Runtime" as c12
rectangle "2.3 Data" as c13
rectangle "2.1.1 SSO" as c111
rectangle "2.1.2 Roles" as c112
rectangle "3.1 Playbook" as a11
rectangle "3.2 Enablement" as a12
rectangle "3.3 Support" as a13
rectangle "4.1 Review board" as g11
rectangle "4.2 Sign-off" as g12
rectangle "4.3 Cost" as g13
programme --> d1
programme --> c1
programme --> a1
programme --> g1
d1 --> d11
d1 --> d12
d1 --> d13
c1 --> c11
c1 --> c12
c1 --> c13
c11 --> c111
c11 --> c112
a1 --> a11
a1 --> a12
a1 --> a13
g1 --> g11
g1 --> g12
g1 --> g13
@endumlKey Options
| Syntax | Where it applies | Effect |
|---|---|---|
* / ** / *** / **** |
mind map | Depth levels — indentation is expressed by asterisk count, not spaces |
left side |
mind map | Move the following branches to the left half |
top to bottom direction |
tree | Top-down tree; drop the line (or use left to right direction) for a wide one |
rectangle "2.1 Identity" as c11 |
tree | Boxed nodes read as deliverables rather than concepts; the alias keeps the edge lines short |
| WBS numbering in the text | both | Number the nodes (2.1.1) so reviews can cite them |
Data Shape
A pure tree, 3–4 levels deep. Each leaf should be a deliverable someone can own; if a leaf is an activity, the structure has drifted from WBS into a project plan.
Pitfalls
- ❌ Writing
@startwbs→ ✅ it renders empty in this engine; use Option A or B above - ❌ Leaves that are activities ("run tests") → ✅ leaves are deliverables/artefacts
- ❌ Unnumbered nodes → ✅ WBS numbering is what makes the structure citable in plans and reviews
- ❌ More than four levels → ✅ deeper than four means it belongs in a separate sub-structure
- ❌ Option B for a 40-leaf programme → ✅ a boxed tree costs a box per leaf; the mind map in Option A carries the same structure in a quarter of the height
Alternatives
| Variant | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Org chart with team names | Option B, or a mind map using left side |
| Free-form topic decomposition | topic-mindmap.md |
| Dated plan | release-gantt-plan.md |