Connect an AI agent with the ZenUML MCP server
The ZenUML MCP server lets an AI agent work with ZenUML diagrams in Confluence. Any client that supports the Model Context Protocol, such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or VS Code, can find, read, create and update diagrams and pages. You don't need to keep a browser tab open.
The agent signs in with your Atlassian account and acts as you. It can reach only the sites, spaces and pages that your Confluence permissions already allow.
Set it up
1. Open the MCP dialog on a diagram
Open a Confluence page with a sequence, Mermaid or PlantUML diagram. In the diagram's toolbar, select Connect MCP (the sparkles icon). The dialog shows the setup command for your site and a ready-made prompt for that diagram.
The Connect MCP button is rolling out gradually, starting with ZenUML Lite. If you don't see it yet, it hasn't reached your site.
2. Add the server to your MCP client (once)
In Claude Code, run the command from the dialog. For ZenUML Lite it is:
claude mcp add --transport http zenuml https://conf-lite.zenuml.com/agent-link/mcp
For other MCP clients, add a remote HTTP server named zenuml with the URL shown in the dialog.
3. Sign in with Atlassian
The first time your agent uses the server, your client opens an Atlassian sign-in page. Approve the request to let ZenUML read and write pages and diagrams on your behalf. You only need to do this once. If you don't use the connection for 90 days, Atlassian asks you to sign in again.
4. Ask your agent to review the diagram
Paste the prompt from the dialog into your agent. The prompt identifies the diagram, so the agent can go straight to it. It asks the agent to read the diagram and its page, summarize what the diagram shows, point out anything unclear, inconsistent or missing, and suggest improvements. The agent waits for your go-ahead before it changes anything.
You can also ask in plain language without the dialog, for example "List the ZenUML diagrams on my Architecture page" or "Add a retry when the payment service times out to my Checkout flow diagram".
Reload the Confluence page to see your agent's changes.
What your agent can do
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
list_sites | Lists the Confluence sites your sign-in can reach. |
list_diagrams | Lists ZenUML diagrams on a site or on one page, most recently changed first. |
read_diagram | Reads a diagram's source and type. |
update_diagram | Replaces a diagram's source. |
create_diagram | Creates a sequence, Mermaid, PlantUML, Graph or OpenAPI diagram and adds it to a page. |
read_page | Reads a page's title and body. |
create_page | Creates a page under an existing page. Can create it as a draft for you to review. |
update_page | Replaces a page's body and, optionally, its title. |
get_status | Shows who the connection acts as and which ZenUML app each site runs. |
Safeguards
- Every change is a new version. Each diagram or page edit publishes one version, so you can review it or restore an earlier one from page history.
- No silent overwrites. If someone edits a page after your agent read it, the update is refused, so the agent doesn't overwrite their work.
- Broken edits are refused. A diagram change that fails to parse, or a body that looks accidentally cut off, is rejected and the diagram or page stays as it was.
- Your permissions apply. The agent can't see or change anything you couldn't see or change yourself in Confluence.
Your agent sends diagram and page content to whichever AI model your client uses. Before you connect it to pages with confidential content, check that this is allowed where you work.
Stop using the server
Remove the zenuml server from your MCP client. In Claude Code, run:
claude mcp remove zenuml
To revoke ZenUML's access entirely, remove it from the connected apps in your Atlassian account settings.