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Pele is an open-source JavaScript package that renders Mermaid syntax as SVG and lets developers change diagram colors and fonts with CSS variables. Its website reports smaller bundles and faster rendering than Mermaid.js, but the figures are project-reported comparisons rather than independently verified results.
Pele, an open-source JavaScript tool, renders Mermaid diagram syntax as SVG and allows developers to change diagram colors and fonts through CSS variables, according to its project website. The project is presented as a lightweight option for applications, including Obsidian, where diagrams need to match the surrounding interface theme.
The site describes a workflow in which a developer writes Mermaid syntax and Pele converts it into an SVG image. Its example uses a flowchart, while the project says it supports every diagram type built into Mermaid 12.1.0. The package can be installed with npm; an application passes diagram text to a render() function and inserts the returned SVG into a page.
Pele’s theming system uses CSS custom properties for values such as background, foreground, muted text, lines, surfaces and borders. The site says those color changes can be applied without rendering the diagram again, a design that may help an application respond to theme changes without regenerating its diagram content.
The project’s comparison table reports a 230 kB gzip bundle for Pele versus 1.6 MB for Mermaid.js, and rendering times of 0.05–0.3 milliseconds versus 6–82 milliseconds. It also lists zero direct dependencies for Pele and 23 for Mermaid.js. These are figures published by Pele; the supplied material does not describe the test setup or provide an independent benchmark.
Why Themeable SVG Could Help Apps
For developers, Pele combines a familiar diagram-authoring format with SVG output and styling controlled by the host page. That can make diagrams easier to integrate into applications whose users switch between light and dark appearances or use custom themes. Rather than relying solely on a separate theme configuration, teams can use CSS variables that already fit common web styling practices.
The reported bundle and rendering figures also point to the project’s intended use: applications that want Mermaid-style diagrams while limiting downloaded code or render delays. If those results hold under a team’s own workload, a smaller dependency footprint and fast rendering could matter on small screens or resource-constrained devices. The project’s own comparison says Pele adapts layout on small screens, while Mermaid.js scales the diagram; the practical trade-offs depend on the diagrams and interface being built.
Those advantages remain claims in the project’s presentation, not a substitute for evaluating compatibility, rendering quality and performance in a specific application. Developers considering adoption will need to check whether their Mermaid documents and styling requirements work as expected.
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Built for Obsidian Diagram Rendering
Pele says it is open source and was developed for Obsidian, a note-taking application, to render diagrams quickly and match the application’s theme. The project’s stated focus helps explain why its website emphasizes theme variables, small-screen behavior and SVG output rather than presenting only a general-purpose diagram editor.
Mermaid is a text-based format for defining diagrams, including flowcharts. Pele’s approach keeps that authoring syntax while changing the rendering tool: the app supplies Mermaid text, and the package returns an SVG. The project identifies Mermaid 12.1.0 as the basis for its support claim, but the supplied page does not give a release history, compatibility matrix or details on how each diagram type is implemented.
“Color changes apply without re-rendering.”
— Pele project website
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Benchmark and Compatibility Details
The supplied project page does not state when Pele was released, identify the current package version, or describe whether the reported performance tests were run on the same hardware and under comparable conditions. It is also unclear how rendering time was measured, what diagram sizes were tested, and whether the 0.05–0.3 ms and 6–82 ms ranges represent identical workloads.
The site says Pele supports every diagram type built into Mermaid 12.1.0, but the supplied material does not list supported syntax details or document known differences. Developers should treat the compatibility statement and benchmark results as project-reported information until they can verify the package against their own diagrams and performance needs.
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Testing Pele in Applications
The project directs developers to its examples, API documentation, theming guidance and compatibility comparison. The immediate next step for teams interested in Pele is to install the npm package, render representative Mermaid diagrams and test theme changes, screen layouts and SVG behavior in their own application.
No future release, independent benchmark or additional product milestone is identified in the supplied source. Further information about versioning, test methods and compatibility would help developers judge the project’s claims beyond its published overview.
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Key Questions
What does Pele do?
Pele renders Mermaid syntax as SVG, according to its project website. Developers can pass diagram text to its JavaScript API and use the resulting SVG in a page.
How does Pele handle themes?
The project exposes CSS variables for diagram colors and fonts. Its website says color changes can take effect without re-rendering the diagram.
What does Pele claim about performance?
Pele reports a 230 kB gzip bundle and render times of 0.05–0.3 milliseconds, compared with 1.6 MB and 6–82 milliseconds for Mermaid.js. The supplied source does not explain the benchmark methodology, so these should be treated as project-published comparisons.
Does Pele support Mermaid diagram types?
The project says it supports every diagram type built into Mermaid 12.1.0. The supplied material does not include a detailed compatibility list or describe any syntax differences.
How can developers try Pele?
The site instructs developers to install the pele npm package, pass Mermaid syntax to its render() function, and place the returned SVG in their page. It also links to examples and API information.
Source: hn
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