Abstract: Defining a layout of diagram elements can be performed in response to user input that includes one or more declarative statements specifying conditional patterns based on attributes of diagram elements, wherein the conditional patterns define layouts of diagram elements. Implementation of the layouts is dependent on conditions defined in the declarative statements and one or more values of one or more of the attributes. Implementations can further include organizing the conditional patterns as a pattern definition, wherein the pattern definition is stored on a computer readable medium in such a way that the pattern definition is retrievable by an application program that uses the pattern definition to evaluate the conditional patterns using values of attributes of one or more diagram elements. Representations of the diagram elements can be displayed according to the layouts when conditions for implementing the layouts are satisfied.

Abstract: Performing incremental runtime composition. A method includes a computing system receiving a user input gesture modifying a diagram displayed on a diagram surface. The diagram includes a first element, a second element, and a plurality of elements connected to the second element laid out in a particular layout pattern with respect to the second element. The method further includes interpreting the user input gesture to be a gesture creating a graph by connecting the first element to the second element of the diagram. The method further includes performing an auto layout of the diagram by automatically, and without user intervention, repositioning the second element with respect to the first element but without substantially repositioning the plurality of elements with respect to the second element by moving the second element and the plurality of elements as an atomic unit.

Abstract: Defining a layout of diagram elements can be performed in response to user input that includes one or more declarative statements specifying conditional patterns based on attributes of diagram elements, wherein the conditional patterns define layouts of diagram elements. Implementation of the layouts is dependent on conditions defined in the declarative statements and one or more values of one or more of the attributes. Implementations can further include organizing the conditional patterns as a pattern definition, wherein the pattern definition is stored on a computer readable medium in such a way that the pattern definition is retrievable by an application program that uses the pattern definition to evaluate the conditional patterns using values of attributes of one or more diagram elements. Representations of the diagram elements can be displayed according to the layouts when conditions for implementing the layouts are satisfied.

Abstract: Defining a layout of diagram elements. A method includes receiving user input. The user input includes one or more declarative statements specifying conditional patterns based on attributes of diagram elements. The conditional patterns define layouts of diagram elements. Implementation of the layouts is dependent on conditions defined in the declarative statements and one or more values of one or more of the attributes. The method further includes organizing the conditional patterns as a pattern definition. The pattern definition is stored on a computer readable medium. The pattern definition is stored such that the pattern definition is retrievable by an application program that uses the pattern definition to evaluate the conditional patterns using values of attributes of one or more diagram elements. The application is also configured to display representations of the diagram elements according to the layouts when conditions for implementing the layouts are satisfied.

Abstract: Performing incremental runtime composition. A method includes a computing system receiving a user input gesture modifying a diagram displayed on a diagram surface. The diagram includes a first element, a second element, and a plurality of elements connected to the second element laid out in a particular layout pattern with respect to the second element. The method further includes interpreting the user input gesture to be a gesture creating a graph by connecting the first element to the second element of the diagram. The method further includes performing an auto layout of the diagram by automatically, and without user intervention, repositioning the second element with respect to the first element but without substantially repositioning the plurality of elements with respect to the second element by moving the second element and the plurality of elements as an atomic unit.

Abstract: Defining a layout of diagram elements. A method includes receiving user input. The user input includes one or more declarative statements specifying conditional patterns based on attributes of diagram elements. The conditional patterns define layouts of diagram elements. Implementation of the layouts is dependent on conditions defined in the declarative statements and one or more values of one or more of the attributes. The method further includes organizing the conditional patterns as a pattern definition. The pattern definition is stored on a computer readable medium. The pattern definition is stored such that the pattern definition is retrievable by an application program that uses the pattern definition to evaluate the conditional patterns using values of attributes of one or more diagram elements. The application is also configured to display representations of the diagram elements according to the layouts when conditions for implementing the layouts are satisfied.