Decuga whiteboards ship with curated visual element libraries — sticky notes, networking diagrams, UX components, and more. Here's how to use them and how to add your own from the Excalidraw community.
Drawing from scratch is fine for quick sketches, but when you need a VPN icon, an AWS Lambda box, or a sticky note grid for a retro, you don't want to hand-draw every shape. Element libraries give you pre-built, pixel-consistent components you can drag onto the canvas in one click. Decuga ships with curated libraries matched to each project type so the most useful elements are always pre-loaded.
In any open whiteboard, click the book icon in the left toolbar (or press the keyboard shortcut shown below it). The library panel slides out from the left. You'll see element groups — click any item thumbnail to place it on the canvas at the current zoom level. Drag it anywhere you want after placement.
Open a whiteboard
Click the Whiteboard tab in your project, then open any board.
Click the library icon
It's the book icon in the left toolbar — or press the keybinding shown beneath it.
Browse by group
Elements are grouped by library (sticky notes, networking, UX, etc.). Scroll to explore.
Click to place
Tap any thumbnail and the element drops onto the canvas. Drag to reposition.
When you open a whiteboard, Decuga automatically loads a set of element libraries based on your project's template. Sticky notes are included in every template — they're useful in any planning session. Beyond that, each template loads domain-specific elements:
| Template | Pre-loaded libraries |
|---|---|
| All templates | Post-it sticky notes, Simple sticky notes |
| Software | Networking diagrams (VPN, firewalls, servers), Domain-driven design shapes, Database & cloud icons |
| Marketing | Hand-drawn arrows & charts, Presentation shapes, Brand mood-board assets |
| HR | Org chart components, Process flow shapes, People & role icons |
Decuga whiteboards are built on Excalidraw, which has a community library site at libraries.excalidraw.com with hundreds of free element packs. To add one: browse to the community site, find a library you like, and click "Add to Excalidraw". Decuga intercepts that click, stores the library reference, and loads it the next time you open a whiteboard in that session. The new elements appear at the bottom of your library panel grouped with the library name.
After clicking "Add to Excalidraw" on libraries.excalidraw.com, you'll be redirected back to Decuga automatically. Reopen your whiteboard — the new library elements will appear in the library panel within a few seconds.
A few habits that make visual collaboration faster:
Element libraries are pre-drawn combinations of shapes — a server rack, a sticky note with a title zone, a database cylinder with a label. The built-in shape tools (rectangle, ellipse, arrow) are for freeform drawing. Use library elements when you need consistent, recognisable icons; use shape tools when you're sketching something that doesn't exist as a pre-made asset. Both work seamlessly together on the same canvas.
Library elements
Built-in shapes
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